United Kingdom: Information on whether an individual granted permanent residence status in the UK as a result of a marriage to a UK and colonies citizen, would lose this status after leaving the UK for more than two years
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 January 1994 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | GBR16343.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, United Kingdom: Information on whether an individual granted permanent residence status in the UK as a result of a marriage to a UK and colonies citizen, would lose this status after leaving the UK for more than two years, 1 January 1994, GBR16343.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6acf270.html [accessed 3 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to an immigration officer at the British High Commission in Ottawa, an individual who marries a UK or colonies citizen may apply for British citizenship through the British Home Office (21 Jan. 1994). Once the application has been approved the individual has the right to carry a UK passport. According to the source, regardless of the length of absence, British nationals holding UK passports are not prohibited from taking up residence in the UK (ibid.).
The source added that a "certificate of entitlement" may be attached to non-British passports (ibid.). According to the source, this is a lifetime entitlement that regardless of his or her absence length of absence, allows the bearer to establish residence in the UK (ibid.).
The source stated that holders of non-British passports may also obtain "indefinite leave to enter" or "indefinite leave to remain" certificates from the Home Office in London (ibid.). However, these certificates become invalid if the bearer is absent from the UK for more than two years (ibid.).
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
British High Commission, Ottawa. 21 January 1994. Telephone interview with immigration officer.
