Passport renewal: old passport kept by embassy

[XavierGold]

Hello,

Here’s my situation: my passport was damaged so I got it replaced, however my country’s policy (I am French) is to keep the old passport when we get a new one (unless we have a visa but I am on settled status), so I don’t have the old one anymore...

Now I see that to apply for British citizenship I need to provide my passports covering the entire 5 years of residence… what can I do about this? Does it mean I need to reset the clock of residence from the time I got my new passport?

Thank you

[contorted_svy]

Not an issue as your passport doesn't get stamped anyway. You cann explain that you don't have that passport anymore in a cover note if you wish, you will need to prove your residence in other ways (eg P60s, letters from employers, letters from the government, a SAR).