The UK government has issued official guidance explaining the steps foreign spouses who become British citizens must take after receiving their certificate of naturalisation.
According to guidance published by the UK government, individuals who obtained British citizenship through naturalisation as the spouse of a British citizen must destroy and return their Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) to the Home Office within five working days of receiving their certificate of British citizenship.
The guidance instructs recipients to cut the BRP into four pieces, place the pieces in a plain, windowless envelope, and include a handwritten note explaining why the card is being returned.
The note should include the person’s full name, date of birth, and the BRP document number printed on the front of the card. The package should then be mailed to: Naturalisation BRP Returns, PO Box 195, Bristol, BS20 1BT.
Failure to return the BRP within the required five working days could result in a fine of up to £1,000.
The guidance also explains that once a newly naturalised citizen obtains a British passport, it must be used when travelling into the UK. A BRP or British citizenship certificate cannot be used as a travel document for entry into the country.
For those who decide not to obtain a British passport, the government advises getting a certificate of entitlement instead.
The Home Office says most citizenship decisions are made within six months, although some cases may take longer. If there is a delay, applicants will be informed before the six-month period expires.
Applicants are also expected to notify UK Visas and Immigration if their circumstances change while their application is being processed, such as a change of address, marriage, or an arrest.
In some cases, applicants may be asked to attend an interview, which must be completed without the assistance of an interpreter.
