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Can you travel abroad while waiting for citizenship?

Posted: Wed Aug 07, 2024 1:36 am
by Edwardo
Wife got ILR a few months ago, about to apply for citizenship. Her worry is she is booking a two week holiday to Asia for Christmas this year. So her ticket will have her Philippines passport details on it.

She is worried it could be citizenship is granted while she is abroad and this then will give her problems getting back to the UK. Suddenly she is a British citizen on a foreign passport.

I am of the view it will not be an issue as citizenship is not related to passports but she is worried once it is issued, her overseas passport becomes invalid....and she will be overseas when that happens (possibly)

Does anyone know the situation if she is granted citizenship while abroad on her native (non British) passport?

Re: Can you travel abroad while waiting for citizenship?

Posted: Wed Aug 07, 2024 4:59 am
by alterhase58
Travel is ok, ensure the biometrics are done before you leave. Naturalisation isn’t an immigration application.
You are only British once you have attended the ceremony in the UK. You should plan accordingly. The email approval is only advisory.

Re: Can you travel abroad while waiting for citizenship?

Posted: Wed Aug 07, 2024 2:50 pm
by Edwardo
Thank you, very much appreciated.