Applicants with permanent resident status in the UK (i.e. indefinite leave to remain) may qualify for British citizenship through Registration or Naturalisation.  The benefits are many and applicants will be afforded full rights of citizenship along with unrestricted entry to the UK, travel within the EU and a British passport. 

Eligibility Requirements for UK Naturalisation

In order to qualify for naturalisation, an applicant must meet the following standard criteria:

·         Must be at least 18 years of age

·         Must be of sound mind

·         Must have held at least 12 months indefinite leave to remain

·         Must be able to speak an adequate level of English, Welsh or Gaelic

·         Must intend to make the UK their permanent residence

·         Must be of good character

There are additional requirements depending on which route to Naturalisation an applicant takes.

After three years

Applicants who arrived in the UK on a spousal visa and who, following their two years probationary period was granted indefinite leave to remain (ILR) can apply to naturalise as a British citizen after having completed three years in the UK.

The requirements are as follows:

·         Must not have breached Immigration Rules in the three years that they have been in the UK

·         Must have held ILR for at least 12 months

·         Must be married to a UK Citizen

·         Must not have spent more than 270 days outside the UK in the last 3 years and

·         Must not have travelled for more than 90 days during the last 12 months

After five years

Applicants who have been in the UK for five years (for instance on a work permit) and who have been granted ILR, can apply to naturalise as a British citizen if they meet the following requirements in addition to the standard requirements above:

·         Must not have breached Immigration Rules in the three years that they have been in the UK

·         Must have held ILR for at least 12 months (so effectively, would have been present in the UK for 6 years)

·         Must not have spent more than 450 days outside the UK in the last 5 years and

·         Must not have travelled for more than 90 days during the last 12 months

EEA and Swiss nationals

EEA and Swiss nationals and their family members who have been exercising EEA free movement rights in the UK for a continuous period of five years (ending on or after 30 April 2006) will automatically qualify for permanent residence. Applicants must apply for ILR and must have held it for at least 12 months before applying to naturalise as a British citizen.

Qualifying residential period

Applicants must have been present in the UK five years before the date of their application. For instance, if an application is sent to the Home Office and received by them on 30^th August 2009, this means the applicant should have been present in the UK on 31^st August 2004 (five years ago).

How we can help

At Ergen & Sharif, our experienced advisors have successfully dealt with numerous naturalisation applications. We offer our clients two different services:

      I.        Preparing the full application

     II.        Document checking services

The first option consists of a comprehensive service including advice about the procedure, documents required, assistance with completing the form, collation of evidence and representations outlining to the Home Office how the requirements are satisfied.

The second option is for those applicants who are confident with their applications and who merely want us to double check the application form and documents to ensure everything is in order and to advise of any potential weaknesses of the application so as to minimise chances of refusal.

For further information please contact us on 0207 569 3035 or alternatively, email us at info@ergensharif.co.uk