Naturalization and Citizenship
Every year about 200,000 people become UK permanent residents and citizens.
To become eligible for UK naturalization, you will need to be in England for a period of five years or as a spouse of an English citizen for 3 years.
To qualify for naturalization after 5 years of residing in England, one needs to fulfill the following requirements:
(i) The applicant must be over 18 and of sound mind.
(ii) The applicant must be of good character.
(iii) The applicant must be able to communicate in the English language.
(iv) The applicant must intend to live in England.
(v) The applicant must have been living in the UK for exactly 5 years as at the date the application is received by the Home Office.
(vi) During the five year period the applicant must not have been outside England for more than 450 days (about 15 months) and during the past 12 months of the 5 year period the applicant must have not been outside England for more than 90 days.
(vii) During the past 12 months of the five year period of your stay in England the applicant must have held permanent residence/indefinite leave to remain status; and
(viii) The applicant must not have been living in England in breach of any UK immigration rules at any time during the 5 year period.
(ix) the applicant must pass the life in the UK test.
The requirements for naturalization as a spouse of a British citizen are very similar to those mentioned above but are granted after a 3 year period. The requirements include:
(i) The applicant must have been living in the UK at the beginning of the three year period.
(ii) On the date that the application is filed the applicant must have had permanent residence/ indefinite leave to remain status and during the three year period the applicant must not have been outside England for more than 270 days (about 9 months).
(iii) During the past 12 months of the three year period of the applicant’s stay in England, the applicant must not have been outside England for more than 90 days; and
(iv) The applicant must not have been living in England in breach of any UK immigration rules at any time during the three year period.
UK citizens do not lose their UK citizenship simply because they live overseas for many years.
British citizens can hold dual citizenship.
Currently, a spouse of a UK citizen whether legally married or in a common law relationship, does not have an automatic right to UK citizenship.
Since 1.1.1983, women who are UK citizens are able to pass on UK citizenship to their children born outside England in the same way as men were able to prior to this date.
A British citizen who acquired citizenship by birth, registration, naturalization or adoption can automatically pass on UK citizenship to a child born outside the UK.