You're a British citizen — now what? A new citizen checklist
Congratulations — once you've attended your citizenship ceremony and received your certificate, you are a full British citizen. At the ceremony you make an oath of allegiance (or an affirmation) and a pledge, and you're given your certificate of British citizenship along with a welcome pack. That certificate is your proof of citizenship from now on, so the first thing to know is simple: look after it carefully. Most of what follows is optional, and there's no rush — but a short checklist helps you settle in.
- Apply for your first British passport once you have your certificate (you don't have to, but it's the easiest way to prove citizenship and travel)
- Register to vote — British citizens can vote in all UK elections
- Keep your naturalisation certificate safe; you need it to get your first passport
- Your old visa, BRP or eVisa immigration status no longer applies the same way — you now have the right of abode
- You may be called for jury service once you're 18 to 75 and on the electoral register
- If you hold another nationality, check how your other country treats dual citizens
Apply for your first British passport
You can apply for a British passport once you have your naturalisation certificate. You don't need one to be a citizen, but it's the simplest way to prove your status and to travel. As a naturalised citizen this counts as a first adult passport, so the process is a little more involved than a renewal — you may be asked to confirm your identity, and your certificate is a key supporting document. Applying online is cheaper than applying by post, and you'll need a recent digital photo that meets the official rules.
We've written a step-by-step walkthrough of the journey from ceremony to passport, including realistic timings, in the citizenship ceremony to first passport timeline. Don't book non-refundable travel until your passport is in your hand.
Keep your naturalisation certificate somewhere safe and dry — you need it to apply for your first passport. Replacing a lost or damaged certificate costs £456 and you generally can't get a passport without it, so treat it like the important legal document it is.
Register to vote
As a British citizen you can now register to vote in every type of UK election and referendum. Registering takes around five minutes online and you'll usually need your National Insurance number. You normally only need to register once — you don't re-register for each election, though you should update your details if you move home or change your name. Being on the electoral register also helps when proving your address for things like credit and bank accounts.
What changes with your old immigration status
This is the part that reassures most new citizens. As a British citizen you have the right of abode, which means you no longer rely on a visa, biometric residence permit (BRP) or eVisa to live and work in the UK. You don't need to prove your immigration status to employers or landlords in the same way a visa holder does — your citizenship settles that.
If you previously held settled status or another visa, that route effectively falls away now that you've naturalised. (If you're reading this while still deciding whether to take the step, our guide on settled status versus British citizenship compares the two.) Once you have your British passport, you can use the UK and EU passport lanes at the border that are open to British nationals, rather than queuing as a visitor.
Jury service, dual nationality and a few loose ends
Now that you can be on the electoral register, you may in time be summoned for jury service. In England and Wales you can be called if you're aged 18 to 75, registered to vote, and have lived in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for at least five years since your 13th birthday. It's a civic duty rather than something to apply for.
A word on dual nationality: the UK allows you to hold British citizenship alongside another nationality. However, your other country might not — some nations expect you to give up their citizenship when you naturalise elsewhere, or treat dual nationals differently for tax, military service or entry rules. Check the rules of your other country directly before you travel on, or renew, that country's passport.
Finally, tidy up the admin: tell relevant bodies your status has changed where it matters — for example when a form asks about nationality or your right to work, or when your employer or bank next checks your details. There's no need to chase round every organisation at once; update each one naturally as it comes up. Store your certificate, passport and welcome pack together in a safe place. That's it — there's no single official to-do list, just a handful of sensible steps you can work through at your own pace. Take a moment to enjoy it, too: this is a real milestone. Welcome to your new chapter as a British citizen.