Visa to United Kingdom
Country Information & Travel News

The British Government has no objection to dual or multiple citizenship or to a person holding passports from more than one country. However, certain other countries do object so it is advisable to check with the authorities of the other country concerned.

We must see original documents. Photocopies or notarised copies are not acceptable.

The change of rules regarding the addition of children to passports does not affect children already on a parent's or sibling's passport. They can still travel until the passport expires or until they choose to apply for their own passport.

There is no legal requirement to do so but it may be helpful to have such a letter available in case a problem should arise.

British citizenship cannot be acquired through marriage alone. Your spouse would have to live in the UK for a continuous period of three years and apply for naturalisation through the Home Office while still resident there. Once the naturalisation certificate is obtained they can then apply for a passport. It is not possible to apply for naturalisation while resident outside the United Kingdom.

If you feel our interpretation of the law is incorrect then you can seek legal advice. Copies of the British Nationality Acts can be ordered from Her Majesty's Stationery Office or from a book shop that specialises in legal documents. The legislation currently in force is the British Nationality Act 1981.

A parent or legal guardian as well as the child if the child is aged between 12-15.

If you hold a valid passport, no birth certificate is normally necessary. Always send us an expired or expiring passport if you already have one.

No. You must pay by credit card, certified/cashiers cheque or money order (made payable to British Embassy Government Account).

If your passport was issued in the last 10 years, this is not normally necessary unless your appearance has noticeably changed.

A professional person of good standing (doctor, dentist, teacher etc) who is known to you. Or you can obtain a countersignature from your previous location.

No.

We need to confirm your place/town of birth and your parent's details (if you were included in a parent's passport, for nationality purposes and in case you were the child of diplomatic parent). This information is not shown on the short-form birth certificate.

Only for name amendments. Otherwise you should supply a full, original civil marriage certificate bearing a raised seal.

No.

Only applicants who have previously held, or been included on, a BNO passport (Hong Kong connection). We need to see your original PIC.

5 years. Please see 21 below.

Yes – as long as it was issued before 26 March 1998 and has been valid for less than 10 years.

Yes they must sign the ‘declaration of parent' section. If a legal guardian is signing, an original court order must be supplied.

Yes.

No. It is a matter of choice. Nationality is defined by sight of original marriage/birth etc documentation.

If your passport is still valid we can cross-link your visa to your new passport. This is not necessary for US, Canadian and Australian visas.

From the General Register Office whose address is PO Box 2, Southport, Merseyside PR8 2JD for postal applications. You can apply in person at St Catherine's House, 10 Kingsway, London WC2B 6JP and collect certificates on the fourth working day following your visit or have certificates posted to any address supplied. A priority service is available by phoning 0151 471 4524 or faxing 0151 471 4368 (UK codes – from USA dial 011 44 151 471 4524/4368). You will need to have a credit/debit card for this service.

No.