Naturalised British citizen travelling abroad for more than 6 months

[Tippy88]

I have searched the forums and cannot find anything that relates to my circumstances.

I am a British citizen with a certificate of naturalisation obtained in September 2020. I have lived continuously in the UK since November 2014 (over 5 years).

I now wish to travel abroad for a period of more than 6 months. I will return to the UK afterwards as I have a house in the UK and consider the United Kingdom to be my home.

I believe that a person in the process of applying for British citizenship cannot travel abroad for longer than a 6 month period and for not more than 6 months in a 12 month period. But for how long can I travel abroad continuously if I already have citizenship? I believe it to be up to 2 years but from what I have read I cannot be certain.

I would be very grateful for any assistance or to a link that answers this question.

Thank you,

Tippy

[alterhase58]

I believe that a person in the process of applying for British citizenship cannot travel abroad for longer than a 6 month period and for not more than 6 months in a 12 month period. But for how long can I travel abroad continuously if I already have citizenship? I believe it to be up to 2 years but from what I have read I cannot be certain.

There are no such rules. A British citizen (whether naturalised or native born) can leave and enter the UK at will regardless of any timings, or leave the country for good. I don't know any link that confirms this, doubt there is one.

[Tippy88]

Thank you. However it is odd that there is nothing official to confirm what you say. I agree that one is free to go anywhere in the world for however long but won't problems arise when a naturalised person reenters the country that gave them citizenship, in this case Britain? Would they not be in danger of losing their status and rights?

[alterhase58]

Thank you. However it is odd that there is nothing official to confirm what you say. I agree that one is free to go anywhere in the world for however long but won't problems arise when a naturalised person reenters the country that gave them citizenship, in this case Britain? Would they not be in danger of losing their status and rights?

The main thing is that a British citizen has automatic "right of abobe" in the UK, i.e. you cannot be refused entry or sanctioned (unless you broke the law!). I'll try and find the link.

You are a British citizen! Just show your passport - if you have been away for a long time you may not have immediate access to certain public services or benefits (habitual residence test), but that's nothing to do with citizenship. Revocation of citizenship is a serious action, but certainly not due to excessive travel.

[alterhase58]

The main thing is that a British citizen has automatic "right of abode" in the UK, i.e. you cannot be refused entry or sanctioned (unless you broke the law!). https://www.gov.uk/right-of-abode

[Tippy88]

Thank you again. I checked the gov link you sent and kept a note of its contents. My next question therefore is: Can a naturalised British citizen get non-resident status? It might seem like a contradiction that one would one minute want citizenship and the next minute want to be non-resident but this would best suit my circumstances. In the longer term (after 2-3 years) I would return to the UK. I consider the UK to be my domicile, where I return to, have a house in which I keep my belongings and where I pay my taxes.

[alterhase58]

There's a non-resident status for tax purposes : https://www.gov.uk/tax-foreign-income/residence
But not a status that is stamped into your passport, not something you apply for. It doesn't matter to the government where you live, here or abroad, except where taxation is concerned. My understanding, others may have more insight. For taxation aspects it's probably best you consult a tax expert or a subject forum.

[Tippy88]

I've actually already visited that last gov page you linked. You have already very kindly helped me by answering my original question. Now that I have migrated to the question of tax then as you say, it is probably no longer relevant to this forum.
Many thanks once again
Tippy