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Hi Guys,

Quick question, I received my British citizenship via the asylum route. I want to know, now that I have my British citizenship and passport, do I retain my original nationality, as both my country of origin and the UK allow dual citizenship, or have i effectively withdrawn my citizenship at the time of my asylum application?

Regards

Ukvi doesn't have the authority to remove your original citizenship. You retain it if you become British.

Kickassjerk wrote: ↑

Tue May 30, 2023 3:33 pm

Hi Guys,

Quick question, I received my British citizenship via the asylum route. I want to know, now that I have my British citizenship and passport, do I retain my original nationality, as both my country of origin and the UK allow dual citizenship, or have i effectively withdrawn my citizenship at the time of my asylum application?

Regards

Have you practically renounced your nationality ? Asylum claim does not mean that you have renounced your nationality ,although for a limited period you do not enjoy benefits of your nationality. Even in case you practically renounce your nationality this can be reobtained. All depends on circumstances.

Each country administers its own nationality and whether you are covered by it or not. If both countries permit multiple nationality, then you retain the nationality of both countries.

But be aware of the Master Nationality Rule; if you are a dual/multiple national and physically in one of those countries, you can be treated as if you were solely a citizen of that country.

Essentially, if you travel back to the country of which you are a citizen and from where you fled for asylum, the UK will not be able to afford you any consular assistance in that country. You could be treated as if you were solely a citizen of that country. The recent famous case of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is a case in point.

This, by the way, is not unique to asylum cases. A dual US-UK citizen could be denied British consular assistance if they are arrested in the US itself, a country of which they are also a national.

Similarly, till the 1970s, Americans of Polish descent visiting Poland were subject to all the requirements of a Polish citizen, including military service, even if they were not carrying a Polish passport. In the middle of the Cold War, the US and Poland negotiated a treaty exempting such dual Polish-US citizens from certain aspects of Polish law in 1972.

So, although you retain the nationality of the state that you fled from claiming asylum, if you travel there, be aware that the UK government may not be able to provide you assistance. Travel at your own risk.

Thanks for the quick responses guys! Really appreciate it. To answer a few of the questions posted above:

Have you practically renounced your nationality ?

No i have not. However I do not have my OG pp as the home office never returned that. So I guess if needed I could potentially re apply for that (though I have no intention to do so)!

Each country administers its own nationality and whether you are covered by it or not. If both countries permit multiple nationality, then you retain the nationality of both countries.

Thanks for the clarification!