Applying for a UK passport for a new born baby in Spain?

Question

Dear Sirs,

We live and work in London and are expecting our first child. My wife (who is Spanish) will be going back to Galicia (near La Coruna) to give birth. Our baby is expected in the first week of December and my wife is intending to return back to the UK with the baby mid-January.

Some questions:

1. How do we apply for the passport for the baby?
2. What documents do we need to supply?
3. How long does it take before our originals are returned back to us?
4. How long does it take for the passport to be issued?
5. Can we do everything by post or will we need to travel to Vigo?
6. Is there a Bristish Counsel in La Coruna?


Some facts:

1. My wife is Spanish (born in Spain and with a Spanish passport)
2. I was born in India and naturalised as a British citizen in 2000
3. We got married in Spain last year

Many thanks for you response.

Answer 1

You need the Spanish birth certificate (acta de nacimento) and the full birth (in your case NATURALISATION) certificate of the British parent; also the usual endorsed biometric standard photographs and an endorsed application form. Obviously they will return the naturalisation certificate in due course.

But the baby will also be entitled to a Spanish passport and can travel to the UK on that. You do not need to wait for a British passport to be manufactured. If there is a delay with a Spanish passport and you need to travel urgently you can get a temporary UK travel document.

The Embassy instructions for passports are here: http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1144249355300
It says processing time for passports is 10 days in person, longer by post.

I've copied the major information you need:

"DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

"In addition to the application form, photographs and Passport fees, various documents are required depending upon the type of application. Attach originals of all documents requested. We accept documents in Spanish. For Spanish marriage, birth or death certificates, however, we require stamped copies of the certificado literal del Registro Civil; the Libro de Familia or ecclesiastical versions of marriage certificates are not acceptable."

"For a child born on or after 01.07.2006 whose nationality comes only through the British father it is no longer necessary to submit the marriage certificate of the parents. We will need to see the child’s full birth certificate and the father’s full UK birth certificate."

"When you have completed the form, someone who has known you personally for at least two years should complete and sign Section 10. That person should be a British Citizen, other British national or Commonwealth citizen who is a member of Parliament, Justice of the Peace, Minister of Religion, Bank Officer, Established Civil Servant, or professionally qualified person, e.g. Lawyer, Engineer, Doctor, School Teacher, Police Officer or a person of similar standing. Procedures include a check on the authenticity of the countersignatories."

Apparently you need to apply for passports at the Madrid embassy and not at any consulate.

You should be aware that persons who are British by descent (your child) cannot pass British nationality to children born abroad. You, having been naturalised in Britain, are British "otherwise than by descent" and can do so.

((It's nice that people post messages of moral support but why they should think that US State Department passport practice is relevant to UK passports I cannot fathom. Unlike the USA, UK practice (in many or perhaps all countries) is to accept passport applications only at embassies.))

Answer 2

Hi! I have been through this exact process. I am a US citizen and married my husband in Pakistan. My daughter was born in Lahore and we had to apply for her passport and birth abroad papers as well as social security. It was surprisingly very easy even though being a dual citizen seems confusing. Don't worry!!! The best thing to do is contact the British Embassy and ask them about the process and all paperwork required. It probably won't take long and if La Coruna is a large city, then there most likely is a consulate there. The best thing to do though beforehand is CALL THEM! Also make it clear that you will not be present at the birth so that you will know what kinds of release and permission forms must be signed. It should be quite easy. My daughter's birth abroad papers and passport arrived within two weeks after submitting the paperwork and I think there are also options to expedite and speed up the process if you pay additional fees. Good luck to you and congrats on your new baby.