I'm a polish citizen living in UK for the last 3 years. My baby will be born in UK in a week's time and I want to know what nationality it will be - polish? English? As a polish citizen I have applied for a residency in uk. And as I am a single mum I don't think the baby father's nationality has any influence on what the newborn's nationality will be, or has it? Some people tell me that the baby will be british as it will have a british birth certificate, but others claim that it will have to be polish as I am polish and I will have to apply for a polish passport in the polish embassy. Who is right? Its quite urgent as I have travel plans within 2months after the baby's born

If the baby's father is a Brit and you are legally married, the baby obtains citizenship from the father as well as from mother. In plain word, if you are legally married, the baby has dual citizenship, but if the baby is born out of wedlock, he/she obtains citizenship through mother only, unless you file for paternity suit, and establish citizenship from the result of the lawsuit.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lawanwadee

If the baby's father is a Brit and you are legally married, the baby obtains citizenship from the father as well as from mother. In plain word, if you are legally married, the baby has dual citizenship, but if the baby is born out of wedlock, he/she obtains citizenship thru mother only, unless you file for paternity suit, and establish citizenship from the result of the lawsuit.

---

Just to make it clear - me and the baby's father are not married, not in a civil partnership. I am/will be a single mum. The father is not british, but zimbabwean. If I understand you correctly in this situation the baby will be polish but with a british birth certificate. Is that right?

Correct... baby born to alien parents in UK does not get UK citizenship though she/he has British birth certificate.

You must report birth of your child to Polish consulate immediately... it takes a few weeks to obtain passport for the baby. Better check with the consulate before you purchase plane ticket.

But what if I wish to apply for British citizenship for the baby? Is it a requirement that one of the parents need to be British?

If the mother have british residency only which is obtained after applying for it and not given automaticaly, or bristish citizenship then baby would get birtish passport... in all other cases baby will have polish passport... and to get british citizen for mother she has to be working under WRS fore 1 year without any gaps of more then 3 months.. then she can apply for residency or citizen... my wife is living in uk from 4 years but did not register with WRS scheme so she was refused residency and citizen... so our baby will get polish passport..

The nationality of the baby will be Polish; which means the blood of the baby will be Polish. But, the birth of the baby will be English; since the baby was born in the U.K. Like we say in America, what is your nationailty I say I'm German and Italian, but I am full American. You're baby will be English with Polish decent.