Tokai Posted October 18 Share Posted October 18 Do I have to renew my uk passport to return home for good. It's been.over 30 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rammygirl Posted October 19 Share Posted October 19 How long has the passport lapsed for? Ideally you will need a Uk passport as Aus one only grants 3 month stay. It is easy to renew from Aus and cheaper than an Aus one but you might not be able to do it online if it has lapsed decades ago. Worth a look on the Uk gov website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted October 19 Share Posted October 19 8 hours ago, Tokai said: Do I have to renew my uk passport to return home for good. It's been.over 30 years. You don't have to, but you might as well. After all, you will need it if you ever want to go to France or Spain for a holiday once you're settled (you won't be able to use your Aussie passport to go back and forth to the Continent). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukbound Posted October 22 Share Posted October 22 On 18/10/2024 at 23:40, Tokai said: Do I have to renew my uk passport to return home for good. It's been.over 30 years. UK passports are valid for 10 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ausvisitor Posted October 22 Share Posted October 22 On 19/10/2024 at 17:48, Marisawright said: You don't have to, but you might as well. After all, you will need it if you ever want to go to France or Spain for a holiday once you're settled (you won't be able to use your Aussie passport to go back and forth to the Continent). You absolutely can so long as you do less than 90 days in every 6 months in Europe. The UK and AUS passport are equivalent for EU travel since Brexit. It will however be less time consuming on re-entry to the UK if you have an EU or UK passport though as you will be asked questions most times if you are coming and going on an AUS passport frequently - but it's certainly possible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonanza Posted October 22 Share Posted October 22 If you plan to live in the UK you will need to prove your right to UK residency as without this you will not be able to rent or buy a property, work, or register with a doctor. You will need to prove you have this with a British passport, not an Australian one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted October 22 Share Posted October 22 40 minutes ago, Ausvisitor said: You absolutely can so long as you do less than 90 days in every 6 months in Europe. The OP would have no problems entering and travelling around Europe. But let's say the OP used their Australian passport to enter the UK, then 8 months later, went on holiday to Greece. On their return to the UK, it would be noticed that they'd already overstayed on their first 'visit' to the UK. It's true that as a British citizen, they'd be allowed in eventually, but it would be a hassle. Also from next year, they'd have to apply for a ETA every time they went on holiday -- not to enter Europe, but to re-enter the UK -- and there would be a rigmarole every time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted October 22 Share Posted October 22 6 minutes ago, bonanza said: If you plan to live in the UK you will need to prove your right to UK residency as without this you will not be able to rent or buy a property, work, or register with a doctor. You will need to prove you have this with a British passport, not an Australian one. Actually that isn't quite true. A British passport proves the right to reside in the UK, it doesn't prove actual residency. So for employers and estate agents, the British passport works -- they need to know you have a right to stay. However doctors, hospitals, banks and local councils want proof you are physically resident in the UK and they don't usually even ask what passport or visa you hold. Instead, they ask for a bill or bank statement, sent to you at your UK address, as proof. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonanza Posted October 22 Share Posted October 22 My understanding is that this person wants to return to the UK 'for good' - no mention of travelling around Europe. They will need proof of British citizenship or other right to remain beyond a tourist visit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonanza Posted October 22 Share Posted October 22 8 minutes ago, Marisawright said: Actually that isn't quite true. A British passport proves the right to reside in the UK, it doesn't prove actual residency. So for employers and estate agents, the British passport works -- they need to know you have a right to stay. However doctors, hospitals, banks and local councils want proof you are physically resident in the UK and they don't usually even ask what passport or visa you hold. Instead, they ask for a bill or bank statement, sent to you at your UK address, as proof. You won't get an NHS doctor or hospital appointment without a uk NHS medical card, for which youll need UK ID including proof of permanent uk address. You won't pay council tax without having a UK permanent address plus Bank etc ID , you won't open uk bank account without a passport and proof of UK address plus other ID such as employment contract. It all starts with a UK passport, then permanent address, NI number, NHS number, then bank account. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted October 23 Share Posted October 23 1 hour ago, bonanza said: My understanding is that this person wants to return to the UK 'for good' - no mention of travelling around Europe. They will need proof of British citizenship or other right to remain beyond a tourist visit. If they arrive in the UK this year with an Aussie passport, and say they're coming for a holiday, no one will question them at the border. Once they're in the country, no one is going to come chasing after them in 6 months, saying "you've overstayed, get out". So if they're never planning to leave the UK again, arriving on an Aussie passport won't be a problem at all. However it's reasonable to suppose this person will do what most Brits do -- go on holiday now and then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted October 23 Share Posted October 23 53 minutes ago, bonanza said: You won't get an NHS doctor or hospital appointment without a uk NHS medical card, for which youll need UK ID including proof of permanent uk address. You won't pay council tax without having a UK permanent address plus Bank etc ID , you won't open uk bank account without a passport and proof of UK address plus other ID such as employment contract. It all starts with a UK passport, then permanent address, NI number, NHS number, then bank account. The OP is a returning Brit. If they worked in the UK before they left, they already have a NI number. In fact if they're young enough, they were sent their NI number when they turned 16 and if they don't know it, they can ask for it. Depending on their age, they may already have a NHS number too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ausvisitor Posted October 23 Share Posted October 23 (edited) 11 hours ago, Marisawright said: The OP is a returning Brit. If they worked in the UK before they left, they already have a NI number. In fact if they're young enough, they were sent their NI number when they turned 16 and if they don't know it, they can ask for it. Depending on their age, they may already have a NHS number too. ... Edited October 23 by Ausvisitor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonanza Posted October 24 Share Posted October 24 On 23/10/2024 at 01:07, Marisawright said: The OP is a returning Brit. If they worked in the UK before they left, they already have a NI number. In fact if they're young enough, they were sent their NI number when they turned 16 and if they don't know it, they can ask for it. Depending on their age, they may already have a NHS number too. I would not rely on your suggestion, based on the experiences of 2 dual nationals I know very well who recently had to produce endless documentation even WITH both UK and Australian passports in hand. One of them had had an NHS number as a child (NHS lost the records) and both had to attend f2f interviews with DWP with birth certs, passports, etc and other ID to get confirmation of NI numbers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted October 25 Share Posted October 25 12 hours ago, bonanza said: I would not rely on your suggestion, I didn't make a 'suggestion' and I didn't suggest anyone rely on it. If you look at my response to the OP, I advised them to renew their British passport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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