Immigration Corner | How to correct a British citizenship certificate

Dear Mr. Bassie,

I need to replace my British citizenship certificate. I would be grateful if you could advise me on how I should proceed.

A.A.

Dear A.A.,

Persons must pay a fee to order a replacement registration or naturalisation certificate, or to correct mistakes on a certificate. Please note that how a person orders a certificate will depend on when he/she became a citizen.

Persons who became a citizen after September 30, 1986 should note that it costs £428 to replace a lost or damaged certificate. Applicants should fill in the form online and will usually be able to keep their documents while their application is being processed. It should be noted that persons can get help with completing the online form if they do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device and/or do not have Internet access. However, persons can only use this service if they are applying from within the United Kingdom (UK).

Persons who live in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or a British overseas territory, will have to apply in person or by post instead. Persons should check with the governor’s office. Further, persons who live elsewhere, can apply in other ways. It should be noted that persons must tell the police if their certificate has been stolen.

CORRECTING MISTAKES ON A CERTIFICATE

If persons need to correct mistakes on a certificate they should download and complete an application for a correction of a registration or naturalization certificate. Having completed the application, they should send the form and their original certificate to Department 201, UKVI, the full address is stated below. Please note that persons will need to pay a £428 fee if the mistake on the certificate was their fault. United Kingdom Visas and Immigration (UKVI) will send a letter advising the applicant if they will need to pay.

Department 201

UKVI

The Capital

New Hall Place

Liverpool

L3 9PP

Those persons who became a citizen on or before September 30, 1986 can search the United Kingdom National Archives and order a certified copy for a registration certificate issued between January 1, 1949 and September 30, 1986. They can also search for a naturalisation certificate issued between January 1, 1844 and September 30, 1986.

For completeness, please note that a person cannot get a replacement certificate from UKVI if he/she became a British citizen before October 1986. In such cases persons should Contact UKVI for guidance.

I hope this helps.

John S. Bassie

John S. Bassie is a barrister/attorney-at-law who practises law in Jamaica. He is a justice of the peace, a Supreme Court-appointed mediator, a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a chartered arbitrator, the past global president of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a member of the Immigration Law Practitioners Association (UK). Email: lawbassie@yahoo.com