Holidays and EU benefits top the list of reasons for UK nationals applying for a second passport
International real estate experts on residency and citizenship through investment, Astons, has revealed that just 2% of UK nationals applied for a new passport following the EU Referendum, although 8% now plan to as a result of the deal done by Boris Johnson.
Astons surveyed over 2,000 UK nationals and asked them if they applied for a second passport to an EU nation following the Brexit vote back in June 2016. Just 2% of those surveyed said that they had, while 98% had not.
With the burning issue of the Irish border, it’s unsurprising to see that the number of those applying for an alternative passport was far higher in Northern Ireland at 13%. However, perhaps surprisingly given the campaign for independence, just 1% of those in Scotland applied for a second passport in the wake of the Brexit vote.
Since Boris Johnson’s deal with the EU was confirmed just before Christmas, the number of UK nationals looking for a second passport has crept up. Aston’s survey shows that since that point, 8% of UK nationals are now applying for, or planning to apply for a second passport.
Northern Ireland was again home to the highest level, with 28% of those in the nation applying for a second passport or planning to. However, 10% of those in Greater London and the North West also plan to do the same, while in the East of England and the South West 9% of UK nationals will look for a second passport option.
For those UK nationals planning to obtain a second EU nationality, the driving factors are clear.
33% plan to do so to maintain ease when travelling for leisure, while 32% want to identify as a UK national but without losing the benefits of being an EU citizen.
15% no longer wish to identify as a UK national, while 12% did so purely because they had the option.
Just 5% stated a second passport would make it easier for them to travel for business reasons.
Managing Director of Astons, Arthur Sarkisian, commented: “The UK has certainly been divided by the EU Referendum but it would seem as though while many have claimed or enquired about a second passport, those following through on acquiring one equate to a fairly small percentage of the population.
Of course, with an estimated sixty-seven million people living in the UK and around six million of those already having foreign nationality, these small percentages still represent quite a large number of those looking for a second passport.
The intention to secure these second passports certainly looks to have intensified following the deal done by Boris Johnson at the end of 2020.
We’ve certainly seen an uplift in enquiries around alternative citizenship via investment so far this year, with Brexit being the driving motivation for the vast majority.”
Survey of 2,313 UK nationals carried out by Find Out How (January 9th 2021).
Note - Find Out How includes all responses from the Yorkshire and Humber region within the North East classification.
|
Did you apply for a second passport for an EU nation following the referendum? |
||
|
Answer |
Totals |
|
|
No |
98% |
|
|
Yes |
2% |
|
|
Region |
||
|
East Midlands |
99% |
1% |
|
East Of England |
99% |
1% |
|
Greater London |
98% |
2% |
|
North East |
99% |
1% |
|
North West |
99% |
1% |
|
Northern Ireland |
87% |
13% |
|
Scotland |
99% |
1% |
|
The South East |
98% |
2% |
|
The South West |
98% |
2% |
|
Wales |
97% |
3% |
|
West Midlands |
99% |
1% |
|
Have you applied or do you plan to apply for a second passport for an EU nation following the deal done by Boris Johnson with the EU? |
||
|
Answer |
Totals |
|
|
No |
92% |
|
|
Yes |
8% |
|
|
Region |
No |
Yes |
|
East Midlands |
96% |
4% |
|
East Of England |
91% |
9% |
|
Greater London |
90% |
10% |
|
North East |
96% |
4% |
|
North West |
90% |
10% |
|
Northern Ireland |
72% |
28% |
|
Scotland |
94% |
6% |
|
The South East |
92% |
8% |
|
The South West |
91% |
9% |
|
Wales |
94% |
6% |
|
West Midlands |
95% |
5% |
|
If yes, what are your reasons for doing so? (Tick all that apply) |
||
|
Answer |
Totals |
|
|
It will make it easier for me to travel for leisure |
33% |
|
|
I want to identify as UK, but I don’t want to lose the benefits of being an EU citizen |
32% |
|
|
I don’t want to identify as a UK national anymore |
15% |
|
|
I thought I might as well as I had the option |
12% |
|
|
It will make it easier for me to travel for business |
5% |
|
|
None of the above |
3% |
|
|
Region |
I don’t want to identify as a UK national anymore |
I thought I might as well as I had the option |
I want to identify as UK, but I don’t want to lose the benefits of being an EU citizen |
It will make it easier for me to travel for business |
It will make it easier for me to travel for leisure |
|
East Midlands |
10% |
20% |
40% |
0% |
30% |
|
East Of England |
27% |
13% |
40% |
0% |
20% |
|
Greater London |
11% |
21% |
26% |
11% |
32% |
|
North East |
29% |
14% |
43% |
0% |
14% |
|
North West |
15% |
0% |
41% |
6% |
38% |
|
Northern Ireland |
12% |
15% |
19% |
0% |
54% |
|
Scotland |
25% |
13% |
25% |
0% |
38% |
|
The South East |
13% |
13% |
42% |
9% |
22% |
|
The South West |
24% |
6% |
29% |
0% |
41% |
|
Wales |
15% |
0% |
46% |
0% |
38% |
|
West Midlands |
0% |
0% |
31% |
8% |
62% |
Astons is a leading global property and immigration advisory firm with offices in London, Beijing, Moscow, Dubai and Limassol (Republic of Cyprus) and offers residency & citizenship investment solutions worldwide including the UK, Turkey, Vanuatu, the EU and the Caribbean.
For further information or to discuss your personal circumstances in a private consultation, please contact Astons at info@astons.com or call +44 207 292 2977.
