Guidance Needed on UK Naturalisation and Returning to Work in India

Hi everyone,

I’m seeking some guidance regarding my plans for British naturalisation and an upcoming job in India.

I’ve secured a job in India that I’m due to start in August 2025. However, I become eligible to apply for British naturalisation in mid-July 2025, after completing one year of Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), and I intend to apply as soon as I'm eligible.

Now, let’s say I receive the naturalisation approval email in October 2025. I’m happy to make a short trip to the UK at that point for the oath ceremony, obtain my naturalisation certificate, and then apply for the British passport.

Here’s where I need help. Since I must return to India for my new job, my employer has agreed to let me work remotely from the UK for up to 60 days to handle this process, for some tax compliance reason (which I don’t fully understand, but I’m fine with).

I’ve explored some options based on online research and would really appreciate your thoughts on what’s safest, most practical, and legally sound. Once I receive my British passport, here are the potential paths:

Surrender the Indian passport in the UK, apply for an employment visa for India (since I can’t work on a tourist/e-visa), and then apply for OCI once in India.

Return to India using my Indian passport immediately after getting the British passport, then surrender the Indian passport and apply for OCI from India. I've read that there's a 3-month grace period after acquiring foreign citizenship during which one may still use their Indian passport to travel.

Apply for the British passport to be delivered to my Indian address (if that’s possible—still unclear), then return to India on my Indian passport, and complete the surrender/OCI process there.

I would be grateful for any insights into:

Which route is the safest and most straightforward?

Are there any legal or practical flaws in the above approaches?

Has anyone here (or someone you know) gone through a similar process—especially in relation to obtaining an employment visa for India as a former Indian citizen?

Thanks in advance for your help and guidance!

Best regards,

Apart from the OCI aspect have you considered the "future intentions" requirements for naturalisation? Page 28pp
https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... y-guidance

alterhase58 wrote: ↑

Tue May 20, 2025 11:38 am

Apart from the OCI aspect have you considered the "future intentions" requirements for naturalisation? Page 28pp
https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... y-guidance

Thanks a lot for the reply. Yep, that's a valid point, and it's good to avoid any risks. However, in my case, I do have a house here in the UK and am planning to keep it (not to sell it). Additionally, I haven't been out of the country frequently for too long. Just once last year, after ILR for a month.

yatin wrote: ↑

Tue May 20, 2025 11:18 am

Apply for the British passport to be delivered to my Indian address

Some applicants have been scrutinised by the Home Office when they apply for a first British passport from abroad (or to be delivered abroad). This might be seen by the HO as the future intentions to reside in the UK are unclear or not credible, making the process problematic.