Eloise HorsfieldSHE was the victim of an epic bureaucratic mix-up between the UK and Spain that meant she did not officially exist.
But after a battle spanning two decades Jade Jacobs-Brooks from Essex has finally been given an identity.
The problem occurred when the 20-year-old was born in Orihuela, in Alicante, while her parents Linda and Victor were on holiday.
The hospital issued the family with temporary paperwork so they could return to the UK.
But once there, British officials insisted the documents were invalid and that without a birth certificate they were unable to recognise the child.
To make matters worse, when her father returned to Orihuela years later the hospital could find no trace of her birth, leaving Jade in legal limbo.
With no form of identification she has been unable to get a passport, driving license, vote or even go to bars.
“It’s been incredibly frustrating,” she said. “When I turned 18, everyone was going to bars and clubs but I couldn’t go because I didn’t have any identification.”
In a bid to be recognised Jade wrote to the government, local MPs and even the Queen.
But it was not until lawyers Allen and Overy accepted the case and spent three years investigating that Jade was finally recognised.
This week the Alicante authorities finally admitted the error and issued her a birth certificate.
“I just want to get on with my life,” said Jade, who is now looking forward to her first holiday abroad… but not in Spain!
Doh!
No country alllows people to be stateless. If you have no nationality, you can acquire Spanish citizenship in just one year as opposed to the normal ten years. I know that for a fact because my son was in a situation similar to Jade’s, only he was born at home I Spain, of a Canadian father and an American mother. The UK has similar laws in place. You can find out about at “www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk”.