Applying for British Citizenship
With settled status, there is no limit to your stay in the UK. However, you will eventually have the choice to apply to become a British Citizen through a process known as Naturalisation. As a British national, you will be free to enter and work in the UK without restrictions imposed by immigration laws. A British passport will allow you to travel to a number of countries without the need of obtaining a visa, and therefore obtaining British Citizenship is certainly advantageous.
You will be able to apply for British Citizenship based on:
- five years residence in the UK or
- Marriage or Civil Partnership, based on three years residence in the UK.
There are other requirements which must be met and, it is not enough to prove that you meet the residence requirements. We can advise you as to your eligibility, taking into account:
- your absences from the UK
- your immigration history in the UK.
You may not automatically be eligible to apply for British Citizenship after completing a period of 12 months in the UK as a person with settled status and therefore, it is important to obtain appropriate legal advice before making an application.