Dear all,

My wife is a British citizen, however, due to work commitments she never had time to apply for her British passport before living in the UK. She now has her current Thai passport with an ILR sticker in. Unfortunately, this runs out this year and she will have to apply for a new Thai passport. The problem is the new Thai passport will not have the ILR sticker in and we would like to travel to the UK at the end of the year. So, as we both live in Thailand, I am wondering what our options are? I know that you can apply for a British passport here in Thailand, however, I don't know how they deal with the 'first passport interview' and even if they conduct these. Ideally, I would like to delay applying for a British passport untill next year. Can anyone suggest the best approach to sorting out this problem? She may have to go back to the UK and apply for the passport but I would like to leave this as a last resort.

Many thanks,

Bes

She can carry both Thai passports. The old passport shows that she has ILR, and she should show this passport when asked to prove her status in the UK. She retains ILR as long as she has not been out of the UK for more than 2 years.

I'm not sure why work commitments would prevent her from having time to apply for a British passport ? Usually it's the cost that puts people off, and makes them keep hold of their national passport.

Visit the UK-embassy website for more information.

British passports are now issued outside of Thailand, but can be applied for by mail. Not sure about first passport interview.

As said, she can carry both her old Thai passport with the ILR sticker in it, and her new one. But if she has been out of the UK for a continuous period of 2 years or more her ILR will have lapsed and she will (probably) be refused entry; the airline may even refuse to carry her as she wont have a valid entry clearance for the UK.

Even if it has been less than 2 years since she was last in the UK, if it is apparent to an Immigration Officer when she enters the UK that she is no longer a UK resident then the IO will cancel her ILR; although she will be allowed in on that occasion as a visitor.

Her British citizenship will not have lapsed, no matter how long she has spent outside the UK. Better she gets herself a British passport.

See How to apply from Thailand (First time applications)

As said, she can carry both her old Thai passport with the ILR sticker in it, and her new one. But if she has been out of the UK for a continuous period of 2 years or more her ILR will have lapsed and she will (probably) be refused entry; the airline may even refuse to carry her as she wont have a valid entry clearance for the UK.

Even if it has been less than 2 years since she was last in the UK, if it is apparent to an Immigration Officer when she enters the UK that she is no longer a UK resident then the IO will cancel her ILR; although she will be allowed in on that occasion as a visitor.

Her British citizenship will not have lapsed, no matter how long she has spent outside the UK. Better she gets herself a British passport.

See How to apply from Thailand (First time applications)

Thanks 7b7 - will there be any implications for me applying for my wife's british passport while she is living in Thailand i.e. dual nationality issues? We don't plan to live in the UK at least for the forseeable future.

None that I'm aware of; both Thailand and the UK allow dual nationality.

None that I'm aware of; both Thailand and the UK allow dual nationality.

My son has both UK and Thai passports. I think it does not become an issue until he is 18. Then I believe it is a non issue.

None that I'm aware of; both Thailand and the UK allow dual nationality.

Thanks 7by7. Am I correct in saying that you have to submit your application to the British Embassy in Bangkok and then they will forward it to Hong Kong? It doesn't seem very clear on their website. However, the process does look pretty straightforward.

None that I'm aware of; both Thailand and the UK allow dual nationality.

Thanks 7by7. Am I correct in saying that you have to submit your application to the British Embassy in Bangkok and then they will forward it to Hong Kong? It doesn't seem very clear on their website. However, the process does look pretty straightforward.

Thanks 7by7. Am I correct in saying that you have to submit your application to the British Embassy in Bangkok and then they will forward it to Hong Kong? It doesn't seem very clear on their website. However, the process does look pretty straightforward.

Sorry but it seems pretty clear to me

Where/How to applyYou need to submit your application to:

The British Embassy

14 Wireless Road

Lumpini, Pathumwan

Bangkok 10330

http://ukinhongkong.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/passports/how-to-apply/thailand/first-time-applications#where