Travel Plans: Pending Uk Citizenship Application

If you have applied for British citizenship, you may be wondering if you can travel while your application is pending. The answer is yes, you can travel outside the UK while your application is being processed. You can use your original valid passport to travel overseas, but you should also be able to provide evidence of your ILR or other valid immigration status upon re-entering the UK. It is important to note that you must submit your biometric information within 45 days of your naturalisation application, which may require an in-person appointment. Additionally, if your application is approved, you will need to attend a citizenship ceremony within 90 days and apply for a British passport.

Travel outside the Common Travel Area (CTA)

If you travel outside the Common Travel Area (CTA)—which includes the UK, Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man—before a decision is made on your application, your application will be treated as withdrawn by the Home Office. This means that applicants will be trapped in the UK from the date their application is submitted until a decision is made, unless they are prepared to withdraw and then resubmit their application.

However, there are some exceptions. Applicants for naturalisation as British citizens can travel outside the CTA while their application is pending, as long as they intend to remain settled in the UK. This is because citizenship applications are not made under the Immigration Rules.

Additionally, applicants applying under the EUSS route for pre-settled or settled status can travel outside the CTA without having their application treated as withdrawn.

If your application is not one of the types described above and you travel outside the CTA, you risk your application being withdrawn. This would mean that you would no longer have an immigration application pending with the Home Office. If you were relying on section 3C leave, that leave will have expired on the date you left the CTA.

If your application is treated as withdrawn, you may be entitled to a refund for the full Immigration Health Surcharge fee, but you may not be able to claim a refund for the application fee.

Application treated as withdrawn

If you travel outside the Common Travel Area (CTA) while your UK citizenship application is pending, your application will be treated as withdrawn. The CTA includes the UK, the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man.

Paragraph 34K of the Immigration Rules states:

> 'Where a decision on an application for permission to stay has not been made and the applicant travels outside the common travel area their application will be treated as withdrawn on the date the applicant left the common travel area.'

This means that if you leave the CTA before your application is approved, your application will automatically be withdrawn and you will no longer have an immigration application pending with the Home Office. If your previous permission had expired before you submitted your application, and you were relying on Section 3C leave, that leave will have expired on the date you left the CTA.

If your application is treated as withdrawn, you may be entitled to a refund for the full Immigration Health Surcharge fee, but you will not be able to claim a refund for the application fee. Additionally, you will not be able to enter the UK unless you obtain a different type of leave, which can present several risks. For example, if you are a visa national, you may not be able to re-enter the UK, and if you are a non-visa national, you may enter the UK as a visitor and breach visitor conditions by returning to work.

To avoid having your application treated as withdrawn, it is important to refrain from travelling outside the CTA until a decision has been made on your application. If travel is essential, you may be able to protect your immigration status by filing an application from outside the UK.

Biometric information requirements

If you are applying for UK citizenship, you will likely need to provide your biometric information. This is required when applying for a visa, settlement, or citizenship in the UK. Biometric information includes fingerprints and photos, which can be provided at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point or a Service and Support Centre (SSC). Here are some key points to keep in mind regarding biometric information requirements:

• Biometric Information Collection: When providing biometric information, you will be asked to give your fingerprints and have a digital photo taken of your face. The fingerprint process involves placing your fingers on a glass screen for scanning, and it takes less than 5 minutes. There is no need to remove any head covering for religious or medical reasons, and you won't have to pay a fee for providing this information.
• Children's Biometric Requirements: Children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or legal responsible adult when providing biometric information. Children under 5 years old at the time of application are exempt from providing fingerprints.
• Location and Appointment: The location for providing biometric information depends on your application type. If you are applying from within the UK, you will usually go to a UKVCAS service point or an SSC. For applications made outside the UK, you will be directed to a visa application centre. You typically need to attend an appointment at a UKVCAS service point, which can be booked online through your UKVCAS account.
• Supporting Documents: In addition to providing biometric information, you will need to submit supporting documents for your application. These can be uploaded to the UKVCAS online service or scanned at your appointment. If applying to the EU Settlement Scheme, you must upload the supporting documents during the application process and cannot scan them at the appointment.
• Exemption from Appointment: In certain cases, you may not need to attend an appointment. If you have a valid biometric residence permit (BRP) or biometric residence card (BRC), have previously provided your biometric information, and are applying for specific visas (e.g., Graduate, Student, or Skilled Worker visas), you may be exempt. You will receive an email explaining how to submit your photo and supporting documents.
• Application Decision: It is important to note that you will not receive a decision on your application at the appointment. The decision timeline depends on the type of application you have submitted.

Attending a citizenship ceremony

Once your British citizenship application has been approved, you will have 90 days to attend a citizenship ceremony. This ceremony is organised by your local authority and is usually held at your local council. The cost of the ceremony is included in your application fee, but you may need to pay more if you want a private ceremony.

You must bring your invitation to the ceremony. You are usually allowed to bring two guests, but you can discuss this with the local authority if you would like to invite more people.

During the ceremony, you will be asked to make an oath of allegiance (or an affirmation if you prefer not to swear by God) and a pledge of loyalty to the United Kingdom. This is a formal promise of respect for the rights, freedoms, and laws of the UK. You may make the oath or pledge in either English or Welsh. Cards with the words will be provided, but it is recommended that you practise beforehand.

At the end of the ceremony, you will be presented with your certificate of British citizenship and a welcome pack. You will not be a British citizen until you have attended the ceremony.

Immigration status and re-entry

If you have applied for British citizenship, you can travel outside the UK while your application is pending. You can use your original valid passport to travel overseas. However, you will need to demonstrate your entitlement to re-enter the UK at the UK border. This means providing evidence of your ILR (indefinite leave to remain) or other valid immigration status.

It is important to note that your British citizenship application does not extend your current immigration permission. Therefore, if your current immigration permit is due to expire soon, you should take this into account when planning travel.

Additionally, applicants must provide their biometrics within 45 days of submitting their British citizenship application. This usually involves attending an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Service (UKVCAS) Centre in person, and failure to do so would invalidate the application.

If your application is approved, you will have 90 days to attend a citizenship ceremony in the UK and can then apply for a British passport. Until you receive your first British passport, you should not leave the UK, as your previous immigration status will no longer be valid, and you may face difficulties re-entering the country.

There are some exceptions to the rule that travelling outside the Common Travel Area (the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, and the Republic of Ireland) will result in your application being treated as withdrawn. Applicants for naturalisation as British citizens can still travel outside of the Common Travel Area while their application is pending, as long as they intend to settle in the UK. Applications to the EU Settlement Scheme will also not be treated as withdrawn if the applicant travels outside the UK during the application process.

Frequently asked questions