Are you thinking about applying for British Citizenship?
If you are, you may want to make some considerations before you start your move. Here are the seven requirements you will need to consider before applying:
– You must be over 18 years of age at the date of application.
– You must be able to show continuous intention to live in the UK.
– You must be able to communicate in English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic to an acceptable standard.
– You must have passed the LIfe in the UK test.
– You must not have any criminal conviction and you must be off good character.
– You must be of sound mind.
– You must also meet the residential requirements
To establish that you have satisfied the residential requirements for naturalisation, you must have:
– been resident in the UK for at least five years (this is known as the residential qualifying period);
– been present in the UK five years before the date of your application; and
– not spent more than 450 days outside the UK during the five-year period; and
– not spent more than 90 days outside the UK in the last 12 months of the five-year period; and
- not been in breach of the Immigration Rules at any stage during the five-year period.
You might automatically be a British citizen if either:
– one of your parents was a British citizen when you were born
– you were born in the UK and one of your parents had ‘settled status’, ‘indefinite leave to remain’ or ‘permanent residence’ when you were born
- Different requirements applies to a spouse or civil partners of a British person.
You already have the right to live and work in the UK permanently if you:
– have ‘settled status’ from the EU Settlement Scheme
– have ‘indefinite leave to remain’
– are an Irish citizen
- are a Commonwealth citizen with ‘right of abode’
You need British citizenship if you want to:
– get a British passport
– vote in elections – you might already be able to vote in some elections if you’re an EU or Commonwealth citizen
– leave the UK for as long as you want, without losing your ‘right to return’
– get British citizenship for your children if they’re born outside the UK
If your children are born in the UK, they’ll automatically be British citizens if you have indefinite leave to remain, settled status or permanent residence when they’re born – you don’t need to be a British citizen.
Upon successful application of Naturalisation, you will receive a Certificate of Naturalisation after you have attended the Citizenhsip ceremony and have pledged your Oath and affirmation of allegiance.
You will be able to apply for your first Adult British Passport thereafter.
There are other ways you can apply for British Citizenship and this is normally depending on your circumstances.
What are the benefits of applying, and being accepted for, British citizenship?
- the right to live permanently in the UK
- free medical care
- no work restrictions
- stable society and economy
- receiving a British passport and unrestricted entry to the UK
- the right to vote in the UK
- standing for office in the UK
Please do not hesitate to get in touch with our team at Westkin Associates if you are interested in finding out information about British Citizenship. Our team of expert lawyers are on hand to offer you advice and assist you with your immigration needs. We have worked with a number of individuals in obtaining citizenship for them and assisting them with the necessary paperwork needed for them to setting in the United Kingdom. If you would like to discuss your options, please get in touch.
Westkin Associates
5th Floor, Maddox House,
1 Maddox Street
Mayfair
London
W1S 2PZ
United Kingdom
0207 118 4546
