My father is Australian, my mother english. I was born in Wales but live in England, what's my nationality?

Question

Even my passport is non-specific, I could be anything but American apparently!

Answer 1

You are a human being - sounds cheesy, but I'm being serious. Does nationality matter existentially? Sure it matters in terms of visas, etc, but you aren't going to change just because someone thinks you're Australian, while someone else thinks you're Welsh. You're who you want to be.

I can relate, because I have a similar background, and I find it really empowering: no one can pigeon-hole me into some bogus national stereo-types! I consider myself cosmopolitan.

150 years ago all these great "nations" didn't even exist - now they're supposed to be THE defining characteristic of a person? They're "imagined communities" to quote Benedict Anderson.

Answer 2

It's nothing to do with your parents or anything like that. Nationality is a legal distinction - it's whereever you have citizenship. If you have more than one passport you have dual-nationality, if you don't your nationality is whatever it says on the front of your passport.

I assume by non-specific you mean you have a UK passport. That makes you British. You can say in conversation that you're Welsh and/or English if you like, but that's the same as saying you're a 'Londoner' or any other regional classification. England and Wales are not nations, so you cannot have either as a nationality.

Answer 3

By place of birth you are Welsh, which makes you a British Citizen, you could apply for and be granted dual nationality from your Father allowing you to be Australian at the same time (where you would sit for the Ashes series would be interesting!).

Your passport will state quite uniquivocally what nationality you are. Check the 4th line down on the photo page if you don't believe me.

Answer 4

I believe you are 1/2 English and 1/2 Australian.

Answer 5

The child will have all three nationalities or just one. My children are half-Italian and half English, but born in England. Their birth has been registered at my husband's home town in Sicily via the Italian Embassy. This entitles them to have either a British or an Italian passport or both so I should imagine if you child is registered in all three countries, they are nationals of all three. Our English marriage is also registered there as I understand because we were not married in church, if the civil wedding is not registered in Italy, we are not legally married there (open to correction with that one but I think that's what happened to my husband's aunt and uncle who were married in a registry office in the UK but had property in Italy).

Answer 6

You are British, your nationality is determined by where you are born. If you have a passport it will be a British passport.

However it is perfectly acceptable to refer to yourself as English or Welsh, depending on preference. When filling out forms I always put British as nationality, but in my heart I am English and am very proud of that.

Answer 7

You are Welsh. It's decided upon by the country you were born in. You could explain that you are Welsh with English and Australian parents.

I agree with others on this thread. You should be proud of your nationality, no matter where you were born. The sins of any forebears bears no resemblance to who you are.

Answer 8

With both Australian and Welsh genes hope the English ones come through stronger otherwise stay away from cattle fields!
On the bright side your not a yank.

Answer 9

British by birth, Australian by descent.
How can your passport be non-specific, by the way?
What does it say on the front?

Answer 10

Well , australia was where they sent prisoners and criminals back in the day, so technically they are all british,So in essence so is your pops, you're mum is english and you were born in wales.


ultimately you are british and anyway being non specific and people who sorted yer passport are taking the mick.