Escape Artist
  • Features
    • Interviews
    • News
    • Field Notes
    • Trending
  • Your Escape Plan
    • Finance
    • Real Estate
    • Second Citizenship
    • Digital Nomadism
  • Destinations
    • Europe
      • Spain
      • Portugal
      • Italy
      • France
      • UK
      • Rest of Europe
    • Central America
      • Panama
      • Costa Rica
      • Nicaragua
      • Honduras
      • Belize
      • El Salvador
      • Guatemala
    • Others
      • North America
      • South America
      • Australia
      • Africa
      • Asia
  • Travel Tips
    • Know Before You Go
    • Packing List
    • Food + Culture
    • Health + Wellness
  • Subscribe
Escape Artist
  • Features
    • Interviews
    • News
    • Field Notes
    • Trending
  • Your Escape Plan
    • Finance
    • Real Estate
    • Second Citizenship
    • Digital Nomadism
  • Destinations
    • Europe
      • Spain
      • Portugal
      • Italy
      • France
      • UK
      • Rest of Europe
    • Central America
      • Panama
      • Costa Rica
      • Nicaragua
      • Honduras
      • Belize
      • El Salvador
      • Guatemala
    • Others
      • North America
      • South America
      • Australia
      • Africa
      • Asia
  • Travel Tips
    • Know Before You Go
    • Packing List
    • Food + Culture
    • Health + Wellness
  • Subscribe
👤

LIFE WITHOUT BOUNDARIES

THE NUMBER ONE SOURCE FOR EXPATS, DIGITAL NOMADS, AND DREAMERS.

  • Second Citizenship

Applying for a Second Passport from the United Kingdom

  • February 9, 2014
  • BY Blake Herrin
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0
United Kingdom Passport
by Mroach on Flickr

There are some distinct advantages to being able to apply for and receive a British Passport. The first is that one can freely travel there and stay as long as one likes. Second, should one wish to remain in the UK to work and live there, having a Passport and then a National Health (NHS) number means that the onerous roadblocks to employment for foreign nationals are avoided. The third is that as Britain is a member of the EU, one can travel to and work in any of its member nations without either travel or work visas.

All of this is great and good, but does the reader qualify? According to the UK’s official Border Agency there are several streams of qualification:

The first is what is termed as a British Protected Person. If the applicant or the applicant’s parents were born in any of Britain’s former territories, or Brunei, then one can apply.

Second, if either of the potential applicant’s parents were born in any of the Commonwealth countries (e.g. Canada) and then became a US citizen, that opens a second possible channel. For those people, a grandparent born in the UK will suffice for a fast-track passport. One does need the grandparent’s birth certificate, but handily the UK government’s General Register Office will search that out and send an official copy for the fairly modest sum of £9.25, or a little over $15US.

If the applicant does not fall into one of those categories, then the process is much longer, yet not impossible either. Naturalization required the following conditions:

  1. The applicant is over age 18

  2. Is of sound mind and good character (e.g. No prison offences)

  3. Intends to live in the UK

  4. Speaks English

While not as critical as the above, it is also likely that the applicant should have:

  1. Lived in the UK for at least 5 years before applying for a naturalized citizenship

  2. Spent no more than 450 days outside of the UK durinh those 5 years

  3. Spent no more than 90 days outside the UK during the previous year

  4. Not broken any immigration laws (e.g. Not just stayed in the country without having been granted permission for indefinite leave)

There is of course another route that can be taken, which is to marry a British citizen. Even in that happy event, there are still attendant conditions:

  1. One still must be age 18 or older

  2. Again of sound mind and character

  3. One may have to successfully complete an English language test as well as a Life in the UK test (cost of £50)

  4. In addition, unless the applicant’s spouse has had to work overseas, the applicant must have lived in the UK for three years, spent no more than 270 days outside the UK during that time and not spent more than 90 days outside Britain during the year previous to the date the application is received.

The best advice if one is even considering this option is to get all necessary documents together now as that can be quite time-consuming. Obtain and secure official copies of your and your parents’ and grandaprents’ birth certificates, marriage certificates and your current Passport. All of these will have to be filed along with the application, so it is best to have them ready, verified and at hand.

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Related Topics
  • European Union
  • Great Britain
  • immigration process
  • marriage
  • passport
  • United Kingdom
Previous Article
  • Your Escape Plan

5 Ways Vacation Improves Kids Health

  • November 9, 2013
  • BY EA Editors
View Post
Next Article
  • Food + Culture

Typical Food In Paraguay

  • September 11, 2014
  • BY EA Editors
View Post
You May Also Like
Tourist visas remain the simplest path to setting foot abroad.
View Post
  • Plan B
Living on a Tourist Visa – How Long Can You Stay?
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • June 4, 2025
Residency programs worldwide are undergoing rapid transformation.
View Post
  • Second Citizenship
Beyond the Golden Visa – The Future of Residency
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • May 7, 2025
The good life in Belize.
View Post
  • Belize
The Plan B Strategy—Securing Lifestyle and Liberty in Belize
  • BY Michael K. Cobb
  • April 5, 2025
Your Gateway to Freedom
View Post
  • Finance
Your Gateway to Freedom
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • March 11, 2025
Lady justice
View Post
  • Finance
Embracing a Plan B Is Just the Start
  • BY Michael K. Cobb
  • January 29, 2025
International Living
View Post
  • Digital Nomadism
Why Securing Second Residency Is Crucial to Your Escape Plan
  • BY Michael K. Cobb
  • January 1, 2025
Global Experts Share Valuable Advice on Moving Abroad
View Post
  • Finance
Global Experts Share Valuable Advice on Moving Abroad
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • November 27, 2024
12 Best Residency and Citizenship by Investment Options Under US$200K
View Post
  • Second Citizenship
12 Best Residency and Citizenship by Investment Options Under US$200K
  • BY Dan Macharia
  • April 18, 2024
Trending Posts
  • Auckland’s peace begins with the landscape. 1
    • Field Notes
    Falling for Love and Life in Auckland
    • June 2, 2025
  • Moving abroad can be a fresh start—but only if you do it with your eyes wide open. 2
    • Plan B
    Moving Abroad to Reinvent Yourself
    • May 28, 2025
  • A large mural adorns the exterior of the London Graphic Centre. 3
    • Art & Culture
    The Coolest Art Scenes Around the World
    • May 26, 2025
  • A new generation claims space through movement. 4
    • Africa
    How Ethiopia’s Girls Are Rewriting the Rules on Wheels
    • May 30, 2025
  • Tourist visas remain the simplest path to setting foot abroad. 5
    • Plan B
    Living on a Tourist Visa – How Long Can You Stay?
    • June 4, 2025
Know Before You Go
  • A new generation claims space through movement. 1
    • Africa
    How Ethiopia’s Girls Are Rewriting the Rules on Wheels
    • May 30, 2025
  • Residency programs worldwide are undergoing rapid transformation. 2
    • Second Citizenship
    Beyond the Golden Visa – The Future of Residency
    • May 7, 2025
  • A typical crosswalk in Tokyo. 3
    • Blue Zone
    Top 10 Things to Know if You’re Moving to Japan
    • April 18, 2025
  • Photo courtesy of iStock/Kosamtu. 4
    • Digital Nomadism
    The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Successful Digital Nomad
    • April 16, 2025
  • Every day life unfolds on Australia’s golden sands. 5
    • Australia
    Top 10 Things to Know if You’re Moving to Australia
    • April 7, 2025
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
Why Subscribe

The newly imagined Escape Artist brings you fresh content with a global focus, and sharp, up-to-the-minute coverage of the joys, challenges, and opportunities of life abroad.

For a limited time, we’re offering a special discount on all subscription deals, so be sure to lock-in these incredible savings and start receiving top-notch travel and expat content today!

Sign up for the EA Newsletter

Get important news delivered directly to your inbox and stay connected!

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Escape Artist
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Disclaimer

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

Newsletter Subscription
Our Spring Sale Has Started

You can see how this popup was set up in our step-by-step guide: https://wppopupmaker.com/guides/auto-opening-announcement-popups/