British passport- can it take more than 6 weeks to process?

[trangve]

Hi,

I wonder is there any case where it takes more than 6 weeks to get First British passport after naturalisation?

I am applying for citizenship now and my travel plan for the following 3 months are a bit tight. The longest gap between 2 trips is 6 weeks sharp. So I’m planning to have my ceremony and apply passport at that time. Just wonder if there can be any risk that I will not get the passport during that 6 weeks? A friend of mine has been waiting for one month and the passport is still not delivered so I’m a bit worried....

[zimba]

You can travel whenever you want. However you may choose to become British and attend the ceremony after you done your travels. The naturalisation may take several months itself

[trangve]

Thank you.

But do I need to attend ceremony within 3 months from the date my citizenship application approved? At the moment my application is not approved yet but with the timeline that everyone has been posted on this forum, I should expect to get it during this month. If, assuming I get the approval by mid - Oct, do I have to attend ceremony latest by mid Jan?

What I’m worrying is that I have many trips booked from now till February and I will need to apply for the passport in between 2 trips, in order to avoid the 3 months deadline.

[zimba]

You cannot have your cake and eat it too. You either should wait and get a passport or prioritise travel. If you attend the ceremony, you must get a British passport to travel back as your BRP will be invalid. The first passport could take 15-20 days to arrive

[trangve]

Thanks, Zimba.
If the usual process for first passport is betwene 15-20 days then I think I should be saved to apply between two trips, because I have a gap of 36 days.
I can’t really cancel any of my trips so I only have left with 2 options:
1. Apply for passport in between 2 trips with a gap of 36 days —-> is this safe enough? Because one friend of mine has been waiting for one month for her passport.
2. Delay my ceremony until I finish all my travel. But I dont know they will allow me to delay over 3 months from the date my application is approve?

[zimba]

There is a always a risk. 36 days should be enough though. HO needs to give you extension if you want to attend ceremony after 3 months