British Citizen Checklist

[mark2019]

Hello all hope you are well.

My wife went through the fiancé, Spouse, Spouse Extension and received her indefinite leave to remain in November 2025. I have a couple of questions regarding the UK Citizenship.

1. I am British born and citizen, as this is the case, can my wife apply for her Citizenship now?

2. When we got married, we continued all the visas in my wife’s maiden name, as I was worried about changing it to our married name in case the supporting documents were refused due to not matching. Are we able to now apply for Citizenship in our married name? Or will this cause issues? For example, her English exam certificate is in her maiden name.

Any support would be much appreciated.

Many Thanks

[CR001]

1. She could have applied as soon as she got ilr.

2. She needs to apply in the name that is kn her passport. FYI, a spouse wouldn't be refused due to the name issue you state anyway. It if you want her married for citizenship, she has to change her passport first.

[mark2019]

Hello Char, thank you for you quick response.

The issue we have here is, her nationality is Peruvian, when we spoke to them before they were unable to change to what we required. As an example (not actual names) Jenifer Lopez is the maiden name, for us to include my married name, the only thing they would accept is Jennifer Lopez De Smith rather than Jennifer Smith. How would we get around this?

Thanks

[lolo2]

If your wife wants to apply for a British passport after naturalisation using her married name, she must change her name on her Peruvian passport first.

This is something your wife needs to address with the Peruvian authorities.

In most Latin-American countries changing names after marriage - or for the wife to add husband's last name - is not an easy process, even more if you live abroad. That's the reason why many couples desist on embarking on that process.

[lolo2]

the only thing they would accept is Jennifer Lopez De Smith rather than Jennifer Smith. How would we get around this?

Just wanted to add, the "De" (meaning "of" in English) in a married woman means - in your example - "married to Mr Smith".

That's the name structure married women have followed in all Latin-American countries for centuries - some "heritage" from Spain. Your wife cannot remove her surname and replace it by yours, unless she does that from her birth certificate (or registration or whatever Peru require) which will make the situation even more complicated.

[mark2019]

So there is no way other than Jennifer Lopez De Smith of getting a British passport in the name of Jennifer Smith

[lolo2]

She needs to change the name on her Peruvian passport first for HMPO to issue her British passport with the same name. Both names must match.

The Home Office cannot change names on personal documents issued by third countries, for obvious reasons.

[mark2019]

Therein lies the problem, they will not change it to how we traditionally do things in the UK, they will, as you have mentioned only add “De Smith” to the end of the maiden name.

[mark2019]

Once the British passport has been issued, can it then be reissued into the British way of doing married surnames? If we were to provide documents for doctors, HMRC, Energy bills, bank statements etc, which we can provide as evidence, then having the passport updated to the British traditional way of surnames ?

[contorted_svy]

No, because the government really cares about names on passports being consistent. So, unless you manage to change the name on the peruvian passport or renounce it in some way, there is pretty much no way of getting a British passport in a different name.

[mark2019]

Thank you all for you help, we are going to leave the name as it is, as it is more hassle to change it.

We are looking to start the process this weekend, what supporting documents are required for the Citizenship? Also once the application is approved does this include a British passport or does that need to be done separately?

Many Thanks

[secret.simon]

once the application is approved does this include a British passport or does that need to be done separately?

Applying for a British passport is a separate process.

The application for a British passport can be submitted only after attending the citizenship ceremony and receiving the naturalisation certificate.

[mark2019]

Ok thank you.

Can you please let me know what supporting documents are required for the Citizenship?

Many Thanks

[contorted_svy]

Passport(s) covering either the last 3 years, 2 referee forms, proof of English language, urn for the life in the UK test, marriage certificate, copy of picture page of your passport, proof of ILR.

[mark2019]

Thank you for the confirmation.

So that is all that is required for the Citizenship?

What are the 2 referee forms? I assume these can be downloaded via a link when you do your application?

Many Thanks

[contorted_svy]

citizenship requires way less documentation than ILR or other visa applications. you find the form here https://visas-immigration.service.gov.u ... on_MN1.pdf note that one referee must be a professional from an approved list, and the other one must be British and over 25. Can't pick anyone who is related to you or wife by blood/marriage, and referees also can't be related to each other in the same way.

[mark2019]

Thank you for the confirmation, that makes sense.

I had a look at the form and want to confirm a couple points.

Is it 1 form per referee, so 2 forms and 2 photos (1 for each form)

Also it doesn’t ask what the referees occupation is for the professional, should they write their job title?

Many Thanks

[lolo2]

Yes, it's one form per referee.

You don't need to write the referees occupation on the form. The occupation of each referee is an input on the citizenship application online.

[mark2019]

Thank you for confirming.

Another question I had, is with the referee form.

Why does it say to write the name of the applicant on the back of the photo before sticking it down? Surely that defeats the object?

Also it says you can upload documents, again what is the point of sticking a passport photo on the form if you are going to scan and upload?

Thanks

[lolo2]

Ignore that part. You don't need to write anything on the back of the photo.

It's a legacy from when these applications were submitted in a paper form. Everything is submitted online now.

[mark2019]

Hello all, hope you are well.

We are about to submit and pay for my wife’s citizenship visa after her successful Indefinite Leave To Remain.

Can someone please let me know if we are missing anything. I am a British citizen

Wife’s Passport(s) covering either the last 3 years

2 referee forms, 1 from a friend and 1 from a civil servant, both with photo included

proof of English language B1 that we used for Spouse and ILR visas

URN for the life in the UK test

Marriage certificate

Copy of picture page of my passport

Proof of ILR

3 Years proof of living in the UK. What is accepted here? As it says on the application you cannot use things like utility bills, which is what we used for previous visas.

Many Thanks

[CR001]

Presumably it is your wife's photo you have put on the 2 referee forms and not photos of the referees?

Proof of residence is stamped passport pages only.

[mark2019]

Hello CR001

Yes that is correct my wife’s photo.

So just her Peruvian Passports with stamps is all that is required?

Other than that we are good to go?

Thanks

[alterhase58]

As advised, passport covering the residency period is sufficient for ILR holders.

[mark2019]

Hello all and thank you for your responses.

Can I please confirm that the documents I have mentioned are all that is required?

Many Thanks