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I have had a ROA Certificate on various passports for over 40 years via my mother who was born in London in 1935. She is alive and we are both Commonwealth citizens.

The question is that in order to apply for a British passport do I need to travel to the UK or can I apply at the local High Commmission?

Are you both British citizens? You state you are commonwealth citizens.

There’s no need to travel to the UK. Apply online here:
https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports
You will be told what documents are required.
Embassies or High Commissions don’t deal with applications.

No Indians with Certificates of ROA. Residing in India.

Thanks

Were you born from 1983?

No much before 1983

Thanks for all this

Is there official guidance that I can refer to for persons with ROA that states that they can enter the UK via the UK citizens queue.

This has been the standard practice for me for all these decades but the younger officers seem unfamiliar with ROA certificates and often insist I go to the “ other passports” queue and these days often call on a senior officer to understand what the ROA is about.

Much gratitude in advance for your help…..

Refer to this:
https://www.gov.uk/right-of-abode

Also:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... -abode-roa

Jingax59 wrote: ↑

Tue May 16, 2023 8:46 am

No much before 1983

Some Commonwealth citizens born prior to 1983 may have the Right of Abode, but are not British citizens. If you are not a British citizen, then you may be ineligible for a British passport.

Jingax59 wrote: ↑

Tue May 16, 2023 9:36 am

Thanks for all this

Is there official guidance that I can refer to for persons with ROA that states that they can enter the UK via the UK citizens queue.

This has been the standard practice for me for all these decades but the younger officers seem unfamiliar with ROA certificates and often insist I go to the “ other passports” queue and these days often call on a senior officer to understand what the ROA is about.

Much gratitude in advance for your help…..

The right to queue is not about your stamp (RoA), it's about the passport you're travelling with. Unfortunately, your Asian passport doesn't allow you queue in the British side. You have to go to all other passports.
And yes you're right about the immigration officers not knowing all the rules. Sometimes it depends on the airport you're travelling into. You don't get so lucky with the smaller airports.

If your mother was born in London, she can apply for a British passport directly (i.e. she would have had both CUKC status AND RoA before 1st January 1983). She will need her British birth certificate.

You (and any siblings via your mother) can register as a British citizen on Form UK(M). Read the guidance linked to at the bottom of the linked page as well. The fees are relatively nominal (£80).

After you have been issued a registration certificate, you can apply for a British passport.

Keep in mind that your acquisition of British citizenship will not benefit any children born to you outside the UK.

Any children born to you in the UK, as either a Commonwealth citizen with Right of Abode or as a registered British citizen, will be or would have been British citizens otherwise than by descent automatically.

Thats very useful to know - many thanks for the information.