UK Citizenship Archives - Halliday Reeves

Applying For Citizenship Or Naturalisation After Indefinite Leave To Remain

If you hold Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), you may want to apply for British citizenship, which once obtained, will entitle you to apply for a British passport. Citizenship has some advantages over ILR and means that you will be a naturalised UK national. We take a look at applying for Citizenship or Naturalisation after Indefinite Leave to Remain, including the benefits and the process to be followed.

At Halliday Reeves, we deal solely with immigration issues, meaning we have in-depth expertise and understanding, both of the law and of the way in which UK Visas and Immigration handles applications.

We are accredited by the Law Society for immigration and asylum work at both senior caseworker and supervising senior casework level.

Our most recent Peer Review, carried out to check the standard of our services, awarded us the high level of ‘Competence Plus’. We were particularly commended for:

Regular and effective communication
Good client care, including when representing a vulnerable client
Thorough preparation for hearings
Good case strategy, considering what evidence was needed and taking the necessary steps to obtain this
Keeping clear records
Tailored advice
Careful consideration of documents
Awareness of time limits

If you are thinking of applying for Citizenship after Indefinite Leave to Remain and you would like advice and assistance, we would be happy to hear from you. Please call us on 0330 133 7777, email us at enquiries@hallidayreeves.com or fill in our Contact Form.

“Can we also take this opportunity to thank you for how you handled our enquiry. We were both feeling anxious about making contact with a solicitor to discuss our circumstances. You were so warm, friendly and understanding when we spoke.”

Why Apply For Citizenship After Indefinite Leave To Remain?

There are several advantages of having Citizenship rather than having ILR, including:

You can spend time outside of the UK without risking losing your status. If you hold ILR and you are absent for more than two years, your ILR will lapse
You are entitled to hold a British passport, which is considered one of the world’s strongest passports and which will allow you to travel visa-free or visa on arrival to around 190 countries
If you are a naturalised British citizen and you have a child, they will automatically have British citizenship, even if they were not born in the UK
As a British citizen you will have full voting rights. You will also be able to stand as a candidate. Those with ILR are restricted as to when they may vote and cannot hold office

Applying For Citizenship After Indefinite Leave To Remain

To be eligible to apply for Citizenship, if you are neither married to, nor in a civil partnership with a British citizen you need to have lived in the UK for the five years prior to the date of your application and have held one of the following for at least a year:

Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK
Settled Status, which is similar to ILR and which is granted to those from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein
Indefinite Leave to Enter the UK

Other criteria are:

You are aged 18 or over
You are of good character
You are able to show that you were in the UK on the day five years before the date on which your application is received
You have the required level of English
You have passed a Life in the UK test
It is your intention to keep living in the UK

You should not have spent more than 450 days outside of the UK during the 5 years prior to your application and no more than 90 days outside of the UK during the year before the date of your application. You must not have broken any immigration laws.

“The service was outstanding! I highly recommend Halliday Reeves.”

If you do not hold ILR, then there may be other options and we can advise you of these.

If you are married to, or in a civil partnership with, a British citizen, the rules are slightly different. You must be:

settled at the time of the application
must have been legally living in the UK continuously for a period of at least three years
must have been physically present in the UK on the day three years before the date on which your application is received
You should not have spent more than 270 days outside of the UK during the 3 years prior to your application and no more than 90 days outside of the UK during the year before the date of your application.
You must not have broken any immigration laws
You must possess knowledge of the English language and have passed a Life in the UK test

There are of course some exceptions to these guidelines that are beyond the scope of this short Article.

Making An Application For Citizenship After ILR

There is a detailed application form to be filled in, which we can prepare on your behalf. We will also need to supply a range of documents by way of evidence that you are eligible for Citizenship.

We will identify the paperwork that best supports your application.

We will also put together representations in support of your application.

You will also need to have your biometric information taken at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services centre.

If your application to be a British citizen is approved, you will be invited to attend a citizenship ceremony. You need to ensure that you do this within three months.

Help With Applying For Citizenship After Indefinite Leave To Remain

If you would like help in applying for British citizenship, we will be pleased to hear from you.

We have offices in Gateshead, Middlesbrough, Wakefield and Nottingham. To speak to one of our expert British passport lawyers, ring us on 0330 133 7777, email us at enquiries@hallidayreeves.com or fill in our Contact Form.

“Excellent service from Sabiha particularly in terms of calming our nerves at various times. Good advice, provided excellent suggestions to improve our case. Our visa application was successful. Would use the company again.”

Fixed Fee Immigration Solicitors

If you need help with UK visa or immigration issues, our fixed fee immigration solicitors will be happy to hear from you. We are able to take on a range of work on a fixed fee basis and we also offer fixed fee advice appointments.

As immigration specialists, we have considerable expertise when it comes to visa applications and immigration cases. We deal with both business and personal immigration. We have a strong track record of success and are also known for the exceptional level of service we provide.

We know how important the right outcome is for you and your family and we always go the extra mile to provide the advice and representation you need.

If you would like to take advantage of one of our fixed fee advice appointments, ring us on 0330 133 7777, email us at enquiries@hallidayreeves.com or fill in our Contact Form.

We will communicate with you in the way that works best for you, such as email, phone, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp call or video or Skype.

“Fiance visa and Spouse visa both successful. Good help. Will come back to this company for next visa.”

Our Immigration Services:

We offer a full range of visa and immigration services, including:

Personal Immigration

Business Immigration

Why Choose Halliday Reeves For Your Visa And Immigration Needs?

At Halliday Reeves, we hold a full range of Law Society accreditations for immigration and asylum work, including at senior caseworker level and senior supervising caseworker level. We have held a Legal Aid contract since 1994, during which time we have continued to meet the exacting standards required.

Our most recent Independent Peer Review Report, carried out in 2023, gave us the high rating of ‘Competence Plus’, not commonly awarded. The report commended us particularly on the following points:

Regular and effective communication with clients
Use of interpreters as needed
Good client care, including in cases where the client was vulnerable because of mental health or memory issues
Thorough preparation for hearings
Instructing suitable experts and barristers
Good case strategy
Considering what evidence is needed and taking steps to obtain it
Careful consideration of documents
Keeping clear records
Providing advice tailored to the client’s situation
Keeping time limits in mind

We have dealt with over 50,000 applications, as well as complex and challenging issues for businesses and business professionals.

Our in-depth understanding of UK Visas and Immigration’s requirements and the way in which they deal with applications means we can give you the best advice and representation, ensuring you have the highest possible chance of success.

“This office was recommended to me by friends. They have been a great help for my application: approachable, friendly, clear answers and always thinking in terms of solutions. Thank you for helping me sorting out my application.”

Our Immigration And Visa Advice

We will always take the time to fully understand your circumstances and we will start by checking which immigration route is best for your needs, taking into account your long-term aims. We will work with you to establish that you are eligible and identify the most persuasive documents available to accompany your visa or other application.

We will discuss any other available immigration options with you and make sure you have a clear understanding of the rights that a visa or other permission will give you.

Our advice to you will give you an honest appraisal of the strength of your position. We will make sure that you know what rights and entitlements your chosen visa will give you, to include how long you will be able to stay in the UK and whether the visa can be renewed.

If you wish to ultimately settle in the UK, we will look at the potential route to this and how long it is likely to take.

We will also make sure that you know how much the visa application will cost and what financial resources you are required to have available before you apply.

Fixed Fee Immigration Advice

We offer a range of fixed fee immigration advice. If you would like to discuss the potential costs of a visa or other application, please contact us and we will be happy to help.

Contact Our Fixed Fee Immigration Solicitors

If you need help with an immigration issue and you would like to take advantage of one of our fixed fee advice appointments, contact us today.

We deal with a full range of visa and immigration matters from our offices in Gateshead, Middlesbrough, Wakefield and Nottingham. To contact one of our fixed fee immigration lawyers, ring us on 0330 133 7777, email us at enquiries@hallidayreeves.com or fill in our Contact Form.

“I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for the exceptional legal representation provided by Karim Aidross at your esteemed firm. Their professionalism, expertise, and unwavering commitment to my case were truly remarkable. Karim demonstrated an unparalleled level of dedication and proficiency, guiding me through the complexities of the legal process with clarity and assurance. Their attention to detail, strategic approach, and tireless efforts resulted in a successful resolution. I am profoundly grateful for Karim’s expertise and the firm’s steadfast support throughout this challenging time. Thank you for delivering such exemplary legal services.”

How To Calculate Days Outside The UK For Citizenship

How to calculate days outside the UK for citizenship

If you are considering applying for UK citizenship by way of naturalisation, you will need to satisfy the government’s strict criteria. Part of this includes showing that you have been present in the UK for the required amount of time over the previous year and the previous five years.

We take a look at what you will need to prove and how many days you can have been outside of the UK and still qualify for citizenship.

At Halliday Reeves, we specialise in immigration and routinely secure UK citizenship for our clients. We can advise you on issues such as eligibility and whether you have sufficient evidence in support to enable you to make a successful citizenship application.

The process can be challenging and if you ask us to represent you, we will ensure that your application includes the right paperwork in support to give you the best possible chance of being granted UK citizenship.

To speak to one of our expert UK citizenship solicitors, ring us on 0330 133 7777, email us at enquiries@hallidayreeves.com or fill in our Contact Form.

“All went well and I got all the special services you could expect from such a professional organisation. I will 100% advise anyone who is in need of the immigration services with pride.”

Applying For Naturalised UK Citizenship

If you have lived lawfully in the UK for at least five years and you have held one of the following for the previous twelve months, you may be eligible to apply for UK citizenship:

Indefinite Leave to Remain or indefinite leave to enter or permission to move to the UK permanently
EU settled status
EEA permanent residence

Other eligibility criteria for UK citizenship include:

Being over 18
Being of good character
The intention to continue to live in the UK
Passing a Life in the UK test and having adequate knowledge of English

How Many Days Can Be Spent Outside Of The UK If You Apply For Citizenship

To qualify for UK citizenship, if you are not married or in a civil partnership with a British citizen you must have lived in the UK for a minimum of five years before you apply . This must be lawful and time spent as a diplomat, diplomatic staff or visiting armed forces member cannot count towards this time.

During the five year period, you must not have spent more than 450 days outside of the UK

If you are married or in a civil partnership with a British citizen, you must have lived in the UK for a minimum period of three years before you apply and spent no more than 270 days outside of the UK during this time.

In relation to both during the year prior to making your application, you cannot have spent more than 90 days outside of the UK.

In calculating days out of the country, you are not required to include the days that you left and returned, only whole days that you were away.

It is possible to lose your indefinite leave to remain or enter if you have been away from the UK for more than two years since you were granted this leave.

If you have settled status, you cannot have been away for the UK for more than five years, or four years for Swiss citizens.

Calculating Days Out Of The Country For UK Citizenship Application

You cannot apply for UK citizenship until you have been physically within the UK for at least five years or three years (as above). This is calculated exactly, meaning that you must have been in the UK for that period to the day before your application is received by the Home Office.

If You Have Been Out Of The UK For More Than The Maximum Permitted Days

If you have been away from the UK for more than 450 days over the previous five years, or 270 days over three years if you are married to a British citizen, you may be able to ask the Home Office to use its discretion to grant you citizenship anyway.

The Home Office has the discretion to allow applications from individuals who have spent up to 900 days out of the country, or up to 540 days if you are married to a British citizen in certain circumstances.

To be eligible to ask for discretion, you must have:

Established your home in the UK;
Have employment in the UK;
Have established your family in the UK; and
Have established your finances in the UK.

One of the following must also apply:

You had two years with no absences (or one year if you are married to a British citizen) without any absences immediately prior to making your citizenship application (this is increased to three years and two years where absences are of more than 730 days or 450 days respectively);
Your excess absences were because of Crown service overseas postings;
Your excess absences were unavoidable because of the nature of your career;
There are exceptionally compelling reasons to justify naturalisation, for example, on compassionate grounds; or
You were unable to return to the UK because of the pandemic.

Discretion may also be exercised in respect of absences of 100 days or less during the year leading up to your application. For absences of 100-180 days or more, your situation will be looked at by a caseworker who will decide whether your circumstances warrant discretion.

Our team routinely make successful requests for discretion to be applied and we can advise you of the best approach and put your case in the strongest way possible.

Contact Our UK Citizenship Solicitors

For advice and representation in making a UK citizenship application, contact our specialist solicitors.

We have offices in Gateshead, Middlesbrough, Wakefield and Nottingham. To speak to one of our expert UK citizenship lawyers, ring us on 0330 133 7777, email us at enquiries@hallidayreeves.com or fill in our Contact Form.

“Can we also take this opportunity to thank you for how you handled our enquiry. We were both feeling anxious about making contact with a solicitor to discuss our circumstances. You were so warm, friendly and understanding when we spoke.”

How Long Does UK Citizenship Take?

How long does UK citizenship take?

If you are considering applying for UK citizenship, you will generally need to have been present in the UK for a specified period of time, as well as satisfying a range of other criteria. We take a look at the required timescales as well as how long the application process might take.

As a British citizen, you will have full rights to live and work in the UK as well as to travel and return to the country without restriction. It can also give you the option to bring your family to the country to live with you.

Some individuals may qualify for citizenship because of background or parentage, but for many, an application will be made after living in the UK for a number of years with either settled status or indefinite leave to remain. This is referred to as naturalisation.

At Halliday Reeves, we know how important it is to you to secure citizenship, particularly if you have been working towards this for many years. We specialise in immigration, meaning we have a genuine and in-depth understanding of both the law in this complex area and the way in which the Home Office works.

We can go through your circumstances and check that you are able to apply for UK citizenship. If you would like us to represent you, we will complete the application and ensure that you have the right documents in support. This evidence is crucial to the success of your request for citizenship and it is important not to leave anything out.

If you would like to discuss your situation and whether you are eligible for citizenship, we will be happy to hear from you. To speak to one of our expert immigration solicitors, 0330 133 7777, email us at enquiries@hallidayreeves.com or fill in our Contact Form.

“I think 5 stars are not enough for the service I got… I got my citizenship certificate in two months and this is amazing…. I’m really thankful to Sabiha for her patience, help , time and availability. She has done a wonderful job. Best immigration lawyer. Thanks very much for everything…”

Applying For UK Citizenship By Naturalisation

To be eligible to make a citizen application, you need to:

Be aged 18 or over
Have the intention of continuing to live in the UK
Have the necessary standard of English
Pass the Life in the UK test
Be of good character
Have not breached UK immigration rules
Satisfy the residency requirements

Residency Requirements For UK Citizenship

To qualify for UK citizenship, you need to satisfy the following criteria:

You have held one of the following for a minimum of twelve months:
- Indefinite Leave to Remain
- EU settled status
- EEA permanent residence
You have been resident in the UK continuously for the three years leading up to your application and you have not been away from the UK during this qualifying period for more than 270 days if you are married to or in a civil partnership with a British Citizen OR for five years and no more than 450 days outside of the UK if not.
The number of days you have been out of the UK in the year leading up to your application must not exceed 90

You will need to supply documentary evidence of all of the above points and we can help you identify what paperwork you have that will best establish this.

How Long Does UK Citizenship Application Take?

The length of time to process a UK citizenship application will depend on how busy the Home Office is. Decisions may be received within three to four months, but in some cases it could be six months. The government advise that you will usually receive a decision within six months, but that some applications can take longer.

It can also delay matters if some information has not been provided and you are asked to produce more evidence in support. We can help you with your application to ensure it is as strong as possible and that robust evidence is included, reducing the risk of enquiries or a rejection.

Contact Our UK Citizenship Solicitors

If you believe you are ready to make an application for UK citizenship, we will do all we can to help you secure this. We have a proven track record of success and have secured citizenship for many individuals.

“Excellent service in all aspects of citizenship”

How Much Does It Cost To Apply For British Citizenship?

How much does it cost to apply for British citizenship?

If you wish to apply for British citizenship, you will need to know how much the application costs are as well as some of the associated expenses.

At Halliday Reeves, we regularly make successful British citizenship applications for our clients. We can advise you as to whether you are eligible to apply, complete the application form on your behalf and compile the paperwork that you will need in support.

We can also discuss the costs with you, to include the application fee payable to the Home Office. If you are considering applying for UK citizenship, please feel free to ring us on 0330 133 7777, email us at enquiries@hallidayreeves.com or fill in our Contact Form.

“I think 5 stars are not enough for the service I got… I got my citizenship certificate in two months and this is amazing…. I’m really thankful to Sabiha for her patience, help , time and availability. She has done a wonderful job. Best immigration lawyer. Thanks very much for everything…”

Applying For British Citizenship

You may be able to apply for British citizenship if you have lived in the UK for five years and you have held either indefinite leave to remain or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme for one year.

If you are married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen, you only need to have lived in the UK for three years. Provided you hold either indefinite leave to remain or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme you can then apply straightaway, without the need to wait a year.

You may also be eligible to apply because of your background, for example, if you have a British parent or parent with British overseas territories citizenship or you are considered British for another reason, including being a British overseas citizen or British protected person.

Eligibility For British Citizenship

You should check that you are eligible before submitting your application and make sure that you have documentary evidence proving this. Eligibility criteria include:

You are over 18
You have the required standard of English
You have passed the Life in the UK test
You intend to carry on living in the UK
You are of good character
You have not breached any UK immigration laws

You need to have been present in the UK on the date exactly five years before the day on which your application is received by the Home Office.

There are also restrictions on the amount of time you can have spent outside of the UK prior to your application. This must be:

No more than 450 days during the five years prior to your application or 270 days within the previous 3 years if you are married or in a civil partnership with a British Citizen.
No more than 90 days in the previous year

British Citizenship Application Fee

The cost to apply for British citizenship is £1,330 if you are applying because you have indefinite leave to remain or settled status.

If you are applying on the basis of your British nationality, the cost is £1,206 for an adult and £1,012 for a child. If a child turns 18 during the application, an additional £80 will be payable for their citizenship ceremony.

If the application is on behalf of someone who is aged under 18, it is possible to apply for a fee waiver in some cases so that they do not have to pay the citizenship application fee if this is not affordable.

To qualify to apply for a fee waiver, the child or young person and their parent or guardian must be unable to pay the fee because:

They do not have a place to live and cannot afford one
They cannot afford essentials such as food and heating
They do not have enough money to pay the application fee after paying for essentials such as accommodation, food and heating
Paying the fee would mean that the child or young person’s needs cannot be met

It is important to send the correct fee as your application will not be processed if you send the wrong amount and you will need to submit your application again.

Other Costs For British Citizenship Application

You will need to pay for a Life in the UK test, at a cost of £50.

If you need to take a secure English language test (SELT) to prove that you have an adequate knowledge of English, you will need to pay the provider’s fee. This may cost up to £250.

If your application includes any documents that are not in English, you will need to provide a certified translation of them. Costs vary but could be around £30 per page.

“My partner and I had a great experience with this firm. We received excellent service from Sabiha who helped us with our immigration matter. She took time to answer all our questions and help complete our application. Sabina followed up with visa application and queries, this enabled us to get the visa we required to visit the UK granted. We have already recommended Sabiha and the firm to friends and family who require immigration support.”

Contact Our British Citizenship Solicitors

If you are applying for British citizenship, our immigration experts can put together your application to give you the best chance of success.

What Documents Are Needed For British Citizenship?

If you have indefinite leave to remain or settled status in the UK, you may wish to apply for British citizenship. This will give you extensive rights to live, work and study in Britain as well as to apply for a British passport. What Documents Are Needed For British Citizenship?

British citizenship may also be available to you because of your background or parentage. We take a look at the documents that you will need to supply to the Home Office along with your application for British citizenship.

At Halliday Reeves, we specialise in immigration law. Our team have a sound track record of making successful citizenship applications on behalf of our clients. We will work with you to ensure that all of the necessary documents are included to give your application the best chance of being approved.

If you are thinking of applying to become a British citizen, we would be happy to help. To speak to one of our expert UK immigration solicitors, ring us on 0330 133 7777, email us at enquiries@hallidayreeves.com or complete an Online Enquiry.

“Good experienced staff and friendly too…. takes care of their clients very well… definitely approachable”

Applying To Become A British Citizen By Way Of Naturalisation

If you wish to apply to become a naturalised British citizen, you will need to meet the following criteria:

You are aged 18 or more
You have lived in the UK for five years or more prior to applying for citizenship if not married or in a civil partnership with a British citizen.
You have lived in the UK for three years or more prior to applying for citizenship if married or in a civil partnership with a British citizen.
You have not breached the UK immigration rules
You are not subject to any immigration time restrictions
You have not spent more than 450 days away from the UK within the previous five years if not married or in a civil partnership with a British citizen or 270 days within the previous three years if you are.
You have not spent more than 90 days away from the UK in the year prior to making your application to be a British citizen
It is your intention to continue living in the UK
You have passed the Life in the UK test
You have a good standard of English
You are of good character

You will need to send documents in support of some of these points with your application so that the immigration authorities can see that you are eligible.

“Thank you very much for helping me with my Citizenship application. Your services were excellent”

Documents Supporting An Application For British Citizenship

It is important to make sure that all necessary documents are sent to UK Visas and Immigration when you apply for citizenship. If some paperwork is missing, your application is likely to be rejected and you may find it harder to apply a second time.

We can discuss your situation with you and make sure that you include the right documents. These will generally include:

Your current passport or EU identity card
Expired passports from the previous five/three years
Two photographs, which need to be included with details of your referees
Details of two referees, one of whom must be a professional and the second must hold a UK passport – you will need to provide their names, addresses, gender, date of birth, phone number, addresses for the previous three years, email addresses and profession. If they hold a British passport, their passport number should also be provided. You should also explain how you know each person – The Referees should also have known the (adult) applicant for at least three years
A Biometric Residence Permit showing that you have indefinite leave to remain or a document confirming that you have permanent residence status or settled status
Your National Insurance number. If you do not have one, you can apply for this from within the UK by asking HM Revenue and Customs
Results of an approved English language test or proof that you hold a degree taught in English or in the UK. Secure English language test (SELT) providers are:
- LanguageCert
- Pearson
- Trinity College London
- IELTS SELT Consortium
A copy of an email confirming that you have passed a Life in the UK test
Evidence that you have been present in the UK for the five-year qualifying period (or three years if you are married to a British citizen), such as a letter from your employer, payslips, bank statements, forms P60 and contracts of employment for the whole period where possible. Other documents are acceptable if you are self-employed, not working, a student or a job seeker and we can advise you on what you need to include in this event

Information To Be Provided In Support

You will also need to provide the following information:

Details of your parents’ names, dates of birth, town and country of birth and nationality. You should include your mother’s maiden name
Your spouse or partner’s name, any previous names, date of birth, town and country of birth, nationality, current address and, where applicable, the date on which they became a naturalised British citizen and their citizenship certificate number
A list of the addresses at which you have lived over the previous five/three years
Your employment history for the previous ten years, including dates, your occupation and your employer’s name and address
Details of your absences from the UK in the previous five years (or three years if you are married to a British citizen), including dates you were away, number of days you were away, where you were and the reason you went

Contact Our British Citizenship Solicitors

If you are applying for British citizenship, our expert British citizenship lawyers can work with you to compile the right documents in support to give you the best chance of approval.

How To Apply For British Citizenship For An EU Citizen

How To Apply For British Citizenship For An EU Citizen

If you are an EU citizen living in the UK, you may want to apply for British citizenship. This would give you the right to live and work in the UK, to apply for a British passport and to leave and return to the UK without restriction.

When making an application to the Home Office for British citizenship, you will need to provide evidence that you are legally settled in the UK and free of immigration restrictions. You will also need to show that you have been present in the UK for the required length of time without absences that could disqualify you.

At Halliday Reeves, we specialise in immigration, including citizenship applications. Our team have extensive experience in securing citizenship for EU clients, including in complex situations.

We can check that you are eligible and make an application to the Home Office on your behalf. We will also make sure that all of the necessary paperwork is included in support. This is important as your application will be rejected if you do not have sufficient evidence to show that you meet all of the eligibility criteria.

If you are from the EU and you wish to secure British citizenship, we will be happy to help. To speak to one of our expert UK citizenship lawyers, ring us on 0330 133 7777, email us at enquiries@hallidayreeves.com or fill in our Contact Form.

“Special thanks for the most professional representation. you (hallidayreeves ) stuck by me through the years. By dealing with this stressful case. I admire the work ethic and most of all the excellent representation.”

Eligibility For British Citizenship As An EU Citizen

To be eligible to apply for British citizenship as an EU citizen, you need to meet the following criteria:

You are aged over 18
You have settled status in the UK
You have lived in the UK for at least five years before the date of your application or three years if you are a spouse or civil partner of a British citizen
You have not been absent from the UK for more than 450 days during this five year period or 270 days in the previous three years if you are a spouse or civil partner of a British citizen.
You have not been absent from the UK for more than 90 days in the past year
You have not broken any immigration laws
You have adequate knowledge of English
You have passed the Life in the UK test
You intend to continue living in the UK
You are of good character

Applying For British Citizenship As An EU Citizen

If you satisfy the above criteria, the first step is to put together paperwork proving these points. You can then fill in the application form AN. We can ensure that you have the right documents ready and prepare the application on your behalf for you to submit.

When applying, you must make sure that you were physically present in the UK on the date that falls five years earlier (or three years earlier if you are a spouse or civil partner of a British citizen).
Your application can be made online or by post and you can ask us to complete it on your behalf if you wish.

Supplying Evidence In Support Of Your Citizenship Application

A wide range of paperwork will be necessary to provide evidence of each of the eligibility criteria. For example, you will need to supply your passport where possible to show that you have been present in the UK for the necessary time period.

You must also provide the details of two referees who are prepared to endorse your application. One of these must be a professional person such as a solicitor (but not one whom you have instructed to help you with your citizenship application), an accountant, a civil servant or a minister of religion. The professional can be of any nationality, while the second referee must hold a British passport. Your referees cannot be related to you or to each other.

You will need to pay the Home Office application fee of £1,330 at the time your application is made.

“Confidence in a service always starts from the Introduction stage. Especially with an immigration situation for my partner so important, and slightly complex. I was extremely pleased to find Halliday Reeves possess the skillset for listening, understanding and advising from the initial phone call to the consultation service provided. I spoke to a lady on reception firstly, who took all my information and details. I then received a call back from Eileen (Admin) who was extremely helpful with taking the correct details from me, as on my previous call some of my information I gave was not clear (I had a lot of information to give them!). In addition to accurately taking the information again in a professional manner, Eileen was also very helpful, friendly, and compassionate when hearing my current circumstances.”

Contact Our UK Citizenship Solicitors

If you want to apply as an EU citizen for UK citizenship, we would be happy to hear from you. We can put together the application on your behalf and collate your evidence in support, giving you the best possible chance of acceptance.

How To Get UK Citizenship

British citizenship will give you the right to live, work and study in the UK on a permanent basis and without any restrictions. If you hold British citizenship, you will also be able to apply for a British passport and spend time out of the country if you wish without losing your status.

Some individuals may automatically be British citizens because of their background or parentage, meaning they can make an application to have their citizenship registered.

For overseas citizens who meet certain eligibility criteria, including holding indefinite leave to remain or settled status, UK or British citizenship can be acquired by way of naturalisation.

At Halliday Reeves, we are immigration experts. If you are considering applying for British citizenship, we can check that you are eligible and advise you of the process to be followed. We will also make sure that your application includes all of the necessary paperwork in support. This can be substantial and if some documents are missing, your application is likely to be rejected.

To speak to one of our expert immigration solicitors, ring us on 0330 133 7777, email us at enquiries@hallidayreeves.com or fill in our Contact Form.

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Eligibility For UK Naturalisation

If you are aged 18 or more and you have lived in the UK with Indefinite Leave to Remain or EU Settled Status for twelve months or more after attaining this status, you may be able to apply for naturalisation as a British citizen.

Unless you are married to a British citizen, the criteria you must meet to be eligible include the following:

You are of sound mind and understand the implications of becoming a naturalised British citizen
You have lived in the UK for at least five years before the date of your application
You were physically present in the UK on the day five years before your application is received by the Home Office
You have not breached immigration laws or been convicted of a crime in the UK
You are not and have not been for the previous twelve months subject to any immigration time restrictions
You have spent no more than 450 days outside of the UK in the previous five years, unless it was because of certain exceptional circumstances
You have spent no more than 90 days outside of the UK in the year leading up to your application
You intend to continue living in the UK
You have passed the Life in the UK test
You have the required level of English
You are of good character

If you are married to a British citizen, you may be eligible to apply on this basis if the following apply:

You have lived in the UK for at least three years before the date of your application
You were physically present in the UK on the day three years before your application is received by the Home Office
You are not subject to immigration time restrictions
You have not breached immigration laws or been convicted of a crime in the UK
You have not been outside of the UK for more than 270 days in the three years prior to your application
You have passed the Life in the UK test
Your English language skills are at the required level
You are of good character

Applying For UK Citizenship As An EU Or EEA National

If you are an EU or EEA national and you hold settled status or have indefinite leave to remain, you are entitled to apply for UK or British citizenship.

Submitting an application to become a British citizen

You or your representative will need to fill in form AN to apply to become a British citizen. This can be done online from most areas of the UK or by post.

Your application to become a British citizen will need to be accompanied by paperwork proving that you meet the eligibility criteria. You will also need someone with professional standing to provide a reference on your behalf as well as another reference from a second person.

At the time you submit your application form, you will need to pay the application fee of £1,330. This will usually include the cost of the ceremony at which you will swear an oath of allegiance to the UK if your application is successful. This will often be a group ceremony and if you would prefer a private ceremony, you may need to pay an additional fee.

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Contact Our UK Citizenship Solicitors

If you would like advice on your eligibility for British citizenship or you would like help with your application, to include putting together documents in support, we will be happy to hear from you.

We have offices in Gateshead, Middlesbrough, Leeds, Wakefield and Nottingham. To speak to one of our expert UK citizenship lawyers, ring us on 0330 133 7777, email us at enquiries@hallidayreeves.com or fill in our Contact Form.