Trying to figure out citizenship

I totally get you. We would love to - say - work in Japan for a short period, but I know that without having citizenship  and we just couldn't because I could NOT face going through all the visa stuff again. It was costly, stressful/bad for my mental health, and confusing and it's not a part of my life I fancy reliving so I totally get it.

I totally get you. We would love to - say - work in Japan for a short period, but I know that without having citizenship  and we just couldn't because I could NOT face going through all the visa stuff again. It was costly, stressful/bad for my mental health, and confusing and it's not a part of my life I fancy reliving so I totally get it.

I'll happily go through visa stuff somewhere else, just not here, ever again.

New question: How do I apply for the passport at the same time? Have they eliminated that service now?

It's just hard to tell because you can't go forward on the application, so things are only revealed to you as you go and you can't prepare the next thing to fill in. Argh.

I'll happily go through visa stuff somewhere else, just not here, ever again.

I think it's all much of a muchness. I don't particularly want to go through visa stuff again somewhere else as I don't think it's any better anywhere else, but I also will do it for a NEW country..I'm not so keen on doing it again for a country I should be done with visas for.

New question: How do I apply for the passport at the same time? Have they eliminated that service now?

It's just hard to tell because you can't go forward on the application, so things are only revealed to you as you go and you can't prepare the next thing to fill in. Argh.

Sorry. confused.... You mean UK passport? You wouldn't apply to get that until you've had your naturalisation approved and you've had your ceremony (is my understanding)

Sorry. confused.... You mean UK passport? You wouldn't apply to get that until you've had your naturalisation approved and you've had your ceremony (is my understanding)

Yes, they briefly had a service (JCS?) where you could apply for both at the same time, so that you didn't have to do what is effectively the same paperwork a thousand times. Have they eliminated that now, or was it a figment of my imagination?

If that's eliminated, then it must be what now? A year until you have everything settled, between waiting to hear on the application, waiting for a date with the council, and then waiting to see if you're allowed to have a passport?

Yes, they briefly had a service (JCS?) where you could apply for both at the same time, so that you didn't have to do what is effectively the same paperwork a thousand times. Have they eliminated that now, or was it a figment of my imagination?

If that's eliminated, then it must be what now? A year until you have everything settled, between waiting to hear on the application, waiting for a date with the council, and then waiting to see if you're allowed to have a passport?

Unfortunately I don't know about that old service, sorry The only people I know how have applied for naturalisation that I've spoken to about the process had to have their approval through, ceremony done, THEN could apply for passport but not sure if anybody on the forum can answer that one... I can say, with confidence, that it's definitely not part of this process...

My understanding of how it flows is:

- Up to 6 months (at present) processing time for naturalisation approval (those I spoke to said around 2-3 months was their wait time, however)
- Have your ceremony once approved within 3 month period
- Hand over your BRP/submit passport application


KFD & JFK - can you correct what I put above to be more accurate?

Yes, for a short period of time (less than a year if I recall correctly), you could apply for your first UK passport at the time of an in person naturalisation appointment.  It's what me and JF both did.  It was good as it eliminated an extra step.  But unfortunately, they've done away with it now.

What this means:

You apply for naturalisation (they've been CRANKING through these so much faster these days.  Probably about 2 months).  During that time, you can STILL TRAVEL, you have your passport, life is exactly the same as it is now.

Then you get your letter inviting you to your citizenship ceremony.  You call your council and find out the next available date.   This can be a few months depending on how busy they are and how frequent the ceremonies are.  I opted for a private ceremony as I wanted my kids there (no kids at my local council and only 1 guest).  So my ceremony was very quick - about a week after getting my invite.

Then you apply for your first passport.  Unfortunately you'll have to attend an interview for the passport which is LITERALLY to verify you are the person who applied.  It's easy peasy.  This step was what was eliminated with the Joint Passport application option for that short period of time.  They literally already have your passport printed when you interview and it's posted to you immediately after the interview.  So from start to finish the passport bit is a few weeks. 

Again, you still can travel during ALL of this.  It's no where near as limiting as the visa process.

If you apply now, you'll likely have it all done and dusted by the end of September - easily.

Unfortunately you'll have to attend an interview for the passport which is LITERALLY to verify you are the person who applied.  It's easy peasy.  This step was what was eliminated with the Joint Passport application option for that short period of time.  They literally already have your passport printed when you interview and it's posted to you immediately after the interview.  So from start to finish the passport bit is a few weeks. 

I'm not even sure that the interview part always happens. My Turkish friend who applied for her naturalisation and got it approved at the end of last year (around October, time I think?) said she didn't even get called to an interview for her passport. She was very surprised as she understood you needed to go to an interview and it just showed up in the mail (quite quickly) one day with no need to attend an interview so it might even be that this doesn't even always happen (or maybe she was exempt for some reason/they screwed up??).


Just a question, after your ceremony, before the passport, isn't it more difficult to travel as you have to hand your BRP card in? My understanding was that you can travel and do whatever during this time EXCEPT for the time in between your ceremony happening and receiving your passport. I don't think it'd be impossible, just more difficult as you won't be able to show residency. Have I gotten the wrong end of the stick on this one?

Yes, for a short period of time (less than a year if I recall correctly), you could apply for your first UK passport at the time of an in person naturalisation appointment.  It's what me and JF both did.  It was good as it eliminated an extra step.  But unfortunately, they've done away with it now.

What this means:

You apply for naturalisation (they've been CRANKING through these so much faster these days.  Probably about 2 months).  During that time, you can STILL TRAVEL, you have your passport, life is exactly the same as it is now.

Then you get your letter inviting you to your citizenship ceremony.  You call your council and find out the next available date.   This can be a few months depending on how busy they are and how frequent the ceremonies are.  I opted for a private ceremony as I wanted my kids there (no kids at my local council and only 1 guest).  So my ceremony was very quick - about a week after getting my invite.

Then you apply for your first passport.  Unfortunately you'll have to attend an interview for the passport which is LITERALLY to verify you are the person who applied.  It's easy peasy.  This step was what was eliminated with the Joint Passport application option for that short period of time.  They literally already have your passport printed when you interview and it's posted to you immediately after the interview.  So from start to finish the passport bit is a few weeks. 

Again, you still can travel during ALL of this.  It's no where near as limiting as the visa process.

If you apply now, you'll likely have it all done and dusted by the end of September - easily.

Sounds optimistic, but it would be nice if it were that fast. I'm considering a private ceremony just so I can avoid the whole faff. I'll cynically agree to pretend to care, recite whatever, and get it done in five minutes so the bored council worker and I can move on with our lives. This is worth any price!

Referee declaration question: Do they need to sign the passport photo or just the form?

Should I have them sign extra passport photos, so I'm ready to apply for the passport?

Think I'll be able to do a documents check next week, but I'll save that heart attack for then.

I'm not even sure that the interview part always happens. My Turkish friend who applied for her naturalisation and got it approved at the end of last year (around October, time I think?) said she didn't even get called to an interview for her passport. She was very surprised as she understood you needed to go to an interview and it just showed up in the mail (quite quickly) one day with no need to attend an interview so it might even be that this doesn't even always happen (or maybe she was exempt for some reason/they screwed up??).


Just a question, after your ceremony, before the passport, isn't it more difficult to travel as you have to hand your BRP card in? My understanding was that you can travel and do whatever during this time EXCEPT for the time in between your ceremony happening and receiving your passport. I don't think it'd be impossible, just more difficult as you won't be able to show residency. Have I gotten the wrong end of the stick on this one?

I bet they did the joint appointment.  It wasn't eliminated until the end of November 2018.

Technically, schmechnically you shouldn't travel after the ceremony before the passport.  The reality is you can use your naturalisation certificate and they can verify it in the system if need be.

I bet they did the joint appointment.  It wasn't eliminated until the end of November 2018.

Technically, schmechnically you shouldn't travel after the ceremony before the passport.  The reality is you can use your naturalisation certificate and they can verify it in the system if need be.

She might’ve without knowing to be honest. He just said she expected to have an appointment but didn’t and was surprised when her passport turned up in the mail one day haha she seemed to follow the same process as I did but she might not have realised he also sorted passport as well as she is the type that could do that without knowing


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Sounds optimistic, but it would be nice if it were that fast. I'm considering a private ceremony just so I can avoid the whole faff. I'll cynically agree to pretend to care, recite whatever, and get it done in five minutes so the bored council worker and I can move on with our lives. This is worth any price!

I did a private ceremony, and my council worker was so enthused.  The part where we all had to sing God Save the Queen to the accompaniment of an agonizingly-slow recording played through an inadequate 80's style "boombox" was a bit sad, but the rest was good fun.  Far more festive than I expected it to be.

I did a private ceremony, and my council worker was so enthused.  The part where we all had to sing God Save the Queen to the accompaniment of an agonizingly-slow recording played through an inadequate 80's style "boombox" was a bit sad, but the rest was good fun.  Far more festive than I expected it to be.

This is London, introvert capital of the world. We'll avoid eye contact and pretend we aren't having to share a space when we would rather be alone, and it will be perfect. I have chills just thinking about it.

This is London, introvert capital of the world. We'll avoid eye contact and pretend we aren't having to share a space when we would rather be alone, and it will be perfect. I have chills just thinking about it.

I live in Wales (where people lean toward gregarious), but booked my ceremony in Bristol so my elderly grandparents-in-law could attend (they generously offered to pay my application fee).  I expected my ceremony to be more along the lines of what you described, but I think the various councils go out of their way to find super happy people to perform these things.  I worry you won't have the austere experience you're hoping for.  But it, too, shall pass.