What are the eligibility criteria for UK Citizenship?
You have to be of 18 years or older along with accomplishing a privilege to acquire permanent residency in the UK or retaining the status of indefinite leave to remain (ILR). There are different ways by which you can become eligible to apply for the UK citizenship under the complete guidance of our expert consultancy team of Chisty Law Chambers:
British Citizenship by Birth or by Descent:
You may automatically be recognized as a British national if you were born in the UK after 1st January 1983. However, you may also be eligible if you were born abroad from at least one parent who is a British citizen or settled person.
To apply for British nationality as the spouse or civil partner of a UK citizen, you must first have spent at least 3 years in the UK as a settled person (either holding Indefinite Leave to Remain or EU Settled Status).
After 5 years of residence in the UK, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. After another 12-month period as a settled person, you are allowed to submit your application for British nationality. The same applies to EU and EEA citizens on the EU Settled Scheme.
If you are “stateless” and are thus not recognized as the citizen of any country, you may be eligible to be a British citizen. Both your eligibility and the application process you need to follow, depends on the country where you were born.
If you gave up your British Citizenship, you may eventually be allowed to resume your status.
It is the process by which you can apply for the UK Citizenship in case you were not born in the UK. In accordance with the British nationality act, eligibility criteria for the immigrants applying for ‘Naturalisation’ are as following:
- Must be of 18 years or over
- Have spent at least 5 years of continuous residence in the UK, with no longer than 450 days outside the UK
- Have held the status of Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK for at least 12 months
- Meet the B1 CEFR level English language requirements (unless exempt)
- Have passed the Life in the UK test to show that you are aware of the basics of the British customs, traditions and culture
- Not involved in breach of any UK immigration rules
- Demonstrated that they meet the Good Character requirement