Visit to UK.

[nev]

I am British born but now a Australian citizen living in Thailand, I want to go back and see my dad for two months.

First do I need a visa, second I have been offered some work it may be cash or not not sure, can I work in the UK entering on a Australian passport, I also might renew my UK one while over their.

[7by7]

Did you keep or renounce your British nationality when you took out your Australian one? You say you may renew your British passport, so presumably kept it.

 

If you kept it then you can enter the UK without any restriction; but will need to get a British passport first or apply for a certificate of right of abode.

 

If you renounced your British nationality, or even if not but enter on your Australian passport,  then you will be treated as an Australian. Australians do not need to obtain a visa in advance to enter the UK as visitors; but they are subject to the same visitor rules as all other non EEA nationals.

 

This includes a prohibition on working; paid and unpaid.

 

 

[nev]

11 minutes ago, 7by7 said:

Did you keep or renounce your British nationality when you took out your Australian one? You say you may renew your British passport, so presumably kept it.

 

If you kept it then you can enter the UK without any restriction; but will need to get a British passport first or apply for a certificate of right of abode.

 

If you renounced your British nationality, or even if not but enter on your Australian passport,  then you will be treated as an Australian. Australians do not need to obtain a visa in advance to enter the UK as visitors; but they are subject to the same visitor rules as all other non EEA nationals.

 

This includes a prohibition on working; paid and unpaid.

 

 

Thank you very much, I did not renounce my UK passport I just let it run out and kept the old one for many years, its over 30 years ago now so sadly the old passport is long gone.

Would I be able to get a new UK passport, i still have my original birth certificate.

[7by7]

6 hours ago, nev said:

Thank you very much, I did not renounce my UK passport I just let it run out and kept the old one for many years, its over 30 years ago now so sadly the old passport is long gone.

Would I be able to get a new UK passport, i still have my original birth certificate.

 Yes.

 

See Overseas British passport applications

 

7 hours ago, 7by7 said:

but will need to get a British passport first or apply for a certificate of right of abode.

On second thoughts, if you do not have time to get a British passport, an emergency travel document may be a better option than a CoA. But they aren't cheap, are usually only issued if someone's passport has been lost, stolen, damaged, is full, has recently expired or is with HM Passport Office or a foreign embassy and only allow one entry to the UK, so you would need to renew your passport while here.

 

I don't think they'll consider 30 years ago as recently expired!

 

See Get an emergency travel document

 

Of course, some may say that as Australians don't need a visa to visit the UK, you could enter on your Australian passport and get a new British one while here; but that could cause you problems with UK Border Force when trying to enter the UK as an Australian entering as a visitor who intends to work.

[nev]

1 hour ago, 7by7 said:

 Yes.

 

See Overseas British passport applications

 

On second thoughts, if you do not have time to get a British passport, an emergency travel document may be a better option than a CoA. But they aren't cheap, are usually only issued if someone's passport has been lost, stolen, damaged, is full, has recently expired or is with HM Passport Office or a foreign embassy and only allow one entry to the UK, so you would need to renew your passport while here.

 

I don't think they'll consider 30 years ago as recently expired!

 

See Get an emergency travel document

 

Of course, some may say that as Australians don't need a visa to visit the UK, you could enter on your Australian passport and get a new British one while here; but that could cause you problems with UK Border Force when trying to enter the UK as an Australian entering as a visitor who intends to work.

Thanks for all the info, the work is just bricklaying I have a mate who runs a team and while I am back has said come work with him.

My choice is do I take a risk or go back and just holiday, thanks again cheers Nev.

[7by7]

17 hours ago, nev said:

Thanks for all the info, the work is just bricklaying I have a mate who runs a team and while I am back has said come work with him.

My choice is do I take a risk or go back and just holiday, thanks again cheers Nev.

 

The risk is not just yours, it's your mate's as well.

 

All UK employers have a legal obligation to ensure that anyone they employ has the right to work in the UK. Either because the person is British or their leave to enter or remain in the UK allows them to work. See Check a job applicant's 'right to work' documents. 

 

The penalties for employing an illegal worker can be severe: 

Quote

You can be sent to jail for 5 years and pay an unlimited fine if you’re found guilty of employing someone who you knew or had ‘reasonable cause to believe’ didn’t have the right to work in the UK...................

...........You can also be penalised if you employ someone who doesn’t have the right to work and you didn’t do the correct checks, or you didn’t do them properly.

If this happens, you might get a ‘referral notice’ to let you know your case is being considered and that you might have to pay a civil penalty (fine) of up to £20,000 for each illegal worker.

 

Of course, you are a British citizen and so do have the right to work in the UK; but your mate, or any other employer, still has to check this before employing you.

 

A British passport is proof of your right to work in the UK. But you do not have a British passport at present.

 

In which case to comply with the law your mate will need to see both of the following documents before employing you:

• an official letter or document from a government agency (eg HM Revenue and Customs, Department for Work and Pensions, or the Social Security Agency in Northern Ireland) or previous employer, showing your name and National Insurance number
• your full birth certificate showing details of at least one of your birth parents.

 

 

Edited September 5, 2017 by 7by7

[bobrussell]

To work you will need your NI number anyway. You should already have one so it might be worth getting this before you travel.

 

https://www.gov.uk/lost-national-insurance-number

 

that plus your birth certificate should keep everything legal until you get a British passport.

[nev]

22 hours ago, bobrussell said:

To work you will need your NI number anyway. You should already have one so it might be worth getting this before you travel.

 

https://www.gov.uk/lost-national-insurance-number

 

that plus your birth certificate should keep everything legal until you get a British passport.

Cheers Bob I will look mine up, I am city and guilds trained and worked 6 years in the UK before I emigrated to Oz.

[7by7]

A NI number alone is not enough to prove your right to work in the UK.

 

For example, those in the UKI as students are allowed to work as well, for which they will need a NI number. As once issued, NI numbers are yours for life they will still have their NI number even after their visa has expired and they no longer have the right to remain in the UK, let alone work.

 

So, as said above, if you don't have a British passport then as well as proof of your NI number you will also need your full birth certificate.