Applying for UK Passports for Children

[galatie81]

Hi all,

My husband (Belgian) and I (American) are married and lived in the UK before moving abroad in 2018.

We both lived in the UK for more than 5 years, my husband moved to the UK in Oct 2010. He then exercised his treaty rights, took the life in the UK test, and received his certificate of naturalisation as a British citizen on 6 Sept 2018. My husband has never applied for a UK passport.

We have 3 children:

Child 1: Born Oct 2014 in the UK, he already has a British passport through his father, we applied for this before leaving the UK.

Child 2: Born Aug 2016 in the UK, has never had a UK passport. Currently has a Belgian passport.

Child 3: Born Apr 2020 in Singapore, has never had a a UK passport. Currently has a Beligan passport.

Can children 2 and 3 apply for a UK passport since their father is a naturalised British citizen? I am not sure if where they were born or the date of my husband's naturalisation has any effect on this. Can we bypass form MN1, as it looks to be an expensive process if my husband applies for his UK passport?

Any help would be great, thank you!!!!

[alterhase58]

MN1 doesn’t apply here as father is BC.

Both children can apply for passports.

In case of child 3 born outside the Uk he/she would not be able to pass on BC to her/his children if they are born outside the UK.

It doesn’t matter that father is British through naturalisation, he is BC.

[contorted_svy]

Chidren can apply for UK passports, but if they are abroad their application will take longer. also keep in mind all applications will need originals of father's naturalisation certificate and it won't be possible to "bundle" applications together as they may go to different processing places. It is feasible but it may take longer than you hope.

[CR001]

Child 2 needs evidence of your permanent residency status at the time of rhe chikds birth as the child was born before became you became British.

[galatie81]

Thanks, everyone.

This is helpful.

CR001, this was my line of thinking as well, as my husband did not get British citizenship before my second child was born. I asked my husband and he said that he does not have any proof of residency status, I thought he might have received a card or something as I have a UK residence card issued to me in 2018 but I think because he's from the EU he doesn't receive one? I am not sure what would used to prove his residency status for my first child's UK passport.

What else can we use to proof his PR status in the UK? Would a letter of employment from his old company verifying his years in the UK work? Bank account statements?

[CR001]

He would have possibly had a card (blue) stating permanent residency.

What did he use to prove permant residncy for his citizenship application?

If he doesn't have such a card, he would have to produce evidence of 5 years of exercising treaty rights in the uk prior to the child's birth.

[galatie81]

Thank you. I found the below online:

You must send your biometric residence permit ( BRP ) back to the Home Office within 5 working days of getting your certificate of British citizenship. Cut your BRP into 4 pieces and put it in a windowless envelope. Include a note saying you're returning your permit because you've become a citizen.

I believe in all likelihood my husband returned his BRP once he got his citizenship granted in 2018.

I guess the only way forrward now is to gather 5 years worth of evidence that he lived in the UK prior to my second child's birth? Is there an official list of documents that I can submit? Do I submit all of this with the passport application, or will they ask it from me separately?

For my son who already had a UK passport, do you happen to know the current processing times would be to renew passports abroad? Would 2 months be sufficient time to allow him to get this back, as we have to travel end of October. Perhaps I will start by renewing my first child's passport, then my third child, and then lastly, my second?

Thank you!

[galatie81]

Can I reference the list below to submit 5 years worth of proof? Exactly, how much are they looking for?

A letter dated and signed by your employer confirming the duration of your UK-based employment to date.
Annual business accounts if you are a self-employed person.
A letter dated and signed from an accredited organisation in the UK confirming physical attendance at a course and the duration.
A dated and addressed invoice from an accredited organisation for school, college or university fees for education requiring physical attendance in the UK.
A residential mortgage statement and evidence of mortgage payments.
A tenancy agreement and evidence of rent payments.
An annual bank statement covering a 12-month period showing transactions for at least 6 months in that year (you will need to provide 1 statement for each year required).
A P60 for a 12-month period (you will need to provide 1 P60 for each year required).
A dated and signed letter from a registered care home confirming the period of residence in the home.
Documentation (e.g., an entitlement notification or repayment statement) issued by the student finance body.
A dated, addressed council tax bill.
Evidence that your employer made pension contributions on your behalf.

[contorted_svy]

Thank you. I found the below online:

You must send your biometric residence permit ( BRP ) back to the Home Office within 5 working days of getting your certificate of British citizenship. Cut your BRP into 4 pieces and put it in a windowless envelope. Include a note saying you're returning your permit because you've become a citizen.

I believe in all likelihood my husband returned his BRP once he got his citizenship granted in 2018.

I guess the only way forrward now is to gather 5 years worth of evidence that he lived in the UK prior to my second child's birth? Is there an official list of documents that I can submit? Do I submit all of this with the passport application, or will they ask it from me separately? Submit it with the passport application and add a cover note to explain why you are sending it

For my son who already had a UK passport, do you happen to know the current processing times would be to renew passports abroad? Would 2 months be sufficient time to allow him to get this back, as we have to travel end of October. Difficult to know as it can depend on which country you are applying from. It can take up to 6 months so advise to do this at a time when you are not planning to travel. Perhaps I will start by renewing my first child's passport, then my third child, and then lastly, my second? This is entirely up to you, as I said above the whole process for all your children may take an arbitrary long time.

Thank you!

[contorted_svy]

Can I reference the list below to submit 5 years worth of proof? Exactly, how much are they looking for?

A letter dated and signed by your employer confirming the duration of your UK-based employment to date.
Annual business accounts if you are a self-employed person.
A letter dated and signed from an accredited organisation in the UK confirming physical attendance at a course and the duration.
A dated and addressed invoice from an accredited organisation for school, college or university fees for education requiring physical attendance in the UK.
A residential mortgage statement and evidence of mortgage payments.
A tenancy agreement and evidence of rent payments.
An annual bank statement covering a 12-month period showing transactions for at least 6 months in that year (you will need to provide 1 statement for each year required).
A P60 for a 12-month period (you will need to provide 1 P60 for each year required).
A dated and signed letter from a registered care home confirming the period of residence in the home.
Documentation (e.g., an entitlement notification or repayment statement) issued by the student finance body.
A dated, addressed council tax bill.
Evidence that your employer made pension contributions on your behalf.

If your husband was in employment for 5 years submit 5 P60s and/or a letter from relevant employers confirming he was employed and the dates.

[galatie81]

Thanks, he has 4 years of consecutive P60s before my second child was born but also has letters from his employer confirming that he was working 5 years in the UK as well.

Would this be enough or worth it to go back to his own employer and request for that one missing P60?

[contorted_svy]

Letter from employer should be enough. If not, try to get payslips from the missing year or the missing P60. An annual bank statement would also do.