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maulik_doctor · Junior Member Joined: 29 Sep 2012 Posts: 13

I have to travel out of UK for my brothers weeding which is on 16 December and I received my invitation to oath as at 18 September. So I understand I need to take oath by 18 December. Can you please suggest if I can travel on my Indian passport and apply for oath and british passport after coming back to UK.

Or if I take oath before going to India can I travel on Indian passport?

Thanks for all help.

manyaonisland

maulik_doctor · Junior Member Joined: 29 Sep 2012 Posts: 13

Thanks a lot for your advice, much appreciated.

I just have one or two more queries.

1) Can I apply for British passport before I go to India, say I apply for my British passport in October and get in November. Can I still travel on Indian passport in the grace period.

2) Even if I dont apply for British passport and I use Indian passport for travel while landing in India and coming back to UK should I claim to be British citizen or Indian. If I claim to be British citizen than would they (Indian & UK Immigration) mind or create any issues? and

3) If I apply and get my British passport before I travel can I use Indian passport to enter India and British passport to enter UK? Or can I use Indian passport to enter India and UK?

Sorry for so many detailed questions but your help is highly appreciated.

Thanks

manyaonisland · Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2012 9:23 am Post subject:

maulik_doctor · Junior Member Joined: 29 Sep 2012 Posts: 13

Thanks a ton for the advice. It means a lot.

I just wanted to be informed rather than being in the dark and my only concern is that if British immigration creates a fuss saying why are you travelling on Indian passport when our system shows you have British passport and if I show British passport than it will not have an out stamp from India as I have shown Indian passport to exit India.

In this case should I show both or only Indian or only British?

I hope I am not over evaluating but just being precautious.

Thanks again.

manyaonisland · Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 7:55 am Post subject:

gidoc · Sage Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 873

Read this quite carefully before you decide anything- grace period may not be your right.
Best policy will be to get British PP asap and then apply for Indian visa.

The Indian Citizenship Act, 1955, does not allow dual citizenship. Holding Indian passport/acquiring Indian passport/travelling on Indian passport after acquisition of foreign citizenship constitutes an offence under the Indian Passport Act, 1967, and attracts penalties. The Government of India has prescribed imposition of penalty on a graded scale for the violation of Passport Rules, depending on number of trips made on Indian passport after acquiring foreign nationality (with a three month grace period from the date of acquiring foreign nationality i.e. the date of Naturalisation certificate)

manyaonisland · Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2012 5:09 pm Post subject:

sushdmehta · Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2012 7:39 pm Post subject:

manyaonisland · Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2012 8:03 am Post subject:

sushdmehta · Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2012 11:37 am Post subject:

As per HCI website, it appears that there is no penalty if you don't surrender the passport within 3 years of acquiring a foreign nationality.

See Fee structure -> point 4

e.g. - if someone travels using an Indian passport only within 3 months of acquiring British citizenship and surrenders his passport anytime within 3 years of acquiring British citizenship then, as per information on HCI website on date, the person is not liable to pay any penalty.
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t1seeker · Junior Member Joined: 02 Dec 2008 Posts: 48

manyaonisland · Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2012 8:22 am Post subject:

See similar discussion here, here and here.
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maulik_doctor · Junior Member Joined: 29 Sep 2012 Posts: 13

Thanks everyone for sharing their research.

In mean time I emailed VFS Services ( who handles surrender and issuance of visas, on behalf of HCI) asking for processing time for surrender of passport and if I could use the grace period to travel.

They replied back confirming this

' As India does not recognise dual nationality, you are required to surrender your Indian passport when acquiring a new nationality. A grace period of three months is given from the issue date of Naturalization Certificate by the government of India , before imposing any penalty. So if it is only three months since you have received your British Naturalization Certificate then you can travel on your Indian passport. Further please be advised that you need to return back to UK before the three months grace period is over'

So my intentions are to carry this as documentary evidence confirming I can travel India during grace period on my Indian passport.

Further, the pack given during the oath ceremony mentioned about Right to Abode. It mentions that after attaining British citizenship if anyone wants to travel on foreign passport than they need to get Right to abode stamp on their foreign passport. After visiting the right to abode link on UKBA website http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/britishcitizenship/right-of-abode/

The website confirms the following:

You can use the following documents as evidence that you have the right of abode:

1)a UK passport describing you as a British citizen or a British subject with the right of abode; or
2)a UK identity card describing you as a British citizen or a British subject with the right of abode; or
3) a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode in the UK, which has been issued by the UK government or on its behalf.

I have applied for my British passport and hopefully it should come well in time before I travel. Hence I can use the passport to claim my ight of abode.

To summarise and correct me if I am wrong:

1) I can use Indian passport to enter India during grace period (even if I claim British citizen on Indian landing card)

2) I can use British passport to enter UK and if asked why there is no exit stamp from India I can show my Indian passport which I have used for India entry.

Everyone's comment is highly appreciated.

Thanks !!!!!!

gidoc · Sage Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 873

>>To summarise and correct me if I am wrong:

1) I can use Indian passport to enter India during grace period (even if I claim British citizen on Indian landing card)

2) I can use British passport to enter UK and if asked why there is no exit stamp from India I can show my Indian passport which I have used for India entry. >>

Correct on paper, if you are traveling in an emergency you will have no problems in entering India. only on return you will have to have all your documentation and be ready for explainations in UK.

People are sometimes happy even to pay a penalty an retain the passport for longer periods.
Personally, I woudnt undertake this option and be safe and stress free while traveling.

arunkulfi · Newbie Joined: 15 Oct 2012 Posts: 5

virgo2012 · Member Joined: 28 Mar 2012 Posts: 77

Hi
can anybody suggest what are the penalties after 3 month of grace periods if somebody travel India on Indian passport after the date of naturalisation?

ssachida · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2013 8:55 am Post subject:

http://hcilondon.in/renunciation.php