To be eligible for a British passport, you must have been granted citizenship in the UK. Once you have citizenship, you can apply for a passport through the British embassy or consulate in your country of residence. The British Passport allows for easy passage in the United Kingdom because it comes with visa-free admission to countries around the world – a perk extended to all UK citizens.
British passports have a decade-long validity length which limits the number of renewals. And above all, obtaining the British citizenship is a great way to establish your identity and travel Visa-free to 187 countries worldwide. With a British passport, you’ll enjoy several advantages, including easier travel, more opportunities for work and study, and access to top-tier medical care. A British passport is worth considering if you’re looking for a way to make your life more convenient and comfortable.
This post will discuss British citizenship, how one can get an ILR, and finally, citizenship, the benefits, and how to obtain a British passport.
British citizenship
In 1981, the UK legislation documented UK citizenship under the Nationality Act, making it the sole nationality that permits holders to work and live in Britain while exempting them from immigration regulations and time constraints. So far, it remains a critical path toward landing a British passport. The Passport may be used for unrestricted travel inside and outside the nation. Additionally, UK citizens are entitled to vote, run for elected office, receive public funding, and even move with their family members to the UK.
Depending on various factors, such as your place of birth, the citizenship status of your parents, and timing, you may automatically become a British citizen. Even though being born in Britain is one way to become a citizen, you may become a citizen by marrying a British person or if their parents or grandparents were British citizens. Also, living in Britain for a certain amount of time can make someone eligible to become a British citizen.
Children of British citizens born outside the UK do not automatically receive British citizenship, but they may be eligible for it. To become a British citizen through the indefinite leave to remain, you must meet certain requirements. For instance, you must usually have lived in the UK for at least five years and have had settled status there for at least one year. In addition, you must pass the life in the UK Test and satisfy the good character criterion.
How can I secure the Indefinite Leave to Remain
The UK ILR or indefinite leave to remain is the freedom to live and work indefinitely in any EU member state, regardless of one’s occupation or social standing. EU/EEA nationals may naturally obtain the indefinite Leave to Remain if they have been living under a UK Visa for half a decade. However, most UK visas will last for only 2 to three years. The five years may therefore be spent under a student Visa, skilled worker Visa, spousal Visa, or High potential individual Visas.
ILR eligibility criteria
At the end of your five years stay in the UK, you may have to apply for the ILR through the UKVI. You must additionally provide the following documentation to prove your ILR qualifications:
- Proof of passing the UK’s Life Test
- Proof of having the requisite level of English language proficiency
- Continuous legal residency of 5 years in the UK without spending six months in a row abroad during this period
- For a skilled worker Visa applicant, you need to meet the minimum wage of £25,600
ILR required documents
You must provide documentation to support the application proving your identification and compliance with ILR regulations. You must at least the following documents:
- Valid travel passports or another acceptable form of photo identification
- The biometric residence permit
- Signed application form
- Two passport-size photographs
- Application fees
Dependent on your current visa category, additional documentation may also be needed. This could be
- The proof of your ability to speak English
- A spousal Visa if you are applying for your spouse
- Documents regarding your previous travel patterns
- Application for ILR
You may have to present corroborating papers and bio-metric data to bolster your application by scheduling an appointment with the UKVCAS.
ILR candidacy for British citizenship
You must submit your applications to the Home Office and the supporting paperwork to be naturalized as a UK citizen. For instance, it may cost £19.20 to submit your fingerprints and passport photo to UKVCAS. You will also have to present
- Proof of your legal residency or the ILR papers
- Written documentation demonstrating your English language competence
You will usually get a decision within six months after submitting your citizenship application. When your application is successful, the Home Office will send you a notification to book the granting ceremony within three months. After the event, you will be given the certificate of naturalization and then a certificate of British citizenship in 5 business days. You will have to send the biometric residence permit back to the Home Office or be fined £1,000.
What are the benefits of having a British passport?
The main advantage of having a British passport is the freedom to travel in and out of the UK without restrictions. However, British passports also provide other opportunities, such as:
Living, Working, and voting in the UK
The British Passport is a fruit of UK citizenship that presents the right to participate in elections. Still, you get to live and work in the UK without any restrictions, just as a citizen would
Securing studentship in a UK university
The British Passport eliminates the need for a student Visa and the cost of attending UK universities. The same goes for the required documentation. In addition, as a UK citizen with a British passport, you will be able to work while you study.
The British Passport makes traveling easy.
The British Passport allows visa-free travel in countries, making it a convenient travel document. With a British Passport, you can travel visa-free to 139 countries and apply for a visa on arrival in 38 countries. In addition, there are seven countries where you only need online travel authorization.
Free NHS medication
In the wake of the COVID pandemic, it is now more important than ever to have a way to protect yourself against future illnesses. One way to do this is to have a British passport, which makes you eligible for free healthcare through the National Health Service in the UK.
It’s a channel for reaping economic benefits.
With a British passport, you can apply for public benefits. This can be a lifesaver for many people who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19 or those undergoing a liquidity crisis.
Do you need a British passport? What’s the correct procedure for applying?
There are two ways to apply for a UK passport-by paper application in a UK Post Office or online. If you are not in the UK at the time of application, you must complete the web application before printing it off and sending it, together with the other paperwork, to a British passport agency. Upon submission of your application and accompanying paperwork, you’ll likely be asked to appear in person for an assessment to verify your identification.
When applying for a passport, you may have to provide several documents whose contents depend entirely on how you obtained your citizenship. Original copies must be provided; you will get them returned with the British Passport. The principal paperwork you require is:
- Your certificate of citizenship or naturalization
- The first Passport you used for the UK immigration
- Two colored passport photos
Getting a vouching signature
If you’re applying for a British passport, you will need someone to vouch for your identity. This is where a counter signatory comes in. A counter signatory is someone who can attest to your identity, and they must have known you for at least 24 months. Furthermore, they must be able to confirm that all the information on your application is accurate. In addition to all of this, your counter signatory should also:
- They must be a British or Irish citizen living in the UK
- They shouldn’t be related to you or work for the Home Office.
So basically, if you know someone reputable and unrelated to you, go ahead and put their name in the hat! And when all this is done accordingly, you will have your Passport in less than ten weeks.
Wrapping up
So, to summarize, the benefits of having a British passport are that you can enjoy a stress-free life and all the rights that come with being a British citizen. The best thing about it is that getting a visa to live in the UK is just the first step on the long road to getting a British passport.
That’s right, after you get your Visa, you still have to apply for ILR, then citizenship, and finally, you can apply for a passport.
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