Travel Abroad With Children While Waiting for citizenship decision

alamiox · Post by **alamiox** » Wed Oct 01, 2025 3:32 pm

We have submitted a British Citizenship application for 2 adults and 3 children (under 18) born outside the UK.

Details of Naturalization/Registration application below:

ILR 5-year route + 12 months
Online Submission and Payment: 13/08/2025 (5 of us, the same application)
Biometrics: 16/08/2025 (Paid) (5 of us, the same day)

We will be traveling abroad to our original country in November for 3 weeks from the 2nd of November.

What will happen if the children receive their decision (registration certificate) while we are abroad?

Will they be able to re-enter the UK?

Should we cancel our plans and wait until at least the children receive their decision?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Post by **alterhase58** » Wed Oct 01, 2025 5:17 pm

alamiox wrote: ↑
Wed Oct 01, 2025 3:32 pm
We have submitted a British Citizenship application for 2 adults and 3 children (under 18) born outside the UK.

Details of Naturalization/Registration application below:

ILR 5-year route + 12 months
Online Submission and Payment: 13/08/2025 (5 of us, the same application)
Biometrics: 16/08/2025 (Paid) (5 of us, the same day)

We will be traveling abroad to our original country in November for 3 weeks from the 2nd of November.

What will happen if the children receive their decision (registration certificate) while we are abroad?
Registration & Naturalisation are not immigration processes.
Will they be able to re-enter the UK? Yes - British citizens can't be refused entry to the UK. If the certificate is issued in the meantime you can still show the immigration status - immigration systems aren't immediately updated for citizenship.

Should we cancel our plans and wait until at least the children receive their decision? Don't think it's necessary; as I said if they are British by the time they return they have a right to enter - just explain at the border if necrssary.

Thanks in advance for your help.

alamiox · Post by **alamiox** » Sat Oct 04, 2025 10:20 pm

Thank you very much. I just read somewhere that when the registration certificate is issued for the children, their status changes automatically and they can't enter the UK with ILR, as they would have already become British citizens, so they woud need a British passport.

Could you help with some reference from Gov.uk or any other source please?

Thanks

Post by **alterhase58** » Sat Oct 04, 2025 11:10 pm

Status in law changes automatically but systems don't change automatically (ILR = immigration - citizenship = nationality - no integration!).
A British citizen has the absolute right to enter the UK.
Whilst a passport is the most convenient document to enter the UK the lack of it is no reason to refuse entry to a citizen.
Quote from gov.uk guidance:
"Entry into the UK
We expect a passenger seeking to enter the UK and claiming to have the right of abode, to prove it by producing either a British citizen passport, a British subject passport showing right of abode, or a certificate of entitlement, in accordance with the statutory requirements. If a person arrives at the border without one of those documents, they may be delayed and subjected to additional questions or checks. Border staff should refer Border Force guidance on this. "

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... +abode.pdf

alamiox · Post by **alamiox** » Sun Oct 05, 2025 2:06 pm

Thanks for sharing this. Just one more question, please.
Now we enter the UK using our home country passport + evisa (showing settlement status) as we are from a visa-required country. I worry that what if the Airline refuses boarding initially if they check the evisa online and it shows that the children's immigration status has ceased to be "settlement" or removed or something like that. Now that everything is digital, it can be checked online. We don't use BRP anymore.
I can understand that once in the UK, they can't be refused entry due to their new British Citizenship that can be verified by the Border Force, but what if they are denied boarding in the first place?

Post by **alterhase58** » Sun Oct 05, 2025 2:31 pm

You are overthinking this - this is not something new, the question is asked many times, the answer is always same/similar.
Airport staff abroad don't have access to all data that UKVI keeps on a person (and UK Border Force have access to) - the evisa is related to immigration & is highly unlikely to be be updated with citizenship status.
I understand your nervousness. If child's certificate should turn up whilst you are away get someone to send you a copy or scan that would be absolute proof. Not even the UKVI guidance or the law says you will be refused and/or deported ....

alamiox · Post by **alamiox** » Sun Oct 05, 2025 11:51 pm

I got you. Thanks a lot for your helpful answers.

Ixeon659 · Post by **Ixeon659** » Mon Oct 06, 2025 12:49 am

Just for your information. I became a citizen more than 2 years ago and I still have settled status in their system. I have checked recently if it is really valid, entered the country with my other passport linked to the status and no issues at all. So, just don't overthink

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Travel Abroad With Children While Waiting for citizenship decision

Travel Abroad With Children While Waiting for citizenship decision

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Re: Travel Abroad With Children While Waiting for citizenship decision