If for some reason your UK naturalisation certificate has been damaged or lost, then you would need to apply for a replacement copy especially if you have not yet applied for your UK passport for which you would need to send the original UK naturalisation certificate as proof of UK citizenship.
The UK passport office only accepts the naturalisation certificate if it is legible and is in good original condition. And if the certificate does not meet these conditions, it will be sent back to you. One very important thing to remember is that never laminate the naturalisation certificate as doing so apparently makes it void and unacceptable for the purpose of processing your UK passport application.
Update: You can apply for a lost or damaged certificate in two ways; you can apply online or by applying by post. In both cases you would need to pay £250 but applying online may be faster.
If you want to apply online, just follow the instructions on the Gov.UK link below;
Replace or correct a UK citizenship certificate
If you have to or would like to apply by post, then read on:
How to apply for a second copy of UK naturalisation certificate?
1. You would need to complete an application form for a duplicate naturalisation or citizenship certificate. The form is called FORM NC which you can download from www.gov.uk site HERE.
2. Once downloaded, fill out the details asked in the NS form. The form is pretty much straightforward and only needs some basic information. You will also need to fill out the details of any Home Office Reference No. (this can be found on any letters you may have received from the Home Office in relation to your visa, indefinite leave to remain, or biometric card).
3. If you are applying on the basis that your old certificate has been lost then you would need to report the issue to the police.
4. Once the NS form is filled out, you would need to fill the payment slip by downloading it HERE At the time of writing (March 2017) the fee for obtaining a duplicate UK naturalisation certificate was £198 (note that the current fee has gone up to £250 since 6 April 2018) which is way higher than obtaining a duplicate copy of a UK birth certificate. Comparatively, if a British Citizen needs a copy of his or her birth certificate the request can be dealt in a week and costs only £11 using the standard service; and for a premium service, the fee is £23.40 and takes about 2-4 days.
Similarly, if someone requests a Certified copy of a Certificate of British citizenship from the National Archives, it only takes around 16 working days and costs £27.15 plus postage.
The payment for a copy of naturalisation certificate can be made by credit/debit card, or you can pay by cheque. Make the cheque payable to The Accounting Officer, Home Office.
Once the FORM NS is complete with the required information and payment, send it off by (preferably) secure post to:
Department 1
UKVI
The Capital
New Hall Place
Liverpool
L3 9PP
How long does it take to receive a copy of UK naturalisation certificate?
Though there is not an estimated time guideline quoted on the Home Office website for obtaining a copy of naturalisation certificate when we phoned up the Home Office we were told that it could generally take up to 12 weeks.
I have complete the above documt and include fee to retain a copy of my naturalisation cert. However the money has been taken I have no indication from goverment as to what will hapen next. It has been 4 weeks.
I am unable to locate any telephone numbers to contact the gome office to discuss this.
Could anyone advise?
Hi, I’m about to start this process, did you get your certificate copy? Just trying to find out how long it is taking.
am still waiting for mine as well. its been 12 weeks now.
Hi. Did you get that?
i need proof of my fathers british citizenship…he is dead 20 years? How do i go about getting this please?
Dear Anna,please send all old passport copies, id card of your father to the concern issuing office and ask a copy of that certificate or confirm registration certificate from british high commission or home office.they will give right answer .one of my friend was got this way.
HMPO lost my British Citizenship Registration certificate while applying for my son’s passport. They told me that i have to apply for the replacement. I applied for the replacement certificate about six months ago – but i haven’t yet received it.
Does anyone know where i should contact or is it possible to track my application?
Mine took more than 1 year & half and I am still waiting for my certificates the funny thing my debit card expired this month so I am not sure what to do? Any of you pass through it?
Thanks,
For duplicate naturalization certificate. Do I need to send my passport? I start to apply online & stated it’s a must?
Pretty sure that a passport won’t be needed but do check it with the authority.
I thought this might help some people because I was over panicking from Reading other people’s posts. I sent my application towards the end of February 2019. I noticed they took the money out of my account on March 12 and I received my copy on the 21 March 2019. So it took a little over a month. For those of you who’s just about to start the process, please don’t stress too much. I’m sure everything will be fine.
I have applied online on the 26th of April and paid the fee online. Now the application is all online, no payment slip was needed as I had to pay online.
I know it has been only a week since I applied but I am now terrified since I read the posts here that people have been waited for a year????? I had to send my original Romanian passport so why on earth would an application for a duplicate piece of paper take longer than the application for British citizenship itself which took only 6 weeks? I am new terrified.
Hey I sent mine around the same time just wondered if you’ve received yours yet?
Marie, did you receive both current passport and the certificate in one package? I was asked on the form I filled in online to send my original passport as proof of ID and the damaged naturalisation certificate.
can i get my father citizenship certificate copy? because my father death is in UK and he is buried in UK her citizenship certificate is in UK and now i need this certificate because i want to apply for British passport and According to UK British embassy rules i need to show this certificate as a evidence
can i get my father citizenship certificate copy? because my father death is in UK and he is buried in UK her citizenship certificate is in UK and now i need this certificate because i want to apply for British passport and According to UK British embassy rules i need to show this certificate as a evidence Sir please guide me about this
The process is smooth and simple:
1. Go online, open an account
2. Fill in the online form
3. Pay the fee (250 pounds)
4. Send the application
5. Download the required document (most likely current passport)
6. Send to the given address (passport)
7. You will probably get it returned back with a week
8. Duplicate certificate will arrive a week later
I’ve done steps 1-4 however I don’t know where I’m supposed to find the required documents checklist could someone please help.
Aida, after making the payment you should be able to print the document checklist.
This is what I received on my email after making the payment:
“What you need to do next
If any documents are required from you, you must send your document checklist and supporting documents to the address on the checklist.
Sign in to your application to print your checklist.”
So you have to make the payment and then you will be able to print the confirmation and document checklist.
Hi Alexa, Please if they didn’t ask for any documents after doing it online and paid, do I need to print the confirmation of my application and send it by post? Or just wait ? Thanks
Hi Kim , have you received your duplicate citizenship certificate, and have you sent your online application form also by post ?
I did mine last month and it happens the same as you, finally after the application, did you send the documents, I need to print the confirmation of my application and send it by post? Or just wait ?
Ok, so I have received my copy of the citizenship certificate. I applied online on the 26th of April 2019, sent my EU passport and damaged certificate by post the same day by Special Delivery, arrived to the Home Office and signed for on the 29th of April 2019. And I received the copy of my citizenship certificate and my EU passport on the 23rd of May 2019. So a little over 3 weeks.
I sent my application off on the 29th March 2019 and I still haven’t heard anything from them. I received payment confirmation immediately. Now nothing, I rang them to see that they got my application to be told that they no longer give confirmation and you can’t chase up application. Just wondering if there is any guidance on how long these applications can take.
Hi,
Please could you tell if you sent any documents after filling the online form?
I have to apply soon and here I can see many people are confused what to do.
Please share your experiences.
Thank you.
I applied for my duplicate certificate, made payment, but page got stuck on payment. I then received an email stating the payment confirmation, logged back in and doesn’t have documents checklist. Am a little worried as I now don’t know if I need to send my current passport or not.
Hi,
RA, What happened with your duplicate certificate?
I’m in the same situation now- I applied online, received payment confirmation and I can’t see any document checklist!
What’s next! I’m really worried!
hi
I have applied for duplicate certificate online on 16 july and paid £250 and I posted the passport on 17 july and it was signed on 18th july wondering how long will it take
Have you received it as of yet?
Hi everyone,
So I applied for mine last week via post, payment was taken the following day and I just received the email that it has been dispatched.
So just over two weeks to obtain it.
No need to panic.
Hi Klaus,
Can you please let me know. I have also applied via post. Did you have to send your passport as I have not. I sent my NC form on the 08th Jan 2020 and they were acknowledged receipt on Thursday 09th Jan by special delivery.
Thank you for your support in this matter.
Martine
Hi Klaus,
Did you need to send your original UK passport in post?
I am in Australia and about to send via post but worried if I have to send my passport I will be stuck here without able to travel anywhere as well as the thought of it got lost in international mail.
Thank you
Kris
Hi everyone,
Just a little question I’m in Australia and wanting to apply online for a duplicate naturalisation certificate as mine is somewhere in an unpacked box. The online application form asks for the date of my naturalisation but it was sometime in 1995-1996 and as I don’t have that date the online form won’t let me go any further. Does anyone know if this means I’m going to have to apply by post? Or is there some way to do the application online?
Thank you for you help.
Philippa
Hi Philippa,
I am also in the same dilemma. My certificate is lost bin somewhere and I am in Australia will need to apply duplicate one. Please correct me if I am wrong as we are not in UK we need to apply via post?
As for the date of nutrilisation if you remember the registry office where you lived at the time might have a record at least of the ceremony date. I am going to apply via post, not sure they will ask passport or not. If they want my passport , I am worried I will be stuck in Australia without passport.
One more question, if you apply online and pay online do you still need to download the application form and send it to Liverpool?
Thanks,
I was wondering same thing
Hello, I am also posting my ongoing process here.
Applied on March 10th online.
Didn’t ask for any documents yet.
Haven’t done anything more, but have got nothing back. no email, no update.
Will post here when I get some update
Hello, I applied around the same period, 15th of March 2020, but I’ve not had any response. Have you had any feedback?
I got my replacement certificate on 5th of September 2020, after calling the UKVI to query the status of the application not long after my last post.
What is that number u call UKVI please
Have you got your certificate?
Applied for my replacement certificate online on 7th July. Did not here anything from UKVI although there was confirmation receipt of money being taken. I got my replacement certificate today 14th September. It was mailed all the way to me in America. Soo excited!!
Good Luck to you well done!!!!!
I lost my Naturalization I should to apply but it stated you can not apply before 1986 but if you apply after 1986 they will replace your naturalization, my brtish citizen issued 1981 so where do I apply the Replacement of my naturalization before 1986. Please anyone who experience this because I want to apply my dual citizenship in our country.
TRY THIS SITE…
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/contact-us/request-a-search-for-a-certificate-of-british-citizenship-1949-1986/
Hello. I would like a copy of my great-grandfathers naturalization papers – who can help me with that?
Hello, how do I obtain a copy of British subject registration papers? The person was born in 1899.
Currently filling out the NC form as i lost my British citizenship certificate but it asks for date of naturalisation how do i find that if ive lost my certificate?
Applied for a duplicate citizenship certificate on August 1st 2020 via UKVI webpage, got the payment receipt right away. It didn’t ask for any other documents. Haven’t heard of any response since. I tried to contact UKVI by emailing them and calling them via the phone numbers they provided. Still nothing. Quite worried to be honest.
I had the same issue but I received my duplicate citizenship certificate after 3 months. I wasn’t asked to send any other documents and there was no correspondence from UKVI for months then without warning I received the duplicate cert in the mail. I’m sure you have nothing to worry about. good luck
It’s very frustrating. It says on the webpage to go to the document checklist, but there is no checklist.
In addition it’s not totally clear whether you can apply online if you live outside the UK – on one page it says only if you live in the UK, the other page is worded totally ambiguously. So I applied online anyway but now I’m unsure I did the right thing. There are no numbers or email addresses to contact other than a pay service from which I got a useless answer. And if you suddenly locate your certificate there is no way to cancel and get a refund. A very stressful and unsatisfactory experience.
I also applied for a duplicate Naturalization Certificate online back in February and were in May now with absolutely no response or confirmation. I tried logging back in to y application and its says ‘ You have a few more steps before your application will be complete.’ but there is no option for more steps. They took my money back in feb and I got an application number but nothing else.
Were out in the UAE and Im still unable to get any official documents for my newborn daughter. So frustrating and nerve wrecking, Have tried to contact UKVI, Home Office and the British embassy but no help at all.
If anyone can shed some light here I would be ever so grateful.
Hi. Did you get you Naturalisation Certificate?
Hi is there any contact No, I have paid £250 and it is three weeks now…I need this urgently any help please.
I/ve been waiting for 3 months now and still no reply or certificate
Hi I have paid and filled up the form more than 6 month ago I have no replay any have any phone number from them
I am in the same predicament, I am currently in the US did my application for duplication in 23rd March 2021, still not response, they just cashed my funds on account, and gave me receipt notice with reference. It is now July approaching August and still no site of this form.
it is 29/07/2021 I applied for a replacement Certificate of Naturalisation and payed £250 on 25/06/2021 and I haven’t received any updates from the government about it. i need it for my sons passport application since he needs to apply for one before UNI starts and he wont be able to receive students loans. I haven’t been this sad in a long time and I don’t know which number to call. i called the visa and immigration number and they seemed clueless whenever I asked about how long it takes for a replacement document to arrive. one of them even said it would take a week!
i just need any contact number to call so I know a estimated date of when it should arrive in the post.
Guys you do not need to worry .
Applied by post from Erbil by DHL
Received by department 27/05/2021
Not heard anything ever since
Called : 0300 123 2253 logged enquiry and given reference number on 27/08/2021
E mailed : FurtherNationalityEnquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk
Today : 24/09/2021 received e mail from Citizenship.Support@homeoffice.gov.uk
”Good Morning
Thank you for your email.
Our records show your payment was taken on 20th September 2021.
You duplicate certificate has been printed and is being sent via overseas post.
Kind regards
UK Visas & Citizenship
CCST
Dept 55”
1- Do not panic
2- You will not receive any correspondence until your certificate is ready .
I want to change name in the Naturalization certificate. How long will it take to process and receive the certificate. My son was born in UK. He is having his UK birth certificate. He is holding Indian passport. Is it possible to apply UK passport without naturalization certificate? Because I m worried, to receive naturalization certificate it will defenitely take long. I want to apply OCI card also. IF anyone knows these details please help me.
hi guys,
I am waiting for my replacement naturalisation certificate which I applied for on Oct 27. I need it for my daughters UK passport whose application is also pending waiting for this certificate. They have already taken the money.
which is the correct number to call as am not able to get through using the details given below from the gov.uk website? the options give here dont take me to the correct person. can someone please help?
Contact UK Visas and Immigration for help
British citizenship and nationality
Contact the Citizenship and Nationality Enquiries team if you have questions about British citizenship, for example the Life in the UK Test.
Citizenship and Nationality Enquiries
nationalityenquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)300 790 6268 – select option 1, then option 1 again
Monday to Thursday, 9am to 4:45pm UK local time
Friday, 9am to 4:30pm UK local time
Find out about call charges
If you cannot contact UK 0300 numbers, use +44 (0)203 875 4669.
hi guys,
Just to inform you that I received my duplicate naturalisation certificate by post today. Am happy.
My certificate was torn from the side , slight damage.
I applied for duplicate citizen certificate oct 27, 2021 and now it is 10 weeks have not heard anything till now.
They said that documents have to be send but did not recieve any checklist so did not send any documents.
Till now no reply form ukba, have send emails to furthernationality and nationaltity emails.
I am worried as I need this certificate as I need to travel to my country, please can anyone help me.
Thank you
Hi everyone I applied for duplicate naturalisation certificate because when I applied for my child passport the home office didn’t returned my naturalisation certificate I didn’t realise at the time now when I applied for my second child the home office asking for it again which I searched everywhere couldn’t fined it
So I applied for duplicate naturalisation certificate and worrying how long it’s going to take I applied online on 25/01/2022
They didn’t ask me for anything to be send to them
Guys help me what I should do to get it more quicker because it’s required in the Liverpool passport office.
Also I didn’t get any check list
Hi Sangar, how long did it take for you to get the duplicate certificate? I am in similar situation now. Did you follow up with any one for this
Appreciate your inputs
I have applied on 25/01/2022 for duplicate naturalisation certificate online
When I log in to the web it’s says You have a few more steps before your application will be complete. When I go next it just shows the NC form which I have done online.
Guys need your help
Do I have to send my passports?
On the form it’s says if required I will send it
and do I need to send the form which I did online?
It’s urgently required for my child passport application.
They the one who didn’t returned it when I applied for my first child passport application.
My naturalisation certificate has arrived
Applied 25/01/2022 received the 05/02/2022
Very quick no documents were asked
Dear sangar , thank for keep update what happened with you from A to Z , I have exactly same situation I had so… I’m waiting for duplicate of naturalisation certificate form my second child passport, I have applied on 06/10/2023 for replacement of naturalisation certificate hopefully will have good luck and receive as quick as you when you had it in 10 days , just one more question: did they send it with recorded mail or 1st class mail ? Can my house mate or reception in building sign for it ? Because daytime I’m working not at home , could you please explain how they send it. Regards
Hi I got the same problem , that there are few more stepladder before your application is complete , but if I click next ( only option to download the form which already completed online ) any help would be appreciated
Hi,
Has anyone applied recently? and how long did it take you to get your naturalization certificate? I submitted mine few days ago.
I applied on Feb 22, awaiting response. Zoey… any luck on your application ?
1. Applied on the 17 Feb. ’22
2. Money withdrawn on the 28th March ’22
3. Still nothing 11th April ’22
I applied for mine by post on the 18th February. The £250 fees were debited from my bank account on the 28th March. Today is the 15th April and I have not heard anything
Hello Friends,
I applied online, 1st April 2022. Wasn’t asked to send any supporting docs.
I have received my certificate today, 3rd May 2022.
Regards.
Hi Eric , have you applied inside the uk ? And did they send you an email about that
1. Applied on the 17/18 Feb. ’22
2. £250 withdrawn from my bank account on the 28th March ’22
3. emailed : FurtherNationalityEnquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk on 12th April ’22 (no reply from them)
4. Receive the document on 06th May ’22
I initially sent the application via the post office + I was not asked any supporting documents.
So it works after all.
Hi I got the problem , that there are few more steps before your application is complete , written after payment , but if I click next ( only option to download the form which already completed online ) any help would be appreciated
Same issue, applied on Dec 28th from HK using the online form and till date (7th March) no response and no sign of certificate being with me anytime soon. My daughters passport is significant delayed due to this and I am just so frustrated. i’ve emailed over 8 various gov email addresses along with emailing the home-office and filing complaints. Honestly, I am just so lost and so frustrated, this has been a disaster. UK standards have fallen. Appalling.
Hello, I am applying for duplicate naturalization certificate. My question is that, when filling in the form its asking me the date when I received the original certificate? That was 16 years ago!!! I don’t remember the exact date but do remember the month and year, what can I do?? Please help
Hello, if I were in this situation, I would have filled out the approximate date followed by the exact month and year. I would then have added a note about it.
Applied online for duplicate naturalisation certificate on 06/10/2023 , received it on 24/10/2023 , no supporting documents needed to send ,
Good luck for everyone
Applied online for a duplicate naturalisation certificate on 23/11/2023 the money was taken from my bank account on 24/11/2023, and i received the certificate on 23/12/2023.
No supporting documents needs to be sent.
PS: Don’t bother contacting them because, they won’t respond.
GOOD LUCK!