Why citizenship is now a commodity

[OhSusana]

http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/201705 ... -commodity

...UK citizens are now seriously weighing their options, Emmett says.
“In terms of what happened in the UK with Brexit, on the day that the vote was announced, our phones rang off the hook, I was approached in the street by people, there was a very apparent panic,” she adds.

At last count, 23 countries from Cyprus to Singapore offered some kind of investment residency or citizenship scheme and more are being created with similar programmes proliferating across Europe. ...
For as little as $50,000 (in Latvia) or as much as $10 million (in France), foreigners can buy legal status to live, work and bank in a number of countries. Perhaps more importantly, by extension, they buy access to visa-free travel to countries around the world...

So I think at the moment the data out there is that on the German passport you can travel to more countries than with any other citizenship in the world.” Emmett says.

i wish I had a German passport, rather than the British garbage becoming more and more useless by the day one.

[jeba]

So I think at the moment the data out there is that on the German passport you can travel to more countries than with any other citizenship in the world.” Emmett says.[/i]

i wish I had a German passport, rather than the British garbage becoming more and more useless by the day one.

You´re not the only one. Applications for a German passport increased 8-fold after the Brexit referendum (you can´t buy it though but must pass a language, law, history and culture exam first).

[Dominic]

Two of my friends now have Irish Nationality, as they had an Irish grandparent.

[OhSusana]

You´re not the only one. Applications for a German passport increased 8-fold after the Brexit referendum (you can´t buy it though but must pass a language, law, history and culture exam first).

Indeed, Jeba. You have perhaps the most powerful passport in the world.
And maybe one of the best performing economies also.
Rather amusing story -

I was having lunch with the (German) godfather of one of my children a couple of days ago. He was telling me that somebody managed to crash his car while it was being serviced. He's hunting for a new one, but he tells me - almost impossible to buy a good new car in Germany now. Everytime he finds one, he phones up, and then goes to see it - new - in the showroom - and by the next day it has already sold. He wants a good new top-of-the-range car. Quite funny really. Things are looking good in Germany. He's a businessman, and he says that the economy there is booming.

As for Irish passports, this also is rather amusing -

Brexit fears prompt ex-British ambassador to become Irish citizen
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/ ... -1.3065721

The former British ambassador to Ireland, Sir Ivor Roberts, has formally become an Irish citizen, a move he has made because of anxieties over Brexit.

[jeba]

Indeed, Jeba. You have perhaps the most powerful passport in the world.

The best thing about the passport is that I don´t need it as long as I don´t leave the EU - my German ID card will do (and it costs only € 22.- every 10 years).

[josef k]

I think that citizenship has always been a bit of a commodity. I recall Zola Budd becoming British overnight (due to a campaign by the Daily Mail), mainly because we wanted her running skills.

British passports are a relatively new invention though. The first one issued with a photograph was around 1914.

[Rita Sherry]

I think that citizenship has always been a bit of a commodity. I recall Zola Budd becoming British overnight (due to a campaign by the Daily Mail), mainly because we wanted her running skills.

British passports are a relatively new invention though. The first one issued with a photograph was around 1914.

Just a small point re Zola. Her application for British Citizenship was based on her grandfather being British. However under South African law she was unable to choose her citizenship status until she attained the age of 18 but you are correct the Daily Mail did mount a campaign for her application to be fast tracked once she was age qualified and made that choice. The rest as they say is history.

A small personal point - I used to run races barefoot (not as fast as Zola though) before she was a twinkle in her father's eye and to the consternation of my schoolteachers. Running shoes were an encumbrance. Those were the days.

Rita

[OhSusana]

The best thing about the passport is that I don´t need it as long as I don´t leave the EU - my German ID card will do (and it costs only € 22.- every 10 years).

That is super. The sort of thing the British can only dream about now.

I am currently engaged in trying to find an apartment for my husband's German buddy. I presume you agree with him that the German economy is doing pretty well at the moment. And, if so, what would you put it down to?

[jeba]

I am currently engaged in trying to find an apartment for my husband's German buddy. I presume you agree with him that the German economy is doing pretty well at the moment. And, if so, what would you put it down to?

I don´t quite understand your question, I´m afraid. Are you asking me for my view on whether buying an apartment in Germany is a good investment? If so that would be like asking me how long a piece of string is. However, one piece of advise I can give generally: before you buy to rent make yourself knowledgeable about German rental law (and consider property funds as an alternative in order to spread the risk). There is a reason why most Germans are renting (only a minority are owning property in Germany): German rental law is a minefield and is favouring tenants (e. g. it is often impossible for the owner to terminate a lease as long as the tenant keeps paying or rental increases are regulated).

[WHL]

Two of my friends now have Irish Nationality, as they had an Irish grandparent.

With the amount of Guinness ive consumed over the years, they should grant me a Passport.

[OhSusana]

I am currently engaged in trying to find an apartment for my husband's German buddy. I presume you agree with him that the German economy is doing pretty well at the moment. And, if so, what would you put it down to?

I don´t quite understand your question,

Really just asking your opinion of the current state of the German economy.
Germans I talk to seem to think things are going well, economically speaking, at the moment. Do you have the same feeling?

Id also read somewhere that there had been a big big rise in Britains taking up German nationality!

[jeba]

I am currently engaged in trying to find an apartment for my husband's German buddy. I presume you agree with him that the German economy is doing pretty well at the moment. And, if so, what would you put it down to?

I don´t quite understand your question,

Really just asking your opinion of the current state of the German economy.
Germans I talk to seem to think things are going well, economically speaking, at the moment. Do you have the same feeling?

Id also read somewhere that there had been a big big rise in Britains taking up German nationality!

In the West and South of Germany the economy is indeed very robust. E. g. in Bavaria the unemployment rate is below 2.5 %. In the formerly communist East the situation is still very different. They still have double digit unemployment (they do have booming areas, too tough). However, I´d only buy something to live there myself . especially as a foreigner who isn´t familiar with the German system. Otherwise there might be huge surprises and unless you can spread the risk over several properties it´s a gamble in my view. One thing I already mentioned is German rental law which clearly favours tenants. Another risk is e. g. municipal charges. In a small village near where I´m from some homeowners were hit with unexpected municipal rates of up to € 40.000.- because the municipality needed funds to refurbish the drainage system. My cleaning lady got a bill of € 16.000.- because they refurbished the walkway (no, there is no EU-funding for that like in Cyprus). I also had to pay a few thousand because the municipality wanted to upgrade the local water treatment plant a few years ago.
If he is dead-set on buying property as an investment Berlin is probably the least poor choice. Rentals and property prices there are way cheaper than in the West or South and have potential to catch up - at least partially. If he wants to live there himself and doen´t have to turn every penny twice (do you say that in English?) I´d suggest Bavaria. It´s more expensive than most other places but the quality of life is better. E. g. your chances of having your car stolen in Munich are only 20% of car owners in Leipzig.

Needless to say that this is just my nonprofessional opinion!

[OhSusana]

In the West and South of Germany the economy is indeed very robust. E. g. in Bavaria the unemployment rate is below 2.5 %. In the formerly communist East the situation is still very different. .... If he wants to live there himself and doen´t have to turn every penny twice (do you say that in English?) I´d suggest Bavaria. ..

Needless to say that this is just my nonprofessional opinion!

jeden Groschen zweimal umdrehen... That's a great saying. But how to translate it! I don't know... "count the pennies" maybe?!

Yes - thanks for this. The German economy is booming. I know Bavaria well, as does my husband's friend. I am trying to help him elsewhere in Europe currently. He has lovely places both in Vienna, and in the Austrian Alps, and in another capital city. .

But your views on the current state of the German economy mirror his exactly. Business is good. Very good!

I mentioned Brits wanting German passports -

Record number of Brits become German citizens amid Brexit fears
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/ ... itizenship
It said 2,865 Britons took German citizenship last year – a 361% increase. “The link to Brexit seems clear,” said Destatis.

I think this is the site for the statistics, but I can't find the original - I mean the source of this report.
https://www.destatis.de/DE/Startseite.html

But looks like the British are grabbing any passport they can!

[OhSusana]

And in France -
Brexit: Number of Britons applying for French citizenship surges 264%
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ho ... 02291.html

Those who can are changing their passport.

[outasite]

And in France -
Brexit: Number of Britons applying for French citizenship surges 264%
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ho ... 02291.html

Those who can are changing their passport.

I note you make no mention of the thousands of EU nationals applying for British citizenship as stated at the bottom of the article, surging after the Brexit vote.

[ApusApus]

And in France -
Brexit: Number of Britons applying for French citizenship surges 264%
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ho ... 02291.html

Those who can are changing their passport.

I note you make no mention of the thousands of EU nationals applying for British citizenship as stated at the bottom of the article, surging after the Brexit vote.

Opps, I guess that bit got missed in the euphoria of 1,000 more people applying for French citizenship!


Shane

[OhSusana]

And in France -
Brexit: Number of Britons applying for French citizenship surges 264%
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ho ... 02291.html

I note you make no mention of the thousands of EU nationals applying for British citizenship as stated at the bottom of the article, surging after the Brexit vote.

Opps, I guess that bit got missed in the euphoria of 1,000 more people applying for French citizenship!

Shane. Not for the first time, you are comparing chalk with cheese.
France is not the entire EU. It is just a part of the EU.

If you are looking at French nationals applying for British passports - then tell me the number. But I don't expect there to be many.
Using this Telegraph article from 2016 we are looking at about 5000 applications from the entire EU each quarter. Say 20,000 a year.
Applications for British citizenship rise dramatically in the run up to Britain's referendum
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/04 ... -in-the-r/
number of EU migrants applying for British citzenship rose from 4,179 in the third quarter of last year to 5,245 in the final three months.

Now - compare that with just ONE country in the EU receiving applications from the UK -

733,060 Irish passports issued in 2016 – Minister Flanagan
https://www.dfa.ie/news-and-media/press ... bers-2016/
“Following the UK Referendum on EU membership in June passport applications from Northern Ireland saw an increase of 26.5% over 2015 to 67,972 while application levels from Great Britain increased by 40.6% to 64,996.

So over 130,000 applications for Irish passports from the UK.
Do you begin to see the scale of the problem?!
And this is just for Irish passports. ))) One country only in the EU.

So then add on numbers for Germany, and Spain, and France, and Cyprus, and Italy, and... and ... and....
Ooooops indeed. ))

[ApusApus]

Shane. Not for the first time, you are comparing chalk with cheese.

Nope, I am simply agreeing with another poster who has pointed out your poor selection of reference material to support your view ............ the term "own goal" springs to mind!


Shane

[outasite]

The thing is, no-one and I really mean no-one will win against this person. She is 100% correct all the time - in her mind - and if anyone, anyone disagrees with her convoluted views and posts then she will endeavour to put those posters in their correct place which will be to agree with her or suffer her withering remarks that they are of 1...low intelligence...2...racists....3...complete fools...4...anything she feels they are.
So just carry on OhS because you really really are so far up yourself that when you do fall it will be a very long way.

[OhSusana]

Shane. Not for the first time, you are comparing chalk with cheese.

Nope, I am simply agreeing with another poster who has pointed out your poor selection of reference material to support your view ............ the term "own goal" springs to mind!


Shane

I apologise, Shane. I didn't realise it was outasite who started comparing my (via the Independent) France statistics with the entire EU applications to the UK.
And you where simply quoting him.
But I hope you at least can see that applications for Irish passports alone from the Uk way way outnumber those from the entire EU for British passports.