How to Change Your Passport if You Are Now a British Citizen
The United Kingdom and the United States allow their citizens to hold dual nationality with any nation that also allows for dual citizenship. Holding dual citizenship with both the U.K. and U.S. does not result in any penalty of citizenship on either side, and therefore you are in your right to hold passports of both nations. There is nothing that need be done to your U.S. passport after acquiring U.K. citizenship other than renewing it when it expires.
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Things You'll Need
- U.K. citizenship
- U.K. passport application form
- £85.50
- U.K. naturalization certificate
- U.K. national identity card
Instructions
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Apply for a U.K. passport online at the website of the Identity and Passport Service sector of the Home Office (ips.gov.uk). It will be printed and mailed to you to sign.
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Pick up an application, if you prefer, at a post office that offers Passport Check & Send services. You can also call the IPS at +44-0300-222-0000 to request a form to be sent to you.
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Wait for the the application form to be sent to you (if filled out online). Take it to the nearest post office that offers the Check & Send service.
U.K. citizens who were born outside of the U.K. are required to send along with the application form and fee the original copy of their naturalization certificate and their U.K. national identity card (if you do not have a national identity card, send your U.S. passport). The post office will make sure that all of your forms and documents are present as well as the application fee (£77.50 plus £8.00 postal fee) and send everything safely and securely for you. Processing time can take up to four weeks.
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Renew your U.S. passport when it expires if you wish to maintain both passports. Generally, U.S. border agents prefer that when entering the U.S., citizens enter on a U.S. passport, though if you enter on the U.K.passport no criminal or penal actions will be taken against you. You are not required to maintain your U.S. passport if you don't want to. If it expires it will have no effect on your citizenship.
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References
- Photo Credit uk passport and currency image by Christopher Nolan from Fotolia.com
