RoA-CoE and British Passport from abroad- newborn

Hello,

We are expecting our first child soon and trying to understand the best route for immigration.

Background:
- Father= British citizen born in the UK (other than by descent, always been a British citizen) and OCI
- Mother= Indian citizen with ILR (based on spouse visa)
- Baby= will be born in India

From this we understand the baby would automatically qualify for British citizenship from their father, however the process to apply for a British passport for baby from India can take a really long time (6+ months). Therefore we are looking at getting the baby an Indian passport and RoA-CoE route which gov.uk states takes around 3 weeks from appointment from outside the UK as we would like to come back to the UK asap.

Is this a viable option for us, any obstacles that we may face? Is the application process very complex or similar to settlement visas?

Once we arrive back to the UK, can the baby apply for a British passport straightaway? Mother also will apply for a British passport (eventually).

Appreciate any help on this!

Thank you

kj0126 wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 19, 2024 12:42 pm

Is this a viable option for us, any obstacles that we may face? Is the application process very complex or similar to settlement visas?

The process is more similar to a passport application itself. Factor in that the child will need an Indian passport first (the CoE-RoA is stuck on one of the blank pages of a non-British passport). So it may take konger than 3 weeks, depending on how long it takes for an Indian passport to come through.

You'd need documentary proof of your British citizenship otherwise than by descent (so, assuming that you were born in the UK, your British birth certificate, and assuming that you were born after 1983, proof that one of your parents was a British citizen or settled in the UK at the time of birth), your marriage certificate and the baby's Indian birth certificate.

kj0126 wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 19, 2024 12:42 pm

Once we arrive back to the UK, can the baby apply for a British passport straightaway?

Yes, as the child will be a British citizen by descent from birth.

Note of course that any children born to that child outside the UK will not be British citizens automatically.

Thank you!

Has anyone taken this route recently from India and have any timelines/feedback?