A big day for Photographer Sabina Cowdery

Discover how she acquired French Nationality after living in Normandy for 20 years.

 

Today was an exciting day for me I went to collect my French ID card and passport!

 

I think most of you know I’m British but maybe not all the newcomers. I’ve been living in France for twenty years, in #Normandy, my adopted region.

 

Since we arrived, we immediately made every effort to integrate and support local communities, and we’ve been warmly welcomed by all. I always felt at home here… up until Brexit. Something changed in me, in the way I felt. I had always been a European citizen and this gave us the right to decide to change countries with very little formalities. After Brexit, like other Britons living here in France, I had to ask for a residence permit and carry a travel card, describing my rights to live here in France.

 

I suddenly felt like a “foreigner” I felt different from the French friends I had had for over fifteen years. I was no longer a European citizen and although most of my rights were protected by the Article 50 withdrawal agreement, I felt disappointed. I couldn’t vote in parliamentary or presidential elections. I couldn’t be on a city council anymore if I wanted to. I couldn’t spend more than 90 days in anothr european coutnry and many other things. I felt prevented from living the life I had, because I had lost certain rights.

 

My daughter was born here in 2007 and had the right to apply for citizenship at 13, this is what we did. Then my two sons who were born before her in the UK filed a request because they then had a French sister. I helped all of them successfully obtaining French citizenship. So it was my turn and here I am… French! 😁🥰