Apply for first British Passport After Naturalisation

Applying for UK Passport following citizenship ceremony

After you apply for British citizenship, you will attend a citizenship ceremony.

After that, if travel is on your agenda, you’ll want to begin the process of acquiring your British passport, which is your ticket for leaving and entering the country as and when you please.

A British passport will allow visa-free travel to over 130 countries, as well as grant you the right to enter and leave the UK as many times as you like.

However, you will have to apply for a passport first and wait for it to arrive before being able to travel.

Am I automatically eligible now I’m a British citizen?

Before you begin your application, it’s important to know whether or not you’re eligible for a passport. Most people assume that once they’ve obtained British citizenship status, they’re automatically entitled to a British passport. However, that isn’t actually the case, and in some rare circumstances, your application for a passport may be refused, even after you’ve become a UK national.

These situations are usually exceptional, but if any of the following applies to you, then you may find you’re not be eligible for a UK passport:

• A court has restricted your movement and/or banned you from holding a UK passport
• A warrant has been issued for your arrest
• You’ve been issued with an EU or UN order restricting your right to travel
• You’re on bail and your bail conditions mean you cannot leave the country
• The British government have brought you back to the country before and you haven’t repaid what you owe

If you fall under any of these categories, then there’s a very good chance your application for a British passport will be rejected. However, if your record is clean and you aren’t caught up in any legal issues, then you should be free to begin the application process.

How long after the citizenship ceremony can I apply for UK passport?

Once the citizenship ceremony is completed and you have received your registration or naturalisation certificate, you can apply for a British passport immediately.

This is because you will have received proof that you are eligible for a passport, having just become a legitimate UK citizen.

Applying for my British passport

You can apply for a British passport either online or via paper.

Online applications should be made via the official gov.uk website.

Paper applications can be obtained either through a Post Office that offers the Passport Check and Send service or the Passport Adviceline.

When you start the process, on top of filling out the application form, the Home Office will ask you to include evidence to support your application. Keep in mind these must be originals, so unfortunately photocopies will not suffice. If you don’t currently own the original copies, then you’ll need to purchase original copies.

Any documents that aren’t written in English will need to be sent as a certified translation. This will come at a cost, but this needs to be arranged by you, independently from your application.

Those applying for a British passport from outside of the UK will be asked to attend an evidence of identity interview at their closest British embassy or consulate. When attending this interview, it’s important to take all the required supporting documentation with you, otherwise your application will be refused and you’ll lose your money.

If applying online or by paper in the UK, you will also need to appoint someone to confirm your identity (if applying online) or someone to countersign your application (if applying on paper) for the application to be processed. They must have known you for at least 2 years and be either in good standing in the community or work in a ‘recognised profession’.

What documents will be required?

The documents you’ll need to include in support of your application will depend on your individual circumstances.

If you have a certificate of naturalisation or registration, then you’ll need to provide the following:

• Your certificate
• Passport you entered the country with

If you’re a citizen of a British overseas territory and you were born in the UK before January 1^st 1983, then you’ll need to submit the following:

• Birth certificate
• Current passport
• Passport used to enter the UK

If you were born before January 1^st 1983, and your father was born in the UK, you’ll need to submit all of the following with your application:

• Birth certificate containing details of both parents
• Father’s birth certificate
• Parents’ marriage certificate
• Passport used to enter the UK

If you were born on or after January 1^st 1983, then you’ll need to include the following:

• Birth certificate showing parents’ details
• Passport used to enter
• Evidence of at least one parent’s nationality

In the event your circumstances aren’t mentioned here, you’ll need to read the government’s guidance booklet to know which documents to include with your application.

After you apply for a UK passport

Once you have submitted your application for a passport, it will be sent to the Home Office for processing.

You will be able to track the processing of your application. If you applied online or at a Post Office using the Digital Check and Send service, you can do this on the UK government passport service website using your unique application number, which will start with the letters ‘PEX’.

If you applied by by filling in a paper form or at the Post Office using Check and Send, you can track your application by calling the Passport Adviceline. You will need either your 10-digit barcode number from your application form or the 9-digit number on your receipt if you applied at the Post Office.

Once your application is successfully processed, you will receive your new passport in the post. It normally takes around 3 weeks for passports to be processed and sent out.

Can I travel after a citizenship ceremony from UK?

After your citizenship ceremony, you will be able to continue to travel in and out of the UK using your previous permissions.

However, you will likely not be able to take advantage of the travel rights that being a UK citizen gives you until your passport arrives. To be safe, you should wait until you have your new UK passport before embarking on any new travel that depends on your status as a UK citizen.

How can your Manchester immigration lawyers help me?

If you require any assistance with your passport application, then get in touch with our Manchester immigration lawyers by calling 0161 826 9783 Our lawyers can assist you every step of the way, ensuring your paperwork is completed to the highest possible standard, while your case worker will also make sure all your supporting evidence and documentation is submitted.

To view a detailed list of our locations click here.