Citizenship ceremony, passport application, and travelling

[Tassadar]

Hi everyone,

I am an Australian citizen and have just have received emails from the Home Office and local council that my British citizenship application has been approved (from ILR pathway).

I have booked the first available citizenship ceremony which is in three weeks. I have already booked travel abroad from mid-December to mid-January but the email from the Home Office states that "Once you have received your certificate of British citizenship any Biometric Residence Permit (BRP card) you have will no longer be valid and cannot be used as evidence of your status".

I have some questions:

1. Is it true that I will not be able to use my Australian passport to return to the UK in January because my BRP will be invalid? This means I will need to obtain a British passport before I leave in December (roughly 6 weeks after my citizenship ceremony).
2. If I apply for my British passport immediately after my citizenship ceremony is it possible to send in photocopies of my Australian passport pages rather than the original, just in case it is not returned in time for my flight to Australia?
3. Will I need my Australian birth certificate for my British passport application? Right now this is in Australia but I can have it mailed over if needed. From what I've read online it seems it is not required if I have a certificate of naturalisation, but other posts seem to suggest it may be required (e.g., viewtopic.php?p=2168467#p2168467).

Thanks!

[contorted_svy]

Hi everyone,

I am an Australian citizen and have just have received emails from the Home Office and local council that my British citizenship application has been approved (from ILR pathway).

I have booked the first available citizenship ceremony which is in three weeks. I have already booked travel abroad from mid-December to mid-January but the email from the Home Office states that "Once you have received your certificate of British citizenship any Biometric Residence Permit (BRP card) you have will no longer be valid and cannot be used as evidence of your status".

I have some questions:

1. Is it true that I will not be able to use my Australian passport to return to the UK in January because my BRP will be invalid? This means I will need to obtain a British passport before I leave in December (roughly 6 weeks after my citizenship ceremony). You should be able to as you are a visa free national, but it can be a risky game to use your BRP after you are a citizen.
2. If I apply for my British passport immediately after my citizenship ceremony is it possible to send in photocopies of my Australian passport pages rather than the original, just in case it is not returned in time for my flight to Australia? 6 weeks should be more than enough to get your British passport. Standard processing times are 3 weeks. I would say you can apply with the originals and if it takes longer than 3 weeks contact HMPO and explain you need to travel soon.
3. Will I need my Australian birth certificate for my British passport application? Right now this is in Australia but I can have it mailed over if needed. From what I've read online it seems it is not required if I have a certificate of naturalisation, but other posts seem to suggest it may be required (e.g., viewtopic.php?p=2168467#p2168467).cNot needed as you naturalised, your claim to citizenship isn't through your birth certificate.

Thanks!

[Tassadar]

You should be able to as you are a visa free national, but it can be a risky game to use your BRP after you are a citizen.

Does this mean entering the UK using an eGate with my Australian passport? I understand Australians can visit as a tourist for up to 6 months without a visa but not sure if that would cause a problem since I'll be a British citizen living here (and the system may think I'm an Australian tourist overstaying).

6 weeks should be more than enough to get your British passport. Standard processing times are 3 weeks. I would say you can apply with the originals and if it takes longer than 3 weeks contact HMPO and explain you need to travel soon.

Thanks, I think I will do this and hope it all is finalised and returned in time.

Not needed as you naturalised, your claim to citizenship isn't through your birth certificate.

Thanks!

[contorted_svy]

You should be able to as you are a visa free national, but it can be a risky game to use your BRP after you are a citizen.

Does this mean entering the UK using an eGate with my Australian passport? I understand Australians can visit as a tourist for up to 6 months without a visa but not sure if that would cause a problem since I'll be a British citizen living here (and the system may think I'm an Australian tourist overstaying).

This means using your BRP for the airline to let you board the plane and use your AUS passport and citizenship certificate at the eGates. No risk of overstaying a visa as you are British and they can't refuse you entry to the UK.

[Tassadar]

This means using your BRP for the airline to let you board the plane and use your AUS passport and citizenship certificate at the eGates. No risk of overstaying a visa as you are British and they can't refuse you entry to the UK.

Understood, so basically my two options are:

1. Wait until I'm back from my travels before applying for my British passport. I would travel with my Australian passport (won't have an issue flying to the UK on my Australian passport) and present this along with my citizenship certificate at the eGates or to an immigration officer.
2. Apply for the British passport as soon as I've got my citizenship certificate and cross my fingers that my Australian + British passports are both returned before my flight.

I think I will go with the second option since I have 6 weeks and you said the current timelines are 3 weeks, so there is still some buffer for delays.

Thanks again!

[lolo2]

I think you have enough time to apply and obtain the first British passport after ceremony. That process is usually very quick (check the post about British passport timelines)

Just submit the application as soon as you receive the certificate - if possible the same day - and ask your referee to also confirm your details as soon as they receive the request.

[contorted_svy]

I think you have enough time to apply and obtain the first British passport after ceremony. That process is usually very quick (check the post about British passport timelines)

Just submit the application as soon as you receive the certificate - if possible the same day - and ask your referee to also confirm your details as soon as they receive the request.

This is what I have done - I applied for my passport on the 30 Oct last year, similar time as it will be for you, sent the documents the day after and got my BP on the 8 Nov. 6 weeks should be enough time.