Smurfette wrote:When I renounced my UK citizenship in Fiji in 1997 it was done so I could legally live and work there as dual citizenship was not allowed. As it is now legal I would like to apply for my UK citizenship (born UK 1974.) and a UK passport. However there is no confirmation of renunciation document that I received and no fees were paid either. Is it possible that I am still a UK citizen and the UK government was not involved in the process at all? The renunciation application forms were given to Fiji immigration and I did not send anything to the UK.
Hi Smurfette,
To understand the position more clearly, when you "renounced" your citizenship, did you actually renounce as a matter of UK nationality law, or did you merely make a declaration of renunciation to the Fijian authorities that would have had zero effect in UK law? It seems to me to be the latter. The only way of formally renouncing British citizenship is by having the Home Secretary register a declaration of renunciation.
(1) To find out if you are still a British citizen: There are a number of ways you might do this:
(a) Write to
FurtherNationalityEnquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk with your full name and date of birth, asking them to confirm whether or not a declaration of renunciation has been made. Alternatively, write a letter to them. OR
(b) Make what is called a "Subject Access Request" to UKVI/Home Office - they will send you copies of all data they hold on you (at a nominal fee of £10), including information about any declaration of renunciation registered by them. If there is no data on you, your renunciation would not have taken effect as a matter of UK law.
You should not apply for a passport until UKVI have confirmed that you have not lost your British nationality. You could also apply for a nationality status letter but that would seem like a waste of money to me.
(2) What if you are no longer a British citizen? You have a legal entitlement to register as a British citizen under section 13(1) British Nationality Act 1981 ("resumption of British citizenship"). The appropriate form is RS1 and attracts a fee of £1,163. You will need to enrol your biometrics at a visa processing centre in Fiji as part of the application process, and attend a citizenship ceremony at the High Commission once your resumption has been processed.
