British Passport for newborn vs RoA/CoE

[S_rdj13]

Hi,

First, apologies if this topic has been address in another forum (I couldn't find one/ any that are recent hence the request for help).

I hold a British Passport (Naturalised) and my wife has an Indian Passport with a Tier - II dependent visa.

We have decided to have our baby in India in order to avoid being at the mercy of the NHS.

Once the baby is born, we either need to apply for 1. Option 1: a British passport (which he/ she will be entitled to through me); or otherwise
2. Option 2: an Indian Passport with a COE/ ROA certificate for the UK.

From what I have read online, Option 2 is "quicker" however it involves a number of applications starting with applying for an Indian passport for the baby. Unfortunately, there are concerns around change of address on my wife's documents which means getting an Indian Passport for the baby will be tedious.

We are therefore considering Option 1. We had understood from the UK Govt website that issuing passports from overseas could take up to 16 weeks. However I recall reading on this forum that it could take much longer (although, this comment was made by someone a few years ago, so things may have changed). An Agent who we spoke with in the U.K. suggested that it in her experience it takes a month.

Has anyone had any recent experience with Option 2, i.e. Applying for a UK passport from India for a newborn baby? How was the experience and how long did it take? We'd be applying from Mumbai.

Any help would be much appreciated. I may even try both options simultaneously.

For the benefit of others in the future will keep people posted once We go down either option.

[vinny]

I may even try both options simultaneously.

Unfortunately, I think they may only grant either one or the other, not both simultaneously.

[S_rdj13]

Many thanks. Yes agreed that eventually I would have to opt for one over the other but nothing would stop us from starting the process on procuring an Indian Passport alongside a British Passport and then choose one option depending on which appears to be moving faster. Obviously if I apply for a British Passport and then an ROE (assuming GOI obliges and issues an Indian Passport) then I’d need to retract the application for a British Passport.

I guess the question still stays as to whether anyone has applied for a British Passport recently for a newborn in India and how long it would take. This option certainly looks much easier albeit the processing time stories from a few years ago appear to suggest it takes longer than just 16 weeks (one suggested 6/12 months!)

Does anyone have any recent experiences?

Thanks

Many thanks

[ameensam1]

I went through a similar experience. Contrary to what you might read or hear over the internet, I orchestrated the whole process here in the UK without having to travel oversea to apply from there or seek help from any solicitor. In fact, the only one I spoke to did advise me to secure a DNA before applying and that turns out to be unnecessary and impossible if you plan to use it for immigration purposes as the home office has to give you a reference number to be given to any of the UK government-approved DNA laboratories. It took roughly 8 months for the passport to be issued. I called the passport office to clarify my doubt from what I read on the government website which says "the applicant must apply from their country residence" and the call centre agent said the same which to me doesn't make any sense as a one-year-old boy can't apply for a passport. Hence, I raised the point about applying from wherever is convenient for you as I find it logistically senseless to have to travel to Nigeria just so I can apply for my son's passport.
Background:
My son was born in Nigeria and I wasn't present as I had to come back to the UK 3 months before he was born to work. I filled out the necessary form for an oversea applicant (not the one you'll fill if the applicant is already in the UK) with my Nigeria address as the applicant address, my UK address as my address and I explicitly stated that I'm was currently in the UK and that any correspondence including supporting documents to be returned to my UK address. Each time they requested for additional info, they usually email me and send a latter of same. Prior to attempting the passport route, I equally considered the COE/ ROA certificate but I came to realise that the process and time are almost the same. One very important decision I made was not to get a Nigerian passport for my son to avoid complicating things. As I found, it was straightforward to say on the application that he doesn't possess any passport prior to the application. I was expecting them to request a DNA due to lack of any photographic evidence of myself with my son but that never happened as it turns out a marriage certificate, my son's birth certificate showing both I and his mother, photos of our wedding, photos of my son and his mum (with annotation that I wasn't in the photo as I was here in the UK) plus a bunch of evidence proving we are a family was more than enough. Oh, I forgot to mention I was also invited for an interview here in the UK. What I need you to understand is that every instance where I think they may want to question I included an explanation for guidance. Like why I wasn't in any photos, why he was over a year old before applying (well that's simply down to my nonchalant attitude to things at times). I wish you all the best just give them what they require, be honest and all is well inshallah. Your case may even be simpler than mine was as you were present and all.