British citizenship – Naturalisation
If you are living in the UK and want to settle permanently, you can apply for UK permanent residency – also known as UK indefinite leave to remain – and will then have the chance to apply for a full UK citizenship.
Foreigners can apply for UK indefinite leave to remain after 5 years of legal residence in the UK in most cases, although in some instances it will be sooner. Circumstances and requirements vary depending on your nationality, whether you have family in the UK and what type of UK visa you arrived on.
Current UK citizenship law is based on the 1981 British Nationality Act and is complex due to Britain’s imperial history, with certain categories of foreign nationals from former British colonies and British overseas territories able acquire UK citizenship through simplified routes These will be outlined below.
In recent years it has become slightly more difficult for non-EU/EU nationals to obtain UK indefinite leave to remain or UK citizenship through naturalisation. Both processes now involve knowledge of the life in the UK and B1 english test.
There are typically two main routes to Naturalisation;
5 year route: Section 6 (1) of the British Nationality Act 1981 (Foreign nationals- not married to a british national) You must have been in the UK for 5 years and free from immigration restrictions.
3 year route: Section 6 (2) of the British Nationality Act 1981. Under this route, you must be married to or in a civil partnership with a British national and free from immigration restrictions.
In most cases, if you are in one of the categories below then you have a claim to apply for British citizenship;
You were born in the UK before 1983, or,
You are under 18 years old and born in the UK to a parent who was (or was
later) “settled” in the UK, or,
born to or adopted by a parent who was born, adopted or naturalised in the UK or a British territory, or
born after 1948 to parents who married before 1949 and your father’s father was born or naturalised in the UK or a British territory, or
born to a parent who was registered as a British citizen or citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies
You were born outside the UK before 1983 to a British born mother or,
You were born outside the UK to a parent who was granted citizenship or
naturalised in the UK (and your parents were married at time of your birth)
You were married outside the wedlock, or
There are many other situations, where a person can claim British nationality as a consequence of having British born parents. If you believe that you have a valid claim, our experts can help you in tracing your status. Recent changes to the law have created many more opportunities for children to acquire British citizenship through a father or mother, including adopted children and children of unmarried parents. Each situation has to be assessed individually.
Why Solution Visas?
Applying For British Passport Overseas
Should you ask us to prepare your application, your entire case will be handled personally by our Immigration and Nationality adviser
We carefully check that you qualify according to the guidelines of Home office so that you do not lose the non-refundable Home Office fee
We will help you gather the documentary evidence required for the application before submission
We carefully prepare your application along with the letter of representation demonstrating that your application fulfils the criteria
Applying For British Passport Overseas:
To check your eligibility call us on Tel: 020 7859 4527 |Whatsapp +44 7894 54 2613 | info@solutionvisas.com alternatively, fill out our Free initial assessment form and we will get in touch with you on how to apply for British citizenship.
