If you are an EU citizen and you have lived in the UK for 5 years you automatically acquire the right of permanent residence in the UK. However, if you want to become a British Citizen, you will need a permanent residence card before you can apply. If you do not have the permanent residence card yet, you can find out more here on how to get one.
Becoming a British Citizen can have significant implications for you and your family so it is vital to seek specialist legal advice at the outset and prior to making any type of immigration application so that delays are avoided, unnecessary expenses are not incurred and to ensure your application succeeds.
Naturalisation
You have to demonstrate that you can satisfy certain legal requirements to ensure that the citizenship is granted to you, our experienced and dedicated team are here to help with your naturalisation application and queries.
The requirements that have to be met will vary depending on whether or not application is based on a marriage or civil partnership with British citizenship.
You are eligible to apply for British citizenship providing that:
- You are 18 years of age or over and of a sound mind
- Meet the residency requirement
- You have a certificate confirming permanent residence in the UK (for EU nationals)
- Are of good character
- Have sufficient knowledge of English and life in the UK
- You intend to live in the UK
Residency Requirement
You must be free from immigration time restrictions on the time of your application and you must have been free from these in the last 12 months, it means that in order to meet the residency requirement, you must have been eligible to a permanent resident/settled status for at lest 12 months. If you are the European Union national you will be required to obtain a document certifying your permanent residency in the UK. In addition you must have spent no more than 90 days outside of the UK within last 12 months. If you are unsure whether you meet the residency requirement, someone from our immigration team will be able to help you.
Good Character
If you don’t have a serious or recent criminal record, and you haven’t been involved in immigration offences in the last 10 years you will meet this requirement. One of our immigration lawyers will be able to assess your individual circumstances and advise you whether you do.
Your Partner/Spouse is a UK Citizen
If you are married or in a civil partnership with someone who has British citizenship, the requirements you must meet before applying for naturalisation are different. We will be able to advise whether or not you meet this and other requirements for the applications made by the spouse of a British Citizen.
Why choose IMD to represent you in relation to your application?
We are a UK Solicitors law firm and are fully authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), as a professional law firm we are exempt from authorisation by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC). Many businesses offering immigration services are only OISC regulated and as such they do not represent before Courts or Tribunals when it comes to challenging of the Home Office decisions.
Our firm does not employ sales staff to “advise” you, our telephone consultations are always handled by lawyers.
When you instruct us, qualified immigration solicitors will supervise your case to ensure no time and money is wasted and more importantly that no mistakes are made.
Please remember that if a person that is not a qualified solicitor or a person authorized by the OISC provides immigration advice or services, this person commits a criminal offence.
Funding Your Case
Please note that our firm does not offer services under legal aid. We offer an experienced, bespoke and personal service to our clients. Our pricing information can be found under Our Costs.
Contact us for a successful British Citizenship application for you and members of your family.
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