Post
by JulesN19 » Sun Oct 10, 2010 9:53 pm
In general, you need a valid passport to engage in international travel. To travel to other EU member states in your capacity as a British citizen, you will need to have a British passport. As far as I am aware, all EU member states require those entering on Indian passports to have visas.
You may be in a slightly awkward situation with regard to your Indian nationality and eligibility to hold an Indian passport immediately after your UK naturalisation. You should check with the Indian High Commission whether you will have ceased to be an Indian citizen and become ineligible to hold an Indian passport from the moment of being granted British citizenship.
As a practical matter, it is probably best to plan to apply for a British passport very soon after your naturalisation as a British citizen. This way, you will be able to submit your Indian passport as a supporting document for your British passport and get a British passport as soon as possible. (However, keep in mind that the process of applying for a British passport will take a few weeks. Make arrangements to be without access to your Indian passport or UK naturalisation certificate for this time. It's best to plan not to travel during this time and to have certified copies made of your passport and naturalisation certificate just before you apply for your British passport.) Upon getting a British passport, you can deal with surrendering your Indian passport to the Indian High Commission (if they require it) and applying for PIO or OCI status.