Apply for certificate of entitlement before applying for a UK passport

[kxhbn672]

One of the requirements of getting a British passport after getting the British Citizenship certificate is to get someone to prove your identity.

One of the professions allowed in the list (https://www.gov.uk/confirm-identity-onl ... pplication) seems to be “bank or building society official”. It’s not clear what is meant by “official” here.

Can anyone who works at (or retired from) a bank confirm the identity of the person (assuming they fit into other criteria listed as well)?

Thanks!

[alterhase58]

From my perspective an "official" is someone who's employed in a banking/financial services capacity. But if retired would no longer be an official of that institution.

[kxhbn672]

But if retired would no longer be an official of that institution.

However, it indicates at https://www.gov.uk/confirm-identity-onl ... pplication the following:

> You must work in (or be retired from) a ‘recognised profession’. For example:

and "bank or building society official" is one of the listed professions. So, I assume it's OK to be the official of the institution before.

[alterhase58]

OK - didn't spot that - so that's the official guidance.

[kxhbn672]

Hi,

After getting the certificate of British citizenship, there seems to be two next steps available (https://www.gov.uk/apply-citizenship-br ... -you-apply):

- get a British passport
- or, apply for a certificate of entitlement

it could be a more viable option for me to apply for certificate of entitlement (https://www.gov.uk/right-of-abode/apply ... ntitlement) first instead of directly applying for a citizenship due to timelines and meeting the requirements for identity confirmation.

Is that at all possible to first apply and get certificate of entitlement, and still reserve my chance to get a British passport anytime after getting the certificate of entitlement? Or, is there a time limit on applying for a British passport after getting the certificate of British citizenship?

Thanks!

[alterhase58]

There’s no time limit to apply for a passport under any circumstances.

Though I’m not clear why you want to spend £350 on a COE instead of about £90 for a British passport. And like to be much faster than the COE.

NB are you Mixing up passport with citizenship?

[kxhbn672]

Though I’m not clear why you want to spend £350 on a COE instead of about £90 for a British passport.

There is a requirement for passport application to get your identity confirmed by a person which holds a current UK passport and holds (or be retried from) a certain profession. I may not be able to meet that requirement in time. AFAIA, COE doesn't have that requirement.

[alterhase58]

Your choice of course.
Note that the COE expires with your non-UK passport and needs to be applied for again for the new passport.