Questions over what will happen to our European passports

A VOTE for Brexit means UK citizens will soon lose their right to live and work in EU nations.

That fact has now raised questions about what happens to our burgundy European Union passports.

After Britain leaves it is likely there will be new passports and they will no longer say "European Union" on them.

The new document may even revert to the old style passport many Brits will be familiar with.

Until then it is thought current passports will be valid for as long as it takes to negotiate the exit deal.

This means there is no need to worry if you are travelling this summer.

It does mean however that Brits may eventually have to queue at customs to get a stamp when travelling within Europe and you may require a visa.

It is likely the new design would be phased in as existing passports expire.

For those hoping to keep their  European Union passport there is a way.

The easiest route – if you are lucky enough to have Irish parents - is to acquire citizenship there.

You can also get one through your grandparents if they were born there.

Britain today voted to leave the EU with 17,759,184 Brits voting to leave, while 16,580,508 backed remain, in the highest turnout in a nationwide vote in 24 years.

It resulted in an emotional David Cameron resigning as Prime Minister and saw more than £100 billion wiped off the London FTSE 100.

He said he would be leaving No10 after six years and said he wanted a new leader to be in place by this autumn’s Conservative conference.

The historic vote stunned the world and as the dusts settles people are beginning to ask where the decision leaves them.

With regards to passports the Irish government have said: “If either of your parents was an Irish citizen who was born in Ireland, then you are automatically an Irish citizen, irrespective of your place of birth.

“If you were born outside Ireland to an Irish citizen who was himself or herself born outside Ireland, then you are entitled to become an Irish citizen.”

Those who want to keep their EU passport and have Irish grandparents are in luck too.

The government there says if one of your grandparents is an Irish citizen who was born in Ireland, you can have your birth registered in the Foreign Births Register.

They add: “If you are entitled to register, your Irish citizenship is effective from the date of registration.”

This Irish citizenship can then continue through the generations.

If you become an Irish citizen that can be passed on “by each generation ensuring their registration in the Foreign Births Register before the birth of the next generation”.

But if your family can’t help out the next possible route to an EU passport is marriage.

However each country makes its own rules here and they are usually designed to avoid marriages for citizenship.

The final way is through money – you can buy your way in to EU nationality.

Many countries offer a “citizenship by investment” scheme.

But be warned it comes at a high cost.

Cyprus - the “jurisdiction of choice” for many – asks for an investment of €5m.