Stealthily, a new piece of legislation has been passed which limits the issue of Certificates of Entitlement to the Right of Abode. These are the vignettes placed in the "foreign" passport of dual British nationals which demonstrate to the UK immigration officer that the holder is effectively also a British citizen. For example, a Thai national who has naturalised as a British citizen may have a C. of E. placed in his/her Thai passport.

On 21 December 2006, the Immigration (Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode in the United Kingdom) Regulations 2006 came in to effect. Section 6((1) categorically states that a C. of E. is not to be issued to someone who otherwise holds a British passport. Those who currently hold both a British passport and a C. of E. will be able to travel on the C. of E. until the passport in which it's endorsed expires.

Whilst not a major piece of legislation, it's a major pain in the backside for those with British/Thai spouses and/or children who could travel to Thailand on a Thai passport endorsed with a C. of E., and to other countries on a British passport. It also means that Mrs. Rinrada's C. of E., for example, will lapse with her current Thai passport.

Scouse.

Whilst not a major piece of legislation, it's a major pain in the backside for those with British/Thai spouses and/or children who could travel to Thailand on a Thai passport endorsed with a C. of E., and to other countries on a British passport. It also means that Mrs. Rinrada's C. of E., for example, will lapse with her current Thai passport.

Could Mrs R have her ILR transferred to her new passport even though she has attained British Citizenship and thus continue to breeze into UK on her Thai passport?

Yes, she could, but at a cost of £160.00 instead of £20.00 for a new C. of E.

Scouse.

Yes, she could, but at a cost of £160.00 instead of £20.00 for a new C. of E.

Ouch . better to carry the ILR in the expired passport for free

What will happen to UK passport holders whose UK's passport had expired and not been renewed? Can they choose between renewing a C of E in their foreign passport or renewing their UK passport?

What will happen to UK passport holders whose UK's passport had expired and not been renewed? Can they choose between renewing a C of E in their foreign passport or renewing their UK passport?

One wonders if they've thought of that. Given the cost of a British passport now, I suppose that's not an unlikely scenario for someone who has acquired British nationality but whose other nationality, e.g. Australian, enables them to travel visa-free to a lot of countries.

On the principle that one no longer held a valid British passport, it could be argued that it was appropriate to have a C of E