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Paperwork

the timeframe for the renunciation seems variable – make sure to allow plenty of time.

When I did my renunciation back in 2018 it took me 6 weeks using the paper submission of the RN1 with all supporting documents. However, others have said that doing their online has meant a considerably longer wait – many did not hear anything for six months and in one case, the renunciation papers were returned back to the Home Office as undelivered. Factoring in six months for the renunciation would mean that it is advisable to do it at latest eighteen months after gaining Austrian citizenship, although my personal belief is that it is best to press on with it as soon as possible, since the last thing I would want is for a long and strenuous procedure to be rendered null and void by a failure to get the paperwork done in time. The complications of the process “lapsing” that Uzbek and Ukrainian citizens I know have told me about are simply not worth the hassle.

Categories: Legal, Paperwork, Renunciation
  • Hi,

    I’ve submitted my online form for renouncing my British Citizenship. They have asked for some documents to be sent to the Liverpool (in the checklist).

    Must the supporting documents be the original or can they be photocopy? Similar to someone who asked before, I’m also concerned my passport will get misplaced or I can’t travel during the renouncement processing period.

    How long does it usually take to process and reply with a confirmation letter for my application? I’ll need it for my other citizenship application as supporting document, but the indication says the renouncement process can take up to 6 months, which is the validity of my citizenship application, otherwise it’ll be rejected.

    Is there way to expedite the process/ renouncement?

    • Sorry for the delay in replying – my advice would be to send a copy of the passport and only sending the original for cancellation once you have your Austrian passport.

  • Hello …can you help me?
    I am renouncing my british passport to take on Liechtenstein citizenship. There is NO DUAL citizenship allowed.
    I am worried that I will have NO passport..no ability to travel during the process time… as I have family in Austria and Britain, I would not like to be a “prisoner” !! One only gets a Liechtenstein passport AFTER proof of renouncing british is received….any advice.. thanks in advance

    • Would suggest sending in only a copy of the British passport – due to living in a microstate you would be justified in retaining a valid travel document until your new passport and citizenship comes through.

  • Can a copy of my US passport be sent for proof of citizenship when renouncing British citizenship? I am completing on-line application, where do I send original British passport and supporting documents.

    • Usually when you submit the online forms, there is an address stated at the end (for UKVI in Liverpool) that they say where some documents e.g. travel documents are required to be sent. If your US passport is proof of US citizenship (in some countries a passport is only a travel document and not considered proof of citizenship – e.g. from here you send your Staatsbürgerschaftsnachweis) then a copy would be a suitable document to send. There is a filling guide, please check whether you need a certified copy made of the photo page by a lawyer. Hope this helps – this blog only deals with becoming an Austrian citizen and renouncing British.

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    Naturalisation timeline
    Naturalisation timeline based on my experience

    I had my information appointment in April 2017, and was given an appointment for the application (Antragstermin) in late October 2017. The decision confirming eligibility (Zusicherungsbescheid) came through at the end of April 2018, with the ceremony for Austrian citizenship taking place at the start of July 2018.

  • I have received my Zusicherungsbescheid and have started the online application to renounce UK citizenship. I stopped at the payment section. My question is – can I send the form online with scans of my passport and Bescheid, or do I have to print it out and send my original Bescheid plus passport to the UK? I am concerned about being left without a passport until the UK authorities confirm that I am no longer a UK citizen. Thanks for the help.

    • I only sent copies of everything – I would maintain that you need your passport until your Austrian Citizenship has been conferred. After all, the wording of the law is that you have up to two years to prove you have renounced.

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    You don’t need to have one, but I chose to also have a Personalausweis.

    I chose to get a Personalausweis to not continue to have to use my passport as an identity card (as I had to as a Briton). I got it a month or so after my passport, to ensure that the two documents do not have the same expiry date. It wasn’t essential or compulsory to have one, but the use outstrips the financial outlay (ca. EUR 65 when I applied in Summer 2018).

    Categories: Legal, Paperwork, Personal

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    My passport was printed and sent out to me within four working days of naturalising.

    4 working days. My passport was sent for processing on the day I gained my Austrian citizenship, and I took delivery of my passport four working days later. I subsequently had a Personalausweis issued a few months later that took a similar amount of time to be issued.

    Category: Paperwork

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    Personal

    Naturalisation timeline
    Naturalisation timeline based on my experience

    I had my information appointment in April 2017, and was given an appointment for the application (Antragstermin) in late October 2017. The decision confirming eligibility (Zusicherungsbescheid) came through at the end of April 2018, with the ceremony for Austrian citizenship taking place at the start of July 2018.

  • I have received my Zusicherungsbescheid and have started the online application to renounce UK citizenship. I stopped at the payment section. My question is – can I send the form online with scans of my passport and Bescheid, or do I have to print it out and send my original Bescheid plus passport to the UK? I am concerned about being left without a passport until the UK authorities confirm that I am no longer a UK citizen. Thanks for the help.

    • I only sent copies of everything – I would maintain that you need your passport until your Austrian Citizenship has been conferred. After all, the wording of the law is that you have up to two years to prove you have renounced.

  • Feel free to comment or ask a question....

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    You don’t need to have one, but I chose to also have a Personalausweis.

    I chose to get a Personalausweis to not continue to have to use my passport as an identity card (as I had to as a Briton). I got it a month or so after my passport, to ensure that the two documents do not have the same expiry date. It wasn’t essential or compulsory to have one, but the use outstrips the financial outlay (ca. EUR 65 when I applied in Summer 2018).

    Categories: Legal, Paperwork, Personal

    Feel free to comment or ask a question....

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Renunciation

    the timeframe for the renunciation seems variable – make sure to allow plenty of time.

    When I did my renunciation back in 2018 it took me 6 weeks using the paper submission of the RN1 with all supporting documents. However, others have said that doing their online has meant a considerably longer wait – many did not hear anything for six months and in one case, the renunciation papers were returned back to the Home Office as undelivered. Factoring in six months for the renunciation would mean that it is advisable to do it at latest eighteen months after gaining Austrian citizenship, although my personal belief is that it is best to press on with it as soon as possible, since the last thing I would want is for a long and strenuous procedure to be rendered null and void by a failure to get the paperwork done in time. The complications of the process “lapsing” that Uzbek and Ukrainian citizens I know have told me about are simply not worth the hassle.

    Categories: Legal, Paperwork, Renunciation
  • Hi,

    I’ve submitted my online form for renouncing my British Citizenship. They have asked for some documents to be sent to the Liverpool (in the checklist).

    Must the supporting documents be the original or can they be photocopy? Similar to someone who asked before, I’m also concerned my passport will get misplaced or I can’t travel during the renouncement processing period.

    How long does it usually take to process and reply with a confirmation letter for my application? I’ll need it for my other citizenship application as supporting document, but the indication says the renouncement process can take up to 6 months, which is the validity of my citizenship application, otherwise it’ll be rejected.

    Is there way to expedite the process/ renouncement?

    • Sorry for the delay in replying – my advice would be to send a copy of the passport and only sending the original for cancellation once you have your Austrian passport.

  • Hello …can you help me?
    I am renouncing my british passport to take on Liechtenstein citizenship. There is NO DUAL citizenship allowed.
    I am worried that I will have NO passport..no ability to travel during the process time… as I have family in Austria and Britain, I would not like to be a “prisoner” !! One only gets a Liechtenstein passport AFTER proof of renouncing british is received….any advice.. thanks in advance

    • Would suggest sending in only a copy of the British passport – due to living in a microstate you would be justified in retaining a valid travel document until your new passport and citizenship comes through.

  • Can a copy of my US passport be sent for proof of citizenship when renouncing British citizenship? I am completing on-line application, where do I send original British passport and supporting documents.

    • Usually when you submit the online forms, there is an address stated at the end (for UKVI in Liverpool) that they say where some documents e.g. travel documents are required to be sent. If your US passport is proof of US citizenship (in some countries a passport is only a travel document and not considered proof of citizenship – e.g. from here you send your Staatsbürgerschaftsnachweis) then a copy would be a suitable document to send. There is a filling guide, please check whether you need a certified copy made of the photo page by a lawyer. Hope this helps – this blog only deals with becoming an Austrian citizen and renouncing British.

  • Feel free to comment or ask a question....

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Naturalisation timeline
    Naturalisation timeline based on my experience

    I had my information appointment in April 2017, and was given an appointment for the application (Antragstermin) in late October 2017. The decision confirming eligibility (Zusicherungsbescheid) came through at the end of April 2018, with the ceremony for Austrian citizenship taking place at the start of July 2018.

  • I have received my Zusicherungsbescheid and have started the online application to renounce UK citizenship. I stopped at the payment section. My question is – can I send the form online with scans of my passport and Bescheid, or do I have to print it out and send my original Bescheid plus passport to the UK? I am concerned about being left without a passport until the UK authorities confirm that I am no longer a UK citizen. Thanks for the help.

    • I only sent copies of everything – I would maintain that you need your passport until your Austrian Citizenship has been conferred. After all, the wording of the law is that you have up to two years to prove you have renounced.

  • Feel free to comment or ask a question....

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.