Naturalization certificate lost

[CocoConan1985]

Hi everyone, my natrualization certificate is lost and just ordered a new one online today. Does anybody know the timeline of getting a replacement now? I heard people saying they waited months even a year, I'm quite worried to be honest. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[CocoConan1985]

Can somebody help please?

[CR001]

Can somebody help please?

Please wait for someone to respond. You only posted your initial question less than 20 minutes ago. The forum is not an on demand service and we are all unpaid volunteers with our own family and job responsibilities.

[contorted_svy]

Hi everyone, my natrualization certificate is lost and just ordered a new one online today. Does anybody know the timeline of getting a replacement now? I heard people saying they waited months even a year, I'm quite worried to be honest. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

I can't find an official standard processing time for a replacement certificate. Hard to know. Maybe you can ask them and see if they give you a timeline.

[CocoConan1985]

Can somebody help please?

Please wait for someone to respond. You only posted your initial question less than 20 minutes ago. The forum is not an on demand service and we are all unpaid volunteers with our own family and job responsibilities.

Ok thanks!

[CocoConan1985]

Hi everyone, my natrualization certificate is lost and just ordered a new one online today. Does anybody know the timeline of getting a replacement now? I heard people saying they waited months even a year, I'm quite worried to be honest. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

I can't find an official standard processing time for a replacement certificate. Hard to know. Maybe you can ask them and see if they give you a timeline.

Thank you! I plan to call UKVI tomorrow. I have a family member who is ill, so I urgently need to travel...will be praying....

[CR001]

Do you not have a British Passport?

Unclear what the circumstances of your certificate being lost. Note it is not a travel document so won't help you in terms of traveling.

[contorted_svy]

May I ask why do you need the certificate to travel? do you not have a UK passport yet?

[CocoConan1985]

Do you not have a British Passport?

Unclear what the circumstances of your certificate being lost. Note it is not a travel document so won't help you in terms of traveling.

Yes, I have a British passport, but I need to apply visa to travel to my original country, the consulate today told me that I would need the naturalization certificate to get a visa. So many people saying online that they waited months, maybe I'm overly stressed after reading other people's experience.

[CocoConan1985]

May I ask why do you need the certificate to travel? do you not have a UK passport yet?

Yes I have a British passport. but the country I'm visiting requires the naturalization certificate to grant visa. so quite worried, so many people waited a long time for a replacement

[CR001]

but the country I'm visiting requires the naturalization certificate to grant visa. so quite worried, so many people waited a long time for a replacement

Never heard of this. Which country requires this?

[CocoConan1985]

but the country I'm visiting requires the naturalization certificate to grant visa. so quite worried, so many people waited a long time for a replacement

Never heard of this. Which country requires this?

China. I didn't expect this at all. sigh!

[CR001]

I have just looked and it only asks for passport.

Where exactly does it state you must produce your naturalisation certificate? Presumably you were previously a Chinese citizen?

(1) Passport

Original passport with at least six months of remaining validity and with blank visa pages, a photocopy of the passport's data page and the photo page if it is separate

(2) Visa Application Form and Photo

One completed Visa Application Form with a recently-taken colour passport photo (bare-head, full face) against a white background (size: 48mm x 33mm) attached

Photo Requirements for Chinese Visa Application

There are two ways to prepare your application form. You may complete an Online Application Form (where a Visa Center provides such service), print it out and sign.

Please remember to bring the completed form to the Visa Center to submit your application.

(3) Proof of legal status (applicable for those not applying for the visa in their country of citizenship)

If you are not applying for the visa in the country of your citizenship, you must provide the original and photocopy of your valid certificates of residence, employment or student status, or other valid certificates of legal stay provided by the relevant authorities of the country where the Visa Center is located.

(4) Photocopy of previous Chinese passports or previous Chinese visas (applicable for those who were Chinese citizens and have obtained Korean citizenship)

If you are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, you should provide the last Chinese passport held and a photocopy of its data page.

If you are non-Korean national of other foreign nationals and have obtained Chinese visas before and apply for a Chinese visa with a renewed foreign passport that does not contain any Chinese visa, you should present the photocopy of the previous passport’s data page and the photo page if it is separate, as well as the previous Chinese visa page (If your name on the current passport differs from that on the previous one, you must provide an official document of name change).

L-Visa

Documents showing the itinerary including air ticket booking record (round trip) and proof of a hotel reservation, etc. or an Invitation Letter for Tourist issued by a relevant unit or individual in China. The Invitation Letter should contain:

(1) Information of the applicant (incl. full name, gender, date of birth, etc.);

(2) Details of the planned visit (incl. arrival and departure dates, place(s) to be visited, accommodation arrangements, etc.);

(3) Information of the inviting party (incl. name of organization or person concerned, contact telephone number, address, official stamp of the organization, signature of the legal representative or individual).

Special Notes

(1)The invitation letter may be in the form of fax, photocopy or computer printout, but the consular officer may require the applicant to submit the original of the invitation letter. An issuer of invitation letter who is an individual in China should also provide a photocopy of his/her Chinese ID.

(2)If necessary, the consular officer may require the applicant to provide other proof documents or supplementary materials, or require an interview with the applicant.

(3)The consular officer will decide on whether or not to issue the visa and on its validity, duration of stay and number of entries in light of specific conditions of the applicant.

[CocoConan1985]

I have just looked and it only asks for passport.

Where exactly does it state you must produce your naturalisation certificate? Presumably you were previously a Chinese citizen?

(1) Passport

Original passport with at least six months of remaining validity and with blank visa pages, a photocopy of the passport's data page and the photo page if it is separate

(2) Visa Application Form and Photo

One completed Visa Application Form with a recently-taken colour passport photo (bare-head, full face) against a white background (size: 48mm x 33mm) attached

Photo Requirements for Chinese Visa Application

There are two ways to prepare your application form. You may complete an Online Application Form (where a Visa Center provides such service), print it out and sign.

Please remember to bring the completed form to the Visa Center to submit your application.

(3) Proof of legal status (applicable for those not applying for the visa in their country of citizenship)

If you are not applying for the visa in the country of your citizenship, you must provide the original and photocopy of your valid certificates of residence, employment or student status, or other valid certificates of legal stay provided by the relevant authorities of the country where the Visa Center is located.

(4) Photocopy of previous Chinese passports or previous Chinese visas (applicable for those who were Chinese citizens and have obtained Korean citizenship)

If you are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, you should provide the last Chinese passport held and a photocopy of its data page.

If you are non-Korean national of other foreign nationals and have obtained Chinese visas before and apply for a Chinese visa with a renewed foreign passport that does not contain any Chinese visa, you should present the photocopy of the previous passport’s data page and the photo page if it is separate, as well as the previous Chinese visa page (If your name on the current passport differs from that on the previous one, you must provide an official document of name change).

L-Visa

Documents showing the itinerary including air ticket booking record (round trip) and proof of a hotel reservation, etc. or an Invitation Letter for Tourist issued by a relevant unit or individual in China. The Invitation Letter should contain:

(1) Information of the applicant (incl. full name, gender, date of birth, etc.);

(2) Details of the planned visit (incl. arrival and departure dates, place(s) to be visited, accommodation arrangements, etc.);

(3) Information of the inviting party (incl. name of organization or person concerned, contact telephone number, address, official stamp of the organization, signature of the legal representative or individual).

Special Notes

(1)The invitation letter may be in the form of fax, photocopy or computer printout, but the consular officer may require the applicant to submit the original of the invitation letter. An issuer of invitation letter who is an individual in China should also provide a photocopy of his/her Chinese ID.

(2)If necessary, the consular officer may require the applicant to provide other proof documents or supplementary materials, or require an interview with the applicant.

(3)The consular officer will decide on whether or not to issue the visa and on its validity, duration of stay and number of entries in light of specific conditions of the applicant.

Exactly! they didn't mention this certificate on their website. I brought passports and everything, old and new passport. and was told I needed that certificate. then I came home browsed the internet saw people saying how difficult it is to get a replacement. not a very good day today

[contorted_svy]

I'm sorry, this must be very stressful. The consulate should tell you why they want this certificate though, and why are they not willing to respect their own guidance.

[CocoConan1985]

I'm sorry, this must be very stressful. The consulate should tell you why they want this certificate though, and why are they not willing to respect their own guidance.

Totally agree!

[CR001]

Exactly! they didn't mention this certificate on their website. I brought passports and everything, old and new passport. and was told I needed that certificate. then I came home browsed the internet saw people saying how difficult it is to get a replacement. not a very good day today

When did you become British?

If you were previously a Chinese Citizen, did you follow the process to renounce when you became British?

Have you visited China at any time since becoming British?

[CocoConan1985]

Exactly! they didn't mention this certificate on their website. I brought passports and everything, old and new passport. and was told I needed that certificate. then I came home browsed the internet saw people saying how difficult it is to get a replacement. not a very good day today

When did you become British?

If you were previously a Chinese Citizen, did you follow the process to renounce when you became British?

Have you visited China at any time since becoming British?

I became citizen in 2020, and I haven't travelled back since.

[CR001]

Exactly! they didn't mention this certificate on their website. I brought passports and everything, old and new passport. and was told I needed that certificate. then I came home browsed the internet saw people saying how difficult it is to get a replacement. not a very good day today

When did you become British?

If you were previously a Chinese Citizen, did you follow the process to renounce when you became British?

Have you visited China at any time since becoming British?

I became citizen in 2020, and I haven't travelled back since.

[CocoConan1985]

Exactly! they didn't mention this certificate on their website. I brought passports and everything, old and new passport. and was told I needed that certificate. then I came home browsed the internet saw people saying how difficult it is to get a replacement. not a very good day today

When did you become British?

If you were previously a Chinese Citizen, did you follow the process to renounce when you became British?

Have you visited China at any time since becoming British?

I became citizen in 2020, and I haven't travelled back since.

Yes I sent the passport back, and they stamped it as no longer valid.

[CR001]

So presumably you completed the form and submitted your naturalisation certificate as proof of British citizenship plus your Chinese passport?

https://en.nia.gov.cn/n167/n247/n10208/ ... ntent.html

[CocoConan1985]

So presumably you completed the form and submitted your naturalisation certificate as proof of British citizenship plus your Chinese passport?

https://en.nia.gov.cn/n167/n247/n10208/ ... ntent.html

no, first time seeing this, thanks BTW

[CR001]

That would be why they are asking for the naturalisation certificate then.

[CocoConan1985]

So presumably you completed the form and submitted your naturalisation certificate as proof of British citizenship plus your Chinese passport?

https://en.nia.gov.cn/n167/n247/n10208/ ... ntent.html

I did go to the consulate after I became British, they only marked the old passport and told me nothing else is required, I'm confused

[CocoConan1985]

That would be why they are asking for the naturalisation certificate then.

ah ok I got it now.