[kersme]

Hi All,

I feel like the Gov.uk website sends me in circles, so I was wondering if anybody had any experience with obtaining a citizenship/passport for a newborn overseas.

I am a UK citizen by birth, and my wife is a naturalised UK citizen. She is due to give birth any day now, and we hope to go back to the UK as soon as it is practically possible.

My understanding is that citizenship will be 'automatically' passed down from the parents to the baby in our case, but how do we actually go about making this official and applying for a passport for the baby from overseas. I read something about registering the birth but surely a foreign birth certificate means nothing to UK authorities. I saw that the GOV.uk website allows you to start a passport application online but surely some proof of citizenship is required for a first passport?

If anybody could share their experience or useful links I would be very grateful.

 

[Harry Moles]

Start by looking at consular services through the British embassy web site in your country of residence.

 

[Crawford]

Would presume you would upload similar documents to that for applying by post:

If you apply by post, you must send:

• 2 new photos of your child
• the child’s full birth or adoption certificate (the one with parent’s details on it)
• proof that your child has British nationality (for example a British registration certificate, parent’s passport details or parent’s birth certificates)
• any valid passports from a different country belonging to the child
• any court orders relating to the child (for example, that describe parental responsibility or residency arrangements)

 

[Kankan]

If you wish, you can register your child's birth and get a British birth certificate via the Embassy / High Commission where the child was born.
This is equivalent to a UK birth certificate. It does normally take a few months though, as the embassy has to do its due diligence and checks, etc. And there is a fee.

You can get further details here (and reasons why it may beneficial to register an overseas birth at the embassy):

Register a birth abroad

Parents must register the birth in the country where the child was born - find out if you can also register the birth in the UK

www.gov.uk

And here:

Application to register an overseas birth

Application to register an overseas birth.

www.gov.uk

As it says on the website, and as per the posts above, you don't need to register an overseas birth to obtain a British passport for the child if it is eligible for one.

 

[lahoregirl]

After the child is born outside the UK and you obtain the birth certificate from the UK embassy, is that enough to travel to the UK with your baby? Or do you need to apply for a passport from the embassy as well?

 

[lahoregirl]

After the child is born outside the UK and you obtain the birth certificate from the UK embassy, is that enough to travel to the UK with your baby? Or do you need to apply for a passport from the embassy as well?

Any idea how long this process takes?

 

[Crawford]

Takes anything from 4 to 10 weeks

Overseas British passport applications

Renew, replace or apply for an adult or child British passport if you’re living abroad or working overseas - forms, prices, how long it takes

www.gov.uk

 

[Skynyrds Innyrds]

For an adult you need:
birth certificate
proof of parents' citizenship
proof of parents' marriage (is this even needed any more?)

I can't see why it would be any more difficult for a child.

 

[lahoregirl]

Thank you for the replies!

so you’re saying I would need a
1) Local Birth Certificate then apply from the embassy for a
2) UK Birth certificate and then should I apply for a
3) British Passport for the baby

and THEN travel back to the UK?

my husband and I are both British nationals, just confused what the procedure would be if our child is born outside the UK.

 

[Crawford]

While one would always recommend getting a passport prior to travel in order to facilitate ease going through immigration at the airport, one COULD arrive at the UK with the child's birth certificate, parents birth certificates and passports and the child COULD be allowed entry as a visitor. You MIGHT get additional questioning regarding the child, but other have done this and been instructed to get a passport for child asap in the UK.

 

[lahoregirl]

Thank you!