UK citizen certificate reference number

[George8113]

Hi All,

I am in the process of applying for UK Citizenship.

I am going through naturalisation application but they require my wife's UK citizen certificate reference number and date.

She has lost the certificate and we started the application through GOV.UK to request a duplicate copy of the certificate.

However, during the application they ask of the date and number of the certificate. We don't remember those and this is the reason we are doing the application in the first place. So we cannot proceed the application for duplicate UK citizen certificate and I cannot finish my UK citizen application.

Anyone had the same problem? Please advice?

[George8113]

Hi All,

Nobody had the same problem before? Just lost the citizenship certificate?

[secret.simon]

I think the problem is rarer than you think, because it is the naturalisation certificate, not the passport, that is definitive proof that you are a British citizen. It is therefore foundational to your being a British citizen and for that reason, people are more likely to be careful with their naturalisation certificate.

I suggest keeping the naturalisation certificate and other critical documents (birth certificates, etc) in a fireproof waterproof box close enough to the fire exit that you can grab it and go on your way out if you must get out of the house in a hurry.

I would also suggest keeping scanned copies of your naturalisation certificates in your personal email and also copies with family members. That would ensure that you would have details such as dates and certificate numbers to hand in case you lose the certificate in future.

In your current circumstance, I would say that a good place to start is for your wife to contact the council where she attended the naturalisation ceremony and ask them if they have records of the date that she attended the ceremony and the naturalisation certificate details (which they may no longer have; they are likely required by the Data Protection Act to destroy such records from time to time).

[Fbiboy2002]

I’m sure you or your wife would remember very important date happened in your life
It will be enough if you remember the date when your wife been naturalised as British citizen ( try to remember what happened in that day connect it something else might help you)
And the certificate number it’s optional if you don’t have it then leave it blank.