A major concern for many Brits is, “Can I lose my British citizenship if I live abroad for too long?”
It’s in our nature to feel that an expiry or cancellation date is awaiting us somewhere. Whether it’s our passport, our bank cards, or our office login passwords.
Living abroad, the idea that your home country may assume you’re never returning and revoke your citizenship is a valid concern.
We’ve addressed some of these concerns in this article, so if you are asking “Can I lose my British citizenship if I live abroad for a couple of years?” Keep reading.
To kick-off, we’d like to touch on what citizenship is.
By definition, citizenship is the relationship between an individual and the state.
A citizen of a country is subject to the laws and regulations of their country but also enjoys the benefits of it.
Whether you decide to remain in the UK or emigrate permanently, your citizenship, unless you have requested that your citizenship be deprived, will not be canceled or revoked.
How long until you lose your British citizenship if living abroad?
Forever, really. To lose your citizenship is a really serious thing. You will not lose your citizenship as a result of not keeping your affairs in order, or living abroad for extended periods.
That would be similar to a parent refusing you entry into their home (which was once your home) because you haven’t moved back home for 20 years.
Since the UK allows dual citizenship, they recognise that some British citizens have citizenship in other countries too.
Only under really drastic circumstances, might you lose your British citizenship, and staying away for too long is NOT one of them.
You may find your citizenship revoked only in the following instances, although they are rare and limited;
– It is Conducive to Public Good to have you removed as a citizen of the United Kingdom; or
– You have acquired your citizenship in a manner that includes the concealment of material facts, fraud, or false representation.
If your citizenship were to be revoked due to it being conducive to the public good, only a naturalised person could face citizenship deprivation.
For your citizenship to be revoked due to it being conducive to the public good, you will have to have acted in a way that is seriously prejudicial to the vital interest of the UK.
Am I still a UK resident if I live abroad?
You may be, yes. To determine your status, you must complete a Statutory Residence Test (SRT) and attach that to your status.
Another way that your residence may be assessed is through a “sufficient ties” test.
In this test, the ties you have to the UK will be checked.
These “Ties” are defined as :
– having family members in the UK, as citizens, residents, or both;
– having accommodation in the UK, being a leased or owned residence;
– working in the UK
– having spent ninety (90) days or more in the UK in at least one of the two previous tax years.
The number of ties you have in the UK determines how many days you may spend in the UK per year without being treated as a resident, which affects how tax payable is determined.
Along with dual citizenship between the UK and another country, you may also enjoy dual residency. Being a resident usually has much to do with tax laws and how it is payable.
In the UK, if you are present in the country for 183 days or longer, you will be taxed as a resident citizen.
Can you keep a UK bank account if you move abroad?
Yes, you can. It is possible (and quite smart) to keep your UK bank account open while you are abroad.
Generally, most citizens who emigrate, return to the UK at least once to visit loved ones or old friends.
It is usually suggested that you keep a UK bank account if you are:
– receiving funding from either private or state pension funds;
– only moving abroad for a set period and intend to return to the UK;
– moving abroad to earn money and send those funds back to the UK;
– an owner of a property and all the funds required for the upkeep of your property is paid via standing order or direct debits in the UK.
Apart from these, it is wise to have for when you do return to the UK, even if only for a visit.
Being a citizen of the United Kingdom has many benefits, and one of those is that they will never “kick you out of the house” without a very valid reason which is usually linked to the safety of others.
So relax, and enjoy your time abroad; the UK will always be “home” if you want it to be.
If you live abroad and have been away from the UK for a long time, you may be wondering if you can lose your British citizenship if you live abroad.
Conclusion: Can you lose your British citizenship if you live abroad?
The answer to this question depends on how old you are and whether or not you intend to return home in the future.
The British nationality law does not specify that you must live in the United Kingdom to be a citizen.
However, if you abandon your citizenship and become stateless, this will probably affect your ability to travel freely or work abroad.
If you want to retain your UK passport so that you can continue traveling and working internationally, it’s best for all parties involved if you maintain dual residency status with another country too.
Our team at U.K.ABROAD is ready and waiting to help make sure everything goes smoothly when applying for a new British passport.
Contact us for more information on British passport renewals as well as any other questions that come up about your British passport application process. We can help with all of those details so that no one has to go it alone!
Contact U.K.ABROAD
Are you a British expat? Contact U.K.ABROAD for fast & easy British passport applications, renewals or replacements from abroad.
