Leaving UK after applying for citizenship

Can I leave the UK after applying for citizenship to take a job in another country? And come back for the ceremony and to apply for my passport? Is it mandatory to be in the UK throughout the process of naturalisation and British passport application?

Not mandatory. But be careful about not breaching the intent to settle requirement, which is probably applicable but depends on your route to citizenship.

I’m on 5 route spouse visa. We bought a house here and it’s our permanent home but I got a good job offer now but I don’t want to interrupt my residence because I am very close to completing 60 months and to ILR and nationality. I’m trying to work out a date that I can disclose tentatively to the employer when I can relocated without affecting my status. It has been a painful process

Please review the "Future Intentions requirement" section - page 35 of the nationality policy guidance document:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... .0-ext.pdf

Thank you so the answer is no, I can’t leave until I get my passport? because I must establish that I have no intention to live somewhere else. Even though my permanent home is in the UK and even if I move anywhere for the short/medium term I still intend for my home in the UK to be my permanent.

Future Intentions requirement does not apply to Spouse of British Citizen naturalization route.

That’s good to know, so at what point of this process I can leave the UK to take on the job? Straight after I apply for British passport? Do I have to mention that I am taking a job somewhere else and that I need to come back to collect my document when issued? How would I enter the UK if I must send back my BRP when I apply for nationality?

You're a British citizen only after your naturalization ceremony. Until that, you can keep your BRP

Okay, but after the ceremony I have to apply for my passport. Do I have to remain in the UK until I get it?

Hbuk wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 21, 2021 5:45 pm

Okay, but after the ceremony I have to apply for my passport. Do I have to remain in the UK until I get it?

Yes, as you have to send your original foreign passport to hmpo when you apply for a British passport.

I did come across information that if one uses Nationality application checking service, they can keep the original documents. All applications now are made online anyway. So it looks like I can leave the UK for a short while the soonest I get my ILR and apply immediately for my citizenship and once that is approved, I have to be back to the UK by then and apply for my passport. Remain in the UK until I get it. Is this correct?