Can I travel after my citizenship ceremony and before receiving my first British passport?

Key Considerations for Post-British Naturalisation Ceremony Travel

Congratulations on reaching a significant milestone in your life – becoming a British citizen! This momentous occasion undoubtedly opens up new avenues and opportunities for you. However, you might have questions regarding your travel possibilities immediately after your citizenship ceremony and before you receive your first British passport.

Let's explore this situation, considering an important step that follows your ceremony – returning your Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) to the Home Office.

Steps and Considerations Post British Citizenship Ceremony

As a new British citizen, you are required to return your ILR BRP to the Home Office, usually within 5 days of your citizenship ceremony. This means you'll no longer have the BRP as proof of your residency status in the UK. Since all BRPs expired on 31 December 2024, this should no longer be a factor. However, it's important to include it in this guide for completeness. 

Applying for a British Passport

It’s advisable to apply for your British passport as soon as possible after your British citizenship ceremony. It's generally best to wait for your British passport before making any travel plans, as this will simplify your journey and re-entry into the UK. Processing times for a first British passport are typically four to six weeks, but delays can occur.

Travel with Your Current Passport

You can still use your existing non-British passport for travel. However, without your BRP, re-entering the UK might be challenging as this passport does not indicate your right to return to the UK as a citizen, especially if you usually need a visa to enter the UK. Your new Certificate of British Citizenship is not a legal document for entry to the UK.

Travel in an Emergency

In an emergency travel situation where you cannot wait for your British passport, you should carry your naturalisation certificate and any other document that proves your British citizenship. If you are a non-visa national and therefore would typically need a visa in advance to enter the UK as a visitor, you should take your expired Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) with you or at least take a copy of your Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) BRP to show to the UK immigration officer if required. It is also recommended that you take a printout of your online e-visa status and generate a share code, which you can provide if necessary. 

However, if you require a visa to enter the UK, it is highly unlikely that the airline will permit you to board the flight, unless they have checked the Home Office system and it shows that you have a current e-visa related to your ILR.  It is currently unclear how quickly the new systems update, which carries a risk.

Please note that despite the above, it's not recommended to travel before you receive your British passport as it goes against official guidance. But if it's an emergency and you must travel, you can do so at your own risk, but be prepared for delays at the airport. It's advisable to consult with a UK immigration specialist who may provide you with a 'comfort letter' to support your entry back to the UK.

Visa Requirements

Depending on your destination, you may still need a visa for travel. Be sure to check the visa requirements for British citizens for your intended destination.

In Summary

Although it may be possible for you to travel after your British citizenship ceremony and before obtaining your British passport, there are essential considerations to consider. This is mainly due to the guidance from the Home Office advising against travel. The most straightforward and hassle-free approach is to wait until you receive your British passport before travelling abroad. However, if you have no choice but to travel, ensure you have all the necessary documentation to support your status as a British citizen. This will hopefully allow your return to the UK. It's also advisable to seek advice from a regulated UK immigration specialist.

Once again, congratulations on your British citizenship! Here's to many exciting travels ahead with your new passport.

Need Help? Let our Consultants Guide You!

Unsure about travel after your British citizenship ceremony? Book a one-on-one consultation with our immigration experts to get personalised advice and peace of mind.

Further Reading

Settle in the UK – Apply for British Citizenship Through Naturalisation

Naturalisation as a British Citizen

UK Dual Nationality and Multiple Citizenship

Exploring UK Dual Nationality: A Guide to British Citizenship

Will the Home Office Exercise Discretion When Applying for British Citizenship?

When will the Home Office Exercise Discretion in UK Naturalisation Applications?

Life in the UK Test 2025: Guide

A Guide to the UK Life in the UK Test in 2025

Indefinite Leave To Remain | Settle in the UK

Settle in the UK with Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)

What does having indefinite leave to remain mean?

Understanding Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK

It’s been a game changer

"We needed help to build a team, Immtell helped us understand what we could and should do to recruit from overseas. It’s been a game changer for our property company.”

Richard Lee, Property Management

Gavin is AMAZING!

He showed up on time, he is extremely informed about the whole immigration process and provides valuable insights and provides a plethora of options for your specific case. Definitely would work with him again!

Alicia Cedron

Smooth & Fast Service

Gavin has been truly amazing in assisting me with my priority cos slots. I have been trying for more than 3 weeks to get one but couldn’t. Gavin helped me get it in very first attempt. It was lovely working with him. Definitely would recommend him if you want a smooth and fast service.

Damini Naidu

I don't have words...

I don't have words to thank Gavin and his team. I have been struggling to get my priority slot for past one month. But Gavin made it happen in just one day. It completely feels like magic come live. Thanks a lot Immtell team for your help. Do the same and fantastic work in future. All the best.

Anbu Arasan

Turnaround incredibly quick!

We recently used Gavin's services for our business and he was fantastic, the turnaround was incredibly quick, and he was more than helpful throughout. Would absolutely recommend.

Hannah

Rajiv Patel

Immtell took the stress out of sponsoring our new data scientist from India. From requesting our defined CoS to visa approval, every step was handled with professionalism and speed. A brilliant partner for any sponsor.

Financial Services

Salma Bibi

The sponsor duties training delivered by Gavin at Immtell was engaging, practical and tailored to our team. It gave us peace of mind and helped us tighten up our internal checks.

MedTech

Matt O’Connell

We didn’t know where to begin with sponsoring overseas talent. Immtell guided us from sponsorship licence application through to onboarding our first international UX designer. Their advice was always clear, timely and spot on.

Creative/Digital

Louise Garner

Our sponsor licence audit with Immtell was a wake-up call. Gavin and the team helped us address gaps and gave us practical advice. We now feel completely confident if the Home Office were to knock on the door.

Renewable Energy

Natalia Petrova

We’re a boutique firm that needed expert advice on sponsoring overseas legal professionals. Immtell’s support was invaluable, and their training helped us build confidence internally to manage our responsibilities.

Legal

David Lin

We were struggling to get approval on our CoS requests until we started working with Gavin and Immtell. They helped us frame the justification clearly and get things over the line quickly. Gavin's understanding of Home Office expectations is second to none.

Engineering & Robotics

Marcus Wright

We took advantage of Immtell’s remote compliance check and were blown away by the detail. The resulting report highlighted issues we hadn’t even considered and gave us the tools to fix them before they became problems

Architecture & Design

Olivia Hart

Thanks to Immtell, we now sponsor several international teachers across our network. They made a complex regulatory process easy to understand and implement. Highly recommended for the education sector.

Education

James Flint

We’ve used Immtell for several Skilled Worker visa renewals. They’re proactive, responsive and never miss a detail. A reliable extension of our HR team.

Transport & Logistics

Adanna Okafor

Immtell supported us through our sponsor licence application at a time when we urgently needed to recruit care staff from overseas. The advice was practical, clear, and always tailored to our sector. Thanks to their help, we were able to bring in our first international recruits and continue growing our care team.

Domiciliary Care

Claire Thompson

We approached Immtell to help us secure a sponsor licence as we scaled our research team. Their insight and clear guidance made a complex process feel straightforward. Within weeks, we had our licence and were ready to hire globally.

Life Sciences

It’s been a game changer

"We needed help to build a team, Immtell helped us understand what we could and should do to recruit from overseas. It’s been a game changer for our property company.”

Richard Lee, Property Management

Gavin is AMAZING!

He showed up on time, he is extremely informed about the whole immigration process and provides valuable insights and provides a plethora of options for your specific case. Definitely would work with him again!

Alicia Cedron

Smooth & Fast Service

Gavin has been truly amazing in assisting me with my priority cos slots. I have been trying for more than 3 weeks to get one but couldn’t. Gavin helped me get it in very first attempt. It was lovely working with him. Definitely would recommend him if you want a smooth and fast service.

Damini Naidu

I don't have words...

I don't have words to thank Gavin and his team. I have been struggling to get my priority slot for past one month. But Gavin made it happen in just one day. It completely feels like magic come live. Thanks a lot Immtell team for your help. Do the same and fantastic work in future. All the best.

Anbu Arasan

Turnaround incredibly quick!

We recently used Gavin's services for our business and he was fantastic, the turnaround was incredibly quick, and he was more than helpful throughout. Would absolutely recommend.

Hannah

Rajiv Patel

Immtell took the stress out of sponsoring our new data scientist from India. From requesting our defined CoS to visa approval, every step was handled with professionalism and speed. A brilliant partner for any sponsor.

Financial Services

Salma Bibi

The sponsor duties training delivered by Gavin at Immtell was engaging, practical and tailored to our team. It gave us peace of mind and helped us tighten up our internal checks.

MedTech

Matt O’Connell

We didn’t know where to begin with sponsoring overseas talent. Immtell guided us from sponsorship licence application through to onboarding our first international UX designer. Their advice was always clear, timely and spot on.

Creative/Digital

Louise Garner

Our sponsor licence audit with Immtell was a wake-up call. Gavin and the team helped us address gaps and gave us practical advice. We now feel completely confident if the Home Office were to knock on the door.

Renewable Energy

Natalia Petrova

We’re a boutique firm that needed expert advice on sponsoring overseas legal professionals. Immtell’s support was invaluable, and their training helped us build confidence internally to manage our responsibilities.

Legal

David Lin

We were struggling to get approval on our CoS requests until we started working with Gavin and Immtell. They helped us frame the justification clearly and get things over the line quickly. Gavin's understanding of Home Office expectations is second to none.

Engineering & Robotics

Marcus Wright

We took advantage of Immtell’s remote compliance check and were blown away by the detail. The resulting report highlighted issues we hadn’t even considered and gave us the tools to fix them before they became problems

Architecture & Design

Olivia Hart

Thanks to Immtell, we now sponsor several international teachers across our network. They made a complex regulatory process easy to understand and implement. Highly recommended for the education sector.

Education

James Flint

We’ve used Immtell for several Skilled Worker visa renewals. They’re proactive, responsive and never miss a detail. A reliable extension of our HR team.

Transport & Logistics

Adanna Okafor

Immtell supported us through our sponsor licence application at a time when we urgently needed to recruit care staff from overseas. The advice was practical, clear, and always tailored to our sector. Thanks to their help, we were able to bring in our first international recruits and continue growing our care team.

Domiciliary Care

Claire Thompson

We approached Immtell to help us secure a sponsor licence as we scaled our research team. Their insight and clear guidance made a complex process feel straightforward. Within weeks, we had our licence and were ready to hire globally.

Life Sciences

It’s been a game changer

"We needed help to build a team, Immtell helped us understand what we could and should do to recruit from overseas. It’s been a game changer for our property company.”

Richard Lee, Property Management

Gavin is AMAZING!

He showed up on time, he is extremely informed about the whole immigration process and provides valuable insights and provides a plethora of options for your specific case. Definitely would work with him again!

Alicia Cedron

Smooth & Fast Service

Gavin has been truly amazing in assisting me with my priority cos slots. I have been trying for more than 3 weeks to get one but couldn’t. Gavin helped me get it in very first attempt. It was lovely working with him. Definitely would recommend him if you want a smooth and fast service.

Damini Naidu

I don't have words...

I don't have words to thank Gavin and his team. I have been struggling to get my priority slot for past one month. But Gavin made it happen in just one day. It completely feels like magic come live. Thanks a lot Immtell team for your help. Do the same and fantastic work in future. All the best.

Anbu Arasan

Turnaround incredibly quick!

We recently used Gavin's services for our business and he was fantastic, the turnaround was incredibly quick, and he was more than helpful throughout. Would absolutely recommend.

Hannah

Rajiv Patel

Immtell took the stress out of sponsoring our new data scientist from India. From requesting our defined CoS to visa approval, every step was handled with professionalism and speed. A brilliant partner for any sponsor.

Financial Services

Salma Bibi

The sponsor duties training delivered by Gavin at Immtell was engaging, practical and tailored to our team. It gave us peace of mind and helped us tighten up our internal checks.

MedTech

Matt O’Connell

We didn’t know where to begin with sponsoring overseas talent. Immtell guided us from sponsorship licence application through to onboarding our first international UX designer. Their advice was always clear, timely and spot on.

Creative/Digital

Louise Garner

Our sponsor licence audit with Immtell was a wake-up call. Gavin and the team helped us address gaps and gave us practical advice. We now feel completely confident if the Home Office were to knock on the door.

Renewable Energy

Natalia Petrova

We’re a boutique firm that needed expert advice on sponsoring overseas legal professionals. Immtell’s support was invaluable, and their training helped us build confidence internally to manage our responsibilities.

Legal

David Lin

We were struggling to get approval on our CoS requests until we started working with Gavin and Immtell. They helped us frame the justification clearly and get things over the line quickly. Gavin's understanding of Home Office expectations is second to none.

Engineering & Robotics

Marcus Wright

We took advantage of Immtell’s remote compliance check and were blown away by the detail. The resulting report highlighted issues we hadn’t even considered and gave us the tools to fix them before they became problems

Architecture & Design

Olivia Hart

Thanks to Immtell, we now sponsor several international teachers across our network. They made a complex regulatory process easy to understand and implement. Highly recommended for the education sector.

Education

James Flint

We’ve used Immtell for several Skilled Worker visa renewals. They’re proactive, responsive and never miss a detail. A reliable extension of our HR team.

Transport & Logistics

Adanna Okafor

Immtell supported us through our sponsor licence application at a time when we urgently needed to recruit care staff from overseas. The advice was practical, clear, and always tailored to our sector. Thanks to their help, we were able to bring in our first international recruits and continue growing our care team.

Domiciliary Care

Claire Thompson

We approached Immtell to help us secure a sponsor licence as we scaled our research team. Their insight and clear guidance made a complex process feel straightforward. Within weeks, we had our licence and were ready to hire globally.

Life Sciences

It’s been a game changer

"We needed help to build a team, Immtell helped us understand what we could and should do to recruit from overseas. It’s been a game changer for our property company.”

Richard Lee, Property Management

Gavin is AMAZING!

He showed up on time, he is extremely informed about the whole immigration process and provides valuable insights and provides a plethora of options for your specific case. Definitely would work with him again!

Alicia Cedron

Smooth & Fast Service

Gavin has been truly amazing in assisting me with my priority cos slots. I have been trying for more than 3 weeks to get one but couldn’t. Gavin helped me get it in very first attempt. It was lovely working with him. Definitely would recommend him if you want a smooth and fast service.

Damini Naidu

I don't have words...

I don't have words to thank Gavin and his team. I have been struggling to get my priority slot for past one month. But Gavin made it happen in just one day. It completely feels like magic come live. Thanks a lot Immtell team for your help. Do the same and fantastic work in future. All the best.

Anbu Arasan

Turnaround incredibly quick!

We recently used Gavin's services for our business and he was fantastic, the turnaround was incredibly quick, and he was more than helpful throughout. Would absolutely recommend.

Hannah

Rajiv Patel

Immtell took the stress out of sponsoring our new data scientist from India. From requesting our defined CoS to visa approval, every step was handled with professionalism and speed. A brilliant partner for any sponsor.

Financial Services

Salma Bibi

The sponsor duties training delivered by Gavin at Immtell was engaging, practical and tailored to our team. It gave us peace of mind and helped us tighten up our internal checks.

MedTech

Matt O’Connell

We didn’t know where to begin with sponsoring overseas talent. Immtell guided us from sponsorship licence application through to onboarding our first international UX designer. Their advice was always clear, timely and spot on.

Creative/Digital

Louise Garner

Our sponsor licence audit with Immtell was a wake-up call. Gavin and the team helped us address gaps and gave us practical advice. We now feel completely confident if the Home Office were to knock on the door.

Renewable Energy

Natalia Petrova

We’re a boutique firm that needed expert advice on sponsoring overseas legal professionals. Immtell’s support was invaluable, and their training helped us build confidence internally to manage our responsibilities.

Legal

David Lin

We were struggling to get approval on our CoS requests until we started working with Gavin and Immtell. They helped us frame the justification clearly and get things over the line quickly. Gavin's understanding of Home Office expectations is second to none.

Engineering & Robotics

Marcus Wright

We took advantage of Immtell’s remote compliance check and were blown away by the detail. The resulting report highlighted issues we hadn’t even considered and gave us the tools to fix them before they became problems

Architecture & Design

Olivia Hart

Thanks to Immtell, we now sponsor several international teachers across our network. They made a complex regulatory process easy to understand and implement. Highly recommended for the education sector.

Education

James Flint

We’ve used Immtell for several Skilled Worker visa renewals. They’re proactive, responsive and never miss a detail. A reliable extension of our HR team.

Transport & Logistics

Adanna Okafor

Immtell supported us through our sponsor licence application at a time when we urgently needed to recruit care staff from overseas. The advice was practical, clear, and always tailored to our sector. Thanks to their help, we were able to bring in our first international recruits and continue growing our care team.

Domiciliary Care

Claire Thompson

We approached Immtell to help us secure a sponsor licence as we scaled our research team. Their insight and clear guidance made a complex process feel straightforward. Within weeks, we had our licence and were ready to hire globally.

Life Sciences

It’s been a game changer

"We needed help to build a team, Immtell helped us understand what we could and should do to recruit from overseas. It’s been a game changer for our property company.”

Richard Lee, Property Management

Gavin is AMAZING!

He showed up on time, he is extremely informed about the whole immigration process and provides valuable insights and provides a plethora of options for your specific case. Definitely would work with him again!

Alicia Cedron

Smooth & Fast Service

Gavin has been truly amazing in assisting me with my priority cos slots. I have been trying for more than 3 weeks to get one but couldn’t. Gavin helped me get it in very first attempt. It was lovely working with him. Definitely would recommend him if you want a smooth and fast service.

Damini Naidu

I don't have words...

I don't have words to thank Gavin and his team. I have been struggling to get my priority slot for past one month. But Gavin made it happen in just one day. It completely feels like magic come live. Thanks a lot Immtell team for your help. Do the same and fantastic work in future. All the best.

Anbu Arasan

Turnaround incredibly quick!

We recently used Gavin's services for our business and he was fantastic, the turnaround was incredibly quick, and he was more than helpful throughout. Would absolutely recommend.

Hannah

Rajiv Patel

Immtell took the stress out of sponsoring our new data scientist from India. From requesting our defined CoS to visa approval, every step was handled with professionalism and speed. A brilliant partner for any sponsor.

Financial Services

Salma Bibi

The sponsor duties training delivered by Gavin at Immtell was engaging, practical and tailored to our team. It gave us peace of mind and helped us tighten up our internal checks.

MedTech

Matt O’Connell

We didn’t know where to begin with sponsoring overseas talent. Immtell guided us from sponsorship licence application through to onboarding our first international UX designer. Their advice was always clear, timely and spot on.

Creative/Digital

Louise Garner

Our sponsor licence audit with Immtell was a wake-up call. Gavin and the team helped us address gaps and gave us practical advice. We now feel completely confident if the Home Office were to knock on the door.

Renewable Energy

Natalia Petrova

We’re a boutique firm that needed expert advice on sponsoring overseas legal professionals. Immtell’s support was invaluable, and their training helped us build confidence internally to manage our responsibilities.

Legal

David Lin

We were struggling to get approval on our CoS requests until we started working with Gavin and Immtell. They helped us frame the justification clearly and get things over the line quickly. Gavin's understanding of Home Office expectations is second to none.

Engineering & Robotics

Marcus Wright

We took advantage of Immtell’s remote compliance check and were blown away by the detail. The resulting report highlighted issues we hadn’t even considered and gave us the tools to fix them before they became problems

Architecture & Design

Olivia Hart

Thanks to Immtell, we now sponsor several international teachers across our network. They made a complex regulatory process easy to understand and implement. Highly recommended for the education sector.

Education

James Flint

We’ve used Immtell for several Skilled Worker visa renewals. They’re proactive, responsive and never miss a detail. A reliable extension of our HR team.

Transport & Logistics

Adanna Okafor

Immtell supported us through our sponsor licence application at a time when we urgently needed to recruit care staff from overseas. The advice was practical, clear, and always tailored to our sector. Thanks to their help, we were able to bring in our first international recruits and continue growing our care team.

Domiciliary Care

Claire Thompson

We approached Immtell to help us secure a sponsor licence as we scaled our research team. Their insight and clear guidance made a complex process feel straightforward. Within weeks, we had our licence and were ready to hire globally.

Life Sciences

It’s been a game changer

"We needed help to build a team, Immtell helped us understand what we could and should do to recruit from overseas. It’s been a game changer for our property company.”

Richard Lee, Property Management

Gavin is AMAZING!

He showed up on time, he is extremely informed about the whole immigration process and provides valuable insights and provides a plethora of options for your specific case. Definitely would work with him again!

Alicia Cedron

Smooth & Fast Service

Gavin has been truly amazing in assisting me with my priority cos slots. I have been trying for more than 3 weeks to get one but couldn’t. Gavin helped me get it in very first attempt. It was lovely working with him. Definitely would recommend him if you want a smooth and fast service.

Damini Naidu

I don't have words...

I don't have words to thank Gavin and his team. I have been struggling to get my priority slot for past one month. But Gavin made it happen in just one day. It completely feels like magic come live. Thanks a lot Immtell team for your help. Do the same and fantastic work in future. All the best.

Anbu Arasan

Turnaround incredibly quick!

We recently used Gavin's services for our business and he was fantastic, the turnaround was incredibly quick, and he was more than helpful throughout. Would absolutely recommend.

Hannah

Rajiv Patel

Immtell took the stress out of sponsoring our new data scientist from India. From requesting our defined CoS to visa approval, every step was handled with professionalism and speed. A brilliant partner for any sponsor.

Financial Services

Salma Bibi

The sponsor duties training delivered by Gavin at Immtell was engaging, practical and tailored to our team. It gave us peace of mind and helped us tighten up our internal checks.

MedTech

Matt O’Connell

We didn’t know where to begin with sponsoring overseas talent. Immtell guided us from sponsorship licence application through to onboarding our first international UX designer. Their advice was always clear, timely and spot on.

Creative/Digital

Louise Garner

Our sponsor licence audit with Immtell was a wake-up call. Gavin and the team helped us address gaps and gave us practical advice. We now feel completely confident if the Home Office were to knock on the door.

Renewable Energy

Natalia Petrova

We’re a boutique firm that needed expert advice on sponsoring overseas legal professionals. Immtell’s support was invaluable, and their training helped us build confidence internally to manage our responsibilities.

Legal

David Lin

We were struggling to get approval on our CoS requests until we started working with Gavin and Immtell. They helped us frame the justification clearly and get things over the line quickly. Gavin's understanding of Home Office expectations is second to none.

Engineering & Robotics

Marcus Wright

We took advantage of Immtell’s remote compliance check and were blown away by the detail. The resulting report highlighted issues we hadn’t even considered and gave us the tools to fix them before they became problems

Architecture & Design

Olivia Hart

Thanks to Immtell, we now sponsor several international teachers across our network. They made a complex regulatory process easy to understand and implement. Highly recommended for the education sector.

Education

James Flint

We’ve used Immtell for several Skilled Worker visa renewals. They’re proactive, responsive and never miss a detail. A reliable extension of our HR team.

Transport & Logistics

Adanna Okafor

Immtell supported us through our sponsor licence application at a time when we urgently needed to recruit care staff from overseas. The advice was practical, clear, and always tailored to our sector. Thanks to their help, we were able to bring in our first international recruits and continue growing our care team.

Domiciliary Care

Claire Thompson

We approached Immtell to help us secure a sponsor licence as we scaled our research team. Their insight and clear guidance made a complex process feel straightforward. Within weeks, we had our licence and were ready to hire globally.

Life Sciences