What happens after you send us your form to give up British citizenship or status?

This page explains what you can expect after you have sent us your application form declaring that you wish to give up your British citizenship or other British status.

After we have registered your declaration, we will return your copy of the application form to you, officially signed and stamped, together with the documents you sent us.

Your copy of the application form will be your formal evidence that your declaration of renunciation (giving up) has become effective.

If you do not gain citizenship of another country

If we registered your declaration because you expected to gain another citizenship, but you do not do this within six months of the registration, the registration will not take effect.

In this case, you should send us your copy of the application form, together with a letter from the authorities of the other country confirming that you have not gained that country's citizenship.

We will make a note on your application form to show that you have not given up your British citizenship or status because the registration did not take effect.