Immigrationboards.com

Hi All

I am planning to submit the naturalisation application and appears it can take any where between 3-6 months and a further 1-2 months for getting the passport?
I have a planned travel within the next 6 months, is it possible to travel while the application is being processed?
Can I still travel with my old passport and BRP even after citizenship application has been approved whilst waiting for a British passport?

PS: I tried reading the FAQs but they are from 2016 and few links are not working.

Thanks

You are free to travel.

You are only British once you have attended your ceremony and received your certificate, not from date of approval.

You can travel while your application is processed, but you will need to return your BRP after you get citizenship. After you apply for a UK passport you won't be able to travel as you need to send your current passport.

Thanks both, is there any guideline on how long after the application has been processed that one must appear for the citizenship ceremony?

contorted_svy wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 31, 2022 8:57 pm

You can travel while your application is processed, but you will need to return your BRP after you get citizenship. After you apply for a UK passport you won't be able to travel as you need to send your current passport.

To expand on the point above, you need to break up the period.

Between application and biometrics submission, you can travel.
You need to be in the UK for biometrics submission
Between biometrics and the citizenship ceremony, you can travel.

You need to have somebody in the UK to check if you get the citizenship approval letter from the Home Office and any correspondence from the local council.
The citizenship ceremony can only take place at the local council you reside in or one that you nominated at the time of your application.
You must return to the UK for that.

After the citizenship ceremony, you need to surrender your ILR BRP.
Therefore, if you travel abroad, you may not be able to return to the UK. Airlines may not allow you to board a flight to the UK.

During the passport application, you must submit all uncancelled passports held by you (including any passports that have expired, but not been cancelled). Therefore you can't travel.

Once you have been issued with a British passport, you are free to travel.

vic_msn wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 31, 2022 10:50 pm

Thanks both, is there any guideline on how long after the application has been processed that one must appear for the citizenship ceremony?

You need to contact the local council to arrange the date for the citizenship ceremony within 21 days of the approval letter/email.

You need to attend the citizenship ceremony within 90 days of the approval letter/email.

Thanks for the detailed explanation.

another clarification, so I can also travel in the period between receiving the approval and attending the citizenship ceremony with the old passport and BRP?

Thanks

vic_msn wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 05, 2022 8:33 am

another clarification, so I can also travel in the period between receiving the approval and attending the citizenship ceremony with the old passport and BRP?

Thanks

Yes you can travel. You are only British once you attend your ceremony.