I’d Like to Get My British Passport Back. I’m in New Zealand and Left Debt in the UK. – Nicola

“Dear Jon,

Hello Jon, I have a similar situation to a previous enquirer. I left the UK in 1995 and had about 3k worth of debt. I was extremely ill and was diagnosed schizophrenic in New Zealand. I was hospitalized in NZ a year later in 1996. I only meant to stay in NZ for a short time but my illness meant I could not leave. It is is now 2012 I would like to get a British Passport as all my family still reside there. I am worried the debt will affect my application. I tried to get a credit report so I was familiar with the debts and whats on record but I can’t find a place to get one that allows me to do it from another country. Do you know what I can do? Thanks

Would there be a debt now that I have left? And how can I rectify the situation.

Nicola”

Nicola,

Hi, I understand your concerns, but there are two things here to address, one is the obtaining a British Passport, the other is the debt.

First, the debt should not impact you obtaining a British Passport, to my knowledge having debt is not asked about or is a part of the requirements or process to obtain a British Passport. You will need to inquire with the UK Border Agency as to the requirements for a British Passport.

Regarding the debt: As the debt is so old now, 17 years, it very well may have been written off by the banks/lenders and should have dropped off any credit history you have here.

If it is was me, I would concentrate on the matters at hand, getting back to the UK, and worry about the credit/debt issue later, as it may no longer even be an issue.

If you were to apply for credit here and the old debt(s) become an issue, address them at that time.

Are you in a position to repay the debt(s) now anyway? Have you been contacted by the banks/lenders at all, and if so when??

To my mind as it has been such a long time, the debts were probably written off a while back.

Let me know how you get on.

Regards,

Jon

Jon Emge is an experienced UK debt advisor who has helped thousands and thousands of people in the UK to deal with problem debt. Jon specialises in finding good solutions for problem debt using a variety of UK specific techniques.

If you have a question you’d like to ask about how to get out of UK debt, just use the online form. I’m happy to help you for free.