The Brits hurrying to become German citizens

[OhSusana]

The Brits hurrying to become German citizens
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-39082468

These are not the bronzed "expats" of the tabloid imagination - living it up in the sun, glass of gin in one hand, golf club in the other. They are young freelancers worried that if they need visas their work will dry up. Or pensioners living in rented flats, surviving on fixed incomes tied to a shrinking pound.

I've been thinking about changing my passport for some time. I have traced my family back almost 500 years in the English Parish records - I haven't tried further yet.
But frankly, if I could get hold of a German passport now I'd jump at the chance.
I have heard of several people exploring the option of Irish passports, or Cypriot passports.
What other roads are open to me, and many millions like me, who want to stay part of the EU?

[Royal]

What other roads are open to me, and many millions like me, who want to stay part of the EU?

Move to Scotland?

[geoffreys]

Have you got your Yellow Slip slip yet? That would be a good start. I'm hoping that even in the event of a hard Brexit, that document alone should be sufficient to enable us to continue as things are. Personally I can't see Cyprus wanting to wave goodbye to, say, 50,000 UK residents in Cyprus given what we spend here and the effect it would have on the housing stock.

Quite right Happy in Cyprus. Add to that your title deeds and international laws give you certain rights, so it would be nearly impossible to ask you to leave.
Geoff.

[Firefly]

I wouldn't be in too much of a hurry to move to Germany, they may end up with much bigger problems than we have in the UK, from what I have been told by a friend who's husband served in the British Army there a few years ago, having been back for a weekend last Autumn. Look before you leap.

Jackie

[Royal]

The OP wasn't talking about moving to Germany, but rather taking up a German passport. Big difference!

Maybe, but it was implicit in the article that those applying are already living in Germany. Unless of German descent, you can't expect to just apply for a German passport when living somewhere else...

[Poppy]

Exactly Royal! As far as I can ascertain you need to have lived in Germany for a minimum of 8 years and must surrender your UK passport/ citizenship. For Ireland you must be irish as far as I can see and for Cyprus a minimum of 7 years residency or an investment of at least 2 million euros in property or business.
Whichever you choose or may be eligible for it is certainly not a decision to be taken lightly.

[Jim B]

Why Not? If you qualify for a Cypriot passport you can have dual citizenship. Also after the Brexit the Cypriot passport will be a stronger passport than the British passport. Presently the British passport can get you into 173 countries without a Visa and Cyprus 159.

Jim

Jim

[geoffreys]

Again another sweeping statement Jim, what makes you think visas will be required to travel throughout the EU after Brexit? I can't remember needing a visa to visit Cyprus before they joined the EU....

Indeed you did not need a visa to visit Cyprus if you were on a UK passport. And to move here (e.g. retirement) you had to
apply for a "pink slip" just like you do now for a yellow slip, except they were stricter on checking your finances to ensure
you would not be a burden on the public purse.
If you were a UK State Pensioner health care was as now, UK picking up the tab; this because Cyprus (like Malta) was
an ex-British colony.
Those pre-EU agreements are still in place, just not used now. After Brexit they will just be re-instated.
BTW you can take out Cyprus citizenship after 5 years residing here if you are British. Others such as Chinese have to pay
up millions as mentioned in an earlier post.
I have no worries whatsoever about being in Cyprus as a UK pensioner post-Brexit.
Nor should anyone else - ignore the scaremongerers (anti-Brexiteers, luddites, and Scottish extremists/trouble makers).
Geoff.

[Jim B]

Visas for the EU countries has been raised by of all people the EU; oh but you don't Google do you Geoffreys. I think it's a bit rich you calling me a Luddite as it's you who wants to live in the past, not me. The procedures of the past are just that, in the past and surely you must remember the entry and exit slips everyone had to fill in.

Jim

[OhSusana]

Geoffreys. I think it's a bit rich you calling me a Luddite as it's you who wants to live in the past, not me.

Jim

Luddite )))
I think Geoffreys picked up the term from this thread
Trump wants us all to roast - Environment section
viewtopic.php?f=39&t=370
where the Devil himself dissected Geoffreys into little pieces ))
Obviously the term struck a raw nerve somewhere