gobordaGlobal mobility intelligence
CitizenshipEffectiveLow impactVerified

UK Guidance for British Citizenship Restoration (Form RS1) Updated: Nationality Enquiries Contact Method Changed

🇬🇧 United KingdomCitizenship1 recorded versionLast change 17 Aug 2026
ConfidenceVery high · 100%

Current rules

The guidance now replaces the nationality enquiries email address with a link to the contact UKVI webform. It includes updated application processing times and information on returning Biometric Residence Permits. The section 'Travelling to and from the UK after becoming a British citizen' has been updated. The section on Good character has been updated. Various sections including 'IAA and immigration advice', 'biometric enrolment', 'evidence of identity', 'travel after submitting an application', and 'citizenship ceremonies' have been updated. A new section, 'will I get digital status showing I am a British citizen?', has been added. The 'citizenship ban' section has been removed.

Overview

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has updated its guidance for Form RS1, which concerns individuals applying to regain British citizenship after renouncing it. The update, effective 17 August 2026, replaces the previous nationality enquiries email address with a direct link to the UKVI webform, streamlining the contact method for applicants.

Who is affected by the latest change

  • Individuals applying to become British citizens again after giving up citizenship

What changed in the latest version

Before

The guidance used to include a specific email address for nationality questions. It also had a section called 'citizenship ban'. Information about how long applications take to process was different. Details about returning Biometric Residence Permits, and travelling after becoming a British citizen were also different. The sections on Good character, immigration advice, biometric enrolment, identity evidence, travelling after you apply, and citizenship ceremonies were also different. The guidance did not have a section about digital status for British citizens.

After

The guidance now replaces the email address for nationality questions with a link to the contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) webform. It includes updated information on how long applications take to process. It also has updated details on returning Biometric Residence Permits. The section called 'Travelling to and from the UK after becoming a British citizen' has been updated. The section on Good character has been updated. Other sections have also been updated, including those on immigration advice, biometric enrolment, identity evidence, travelling after you apply, and citizenship ceremonies. A new section called 'will I get digital status showing I am a British citizen?' has been added. The 'citizenship ban' section has been removed.

This update makes it easier for applicants to ask questions, sending them to a webform. This could make enquiries faster. The new information on processing times and Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) returns gives people clearer expectations for their application. The 'citizenship ban' section has been removed. This might mean the policy in this area is simpler or viewed differently, but the document does not explain what this means exactly. Adding a section on digital status helps applicants understand how they will prove their British citizenship in modern ways.

Explained simply

Imagine you used to send a letter to a specific email address when you had a question about getting your UK citizenship back after giving it up. Now, instead of that email, you have to go to a special web page and fill out a form there. It's just a different way to ask your questions, aiming to make it smoother for everyone.

Frequently asked

Version history

  1. v7Effective 17 Aug 2026EffectiveLow impact
    UK Guidance for British Citizenship Restoration (Form RS1) Updated: Nationality Enquiries Contact Method Changed

    UK Visas and Immigration updated its 'Form RS1: guidance' document on 17 August 2026. This document explains how people can apply to get British citizenship back after giving it up. The update changed the way people contact them for nationality questions. It replaced the nationality enquiries email with a webform link. It also changed information about how long applications take to process. It updated details on returning Biometric Residence Permits and on travelling after becoming a British citizen. The document also updated sections on Good character, immigration advice, biometric enrolment, identity evidence, travelling after you apply, and citizenship ceremonies. A new section about digital status was added. The 'citizenship ban' section was removed.

Other routes in this country

1 / 6