Multiple passport holders in Britain double in decade

LONDON (AFP): The number of people holding multiple passports in Britain has doubled in a decade, according to official figures published Thursday, with the rise said to be partly driven by Brexit.

There were 1.26 million residents in England and Wales holding multiple passports in 2021 compared to 612,000 in 2011, according to an analysis of census figures by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The figures also showed a significant increase in the number of residents holding both British and EU citizenship.

The number of people born in the UK holding British and EU passports increased by five times to 156,400 over the 10-year period while the number of dual UK-EU citizens among residents born outside of the UK saw a similar increase to around 147,000.

The number of UK-born residents with both British and Irish passports, with Ireland being an EU member, increased by six times between 2011 and 2021.

Jay Lindop, from the ONS, said the increase in the number of residents with dual citizenship “has been partly driven by migration over the decade, with an increase in people moving here from the EU”.

“As people who have settled in England and Wales go on to have children, we can see an increase in dual citizenship among the younger ages,” he added.

According to Lindop, the rise “may also suggest greater uptake of additional passports following the end of free movement when the UK left the European Union”.

Britain left the European Union after voting in favour of Brexit in a 2016 referendum.