Ok im kinda directing this to the mainly European section, but as they say any advice is welcome. Im currently studying International Business but at the end of it of i wish to have the chance to live and work in the Europes for any given amount of time, my only problem is i dont understand the laws of citizenship, so all the advice i could get would be peachy. I come from Australia so i dont know if that will have an impact?

cheers,

Lord Osiris

 

Well, I have dual citizenship (Canadian and British) but that is because my mother was born and raised in England and has citizenship there, You can apply for citizenship in Europe but I think that you would no loner be an Australian citizen.

 

I don't know if you can do this anymore, but my cousin claim dual citizenship because all four of his grandparents were born in GB

 

What About the British Commomwealth, I know it is more of a trade group, but as a Australian, aren't you "part of the commonweath" I bet it would take a bunch of phone calls and paperwork, but they should have a ID card waiting for you name that would give you some type of status for all members of the commonwealth. Or I could be so very wrong?

 

try the UK visa page ?

 

It depends on the status of the commonwealth country when either you or your parent was born. I was born in Canada and so was my mother, but my dad was born in British Guiana (now Guyana) so he was born into British rule, because of that I can claim dual citizenship, get a British Passport and all that fun stuff. If neither of your parents were born under British rule, you can't get dual citizenship unless all of your grandparents were born British citizens... Thats all I know, hope it helps!... It's also pretty expensive now that I think about it...

 

You have to apply for a working permit first, if you have already a job lined up. I don't think it would be too difficult. Normally, as long as you have a job, they will extend the working permit indefinitely. Otherwise, you can first apply for a student visa, and then look for a job once you're in the UK. You'll need to register at a school though.

For citizenship, normally, you'll have to stay a certain number of years in the country before you are eligible to apply. In Switzerland, it's 12 years, if I remembered correctly, but they are really a bitch concerning naturalisation. As an Australian applying for British citizenship, I would think that the stay should be much shorter. Hope that helps !

 

Well i have to thank you all for the advice given, from what i can gather it would be easier to go for a british citizenship? 12 years for switzerland you say. bummer it would be nice to live there.

Thanks again all!

Lord Osiris.