Just like many others, Paul Zaba, born in the UK, was granted British citizenship at birth, a factor that defines his legal identity. However, his cultural roots run deep into Poland, where his family has always maintained strong ties, including speaking the language and engaging with the Polish community. "I describe myself as Polish-British," Paul notes, articulating a dual identity he cherishes. Yet, despite his lineage, he had never pursued Polish citizenship—until the pivotal moment of Brexit.

“On the day we got the result of the Brexit vote, my Polish friends and I texted each other that, obviously, we were going to get Polish citizenship now,” Paul recalls, reflecting on the immediate shift in sentiment among many UK-born individuals with European connections. With Brexit revoking the seamless freedom of movement across the EU, the once-overlooked option of pursuing dual citizenship has gained new significance for many.

The desire to recover lost European liberties has sparked a notable surge in applications for dual citizenship. Data from the Office for National Statistics indicates that approximately 1.26 million people in the UK now hold both British and another nationality, with a significant rise in those born in the UK obtaining EU passports since the Brexit referendum. A Global Citizenship Observatory report estimates that around 90,000 Britons have sought a second European passport, while claims for first-time Irish passports by UK citizens are thought to range between 120,000 to 500,000.

In a personal victory for Paul, his mother, Christina Malkowska, successfully navigated the complex Polish citizenship process in 2018, enabling him to apply. “My mum had kept her old Polish passport,” Paul explains, “but she needed to provide proof of lineage, which involved a lot of paperwork.” After thorough documentation, including a parish christening certificate from Poland, Christina’s citizenship was confirmed, allowing the family to reclaim their Polish heritage officially.

The ramifications of Brexit are echoing beyond individual stories. Sarah Wellband, who discovered her Irish ancestry while living in Dublin, experienced a similar awakening. Initially hesitant due to the complexities involved, Sarah’s outlook changed as Brexit loomed. “With just a UK passport, I would have been very limited in my travel,” she shares, highlighting the perceived constraints of UK-only citizenship. Upon securing the necessary documents from her birth mother, she embraced her identity as an Irish citizen, illustrating a shift from merely seeking a passport to a deeper cultural connection to her heritage.

Though acquiring citizenship through ancestry is often seen as a straightforward task, it can entail nuanced emotional landscapes. Tom Harrison, born in Northern Ireland, grappled with the cultural implications of claiming Irish citizenship rooted in his family history. “I have a legal entitlement, but I don’t have any real connection with the culture,” he admits, conflicted over how to navigate his identity amid Brexit's fallout. As he embarked on the application process, his father’s perspective shifted from discouragement to acceptance, reflecting broader societal changes in attitudes towards dual citizenship.

The landscape of European citizenship applications has notably altered since the Brexit vote, with countries like Germany, which has been proactive in granting citizenship to former UK citizens, documenting a substantial rise in applicants. According to reports, Germany alone has granted citizenship to over 34,000 British citizens in the years following the Brexit decision.

Meanwhile, stricter regulations imposed by some EU countries on non-EU property investments, particularly in light of the latest economic forecasts for the UK, are further incentivising Brits to seek alternative pathways through ancestry. As one immigration lawyer mentioned, the desire for a 'backdoor access' to the EU is more pronounced than ever, fueled by economic uncertainty and changing immigration policies.

In this changing environment, British citizens’ journeys towards reclaiming their European identities reflect not only individual aspirations but also a collective reckoning with the ramifications of Brexit. For many, the ability to travel, live, and work freely within the EU is not just a bureaucratic formality but a vital lifeline to a more interconnected and culturally enriching future.

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Source: Noah Wire Services