British Citizenship for EU Citizens

Getting British citizenship for EU citizens

British citizenship is an important milestone for many EU citizens who have made the United Kingdom their long-term home. Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, many EU nationals have chosen to secure their future in the UK by becoming British citizens. Naturalisation provides certainty of status, full civic rights, and freedom from future immigration changes.

EU citizens can apply for British citizenship through a process known as naturalisation, provided they meet the legal requirements set by the Home Office. Most applicants must be aged 18 or over and must already hold Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme or another form of permanent residence, such as Indefinite Leave to Remain. In most cases, Settled Status must have been held for at least 12 months before applying, unless the applicant is married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen.

How do I apply for British Citizenship?

The process of attaining British Citizenship for EEA nationals will be through holding Permanent Residence/Settled Status for at least a year, then applying for naturalisation. Permanent Residence is set to be replaced, free of charge by the new ‘Settled Status’ but applications already submitted will still be processed accordingly. EU citizens will be able to apply for Settled Status if they have lived in the UK for at least five continuous years, those who have been here for less will need to apply for pre-settled status.

Once the Settled Status scheme has been rolled out, EU citizens will be able to make what the government has described as a simple application which can be completed on a smartphone or computer. The smartphone app, however, is only for Android users. Owners of any other type of device will need to borrow from a friend, relative or find out if their employer will offer the use of smartphones for the intention of completing the application.

EU citizens with Settled Status for a year will be eligible for British Citizenship if they meet the other requirements. This will include sitting a British Citizenship test. These include:

• Five years’ continuous residence in the UK with no breaches over 450 days across the five years
• Passing the Life in the UK test
• Evidence of English Language ability
• Passing the ‘good character’ assessment

What about citizens of non-EU EEA countries?

For Single Market/EEA members not from an EU country (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland), the UK government are in talks with each country but are of the general consensus that EEA and Swiss nationals will also be able to apply under the Settled Status scheme. An EEA national applying for British Citizenship will need to apply for Permanent Residence or Settled Status and hold this for a year before being eligible for citizenship.

These assertions are not fully confirmed and therefore may be subject to change.

What if I already hold Permanent Residence?

Those who already hold Permanent Residence will still need to apply for Settled Status but the £65 charge will not apply. The amount of time you have held Permanent Residence will count towards the year requirement for citizenship, meaning those who have held EEA Permanent Residence for six months before switching to Settled Status will only need to hold this for six months before applying for citizenship.

What if I am the family member of an EU citizen in the UK?

For EEA family members, applying for British Citizenship will be a similar process. Migrants in the country on an EEA Family Permit will be able to apply for Settled Status the same as their European relatives. After this, you will be able to apply for British Citizenship once you have held the status for a year. While most countries allow you to hold dual citizenship, you should confirm that your country allows you to do this before applying or you will have to revoke your citizenship in order to become a British citizen.

How to get a British passport for EU citizens?

Many Europeans are interested in how to get a British passport for EU citizens. The UK government has recently released a new service called the Nationality Document Return Service for British Citizenship applications. This enables you to take all your supporting evidence to an approved Local Authority to be copied and sent to the Home Office. Using this service, you can also add the Passport Checking Service which allows you to apply for a British passport at the same time.

These services do not provide you with information about which documents to provide in order to be successful in your application, so it is still highly advised that you seek the advice of an immigration professional. This new service also does not guarantee that your application will be processed any quicker but does ensure that you can keep all your original documents with you while a decision is being considered.

At such a time of instability and uncertainty, make sure you and your family are safe in the country you have made your home by securing your status as quickly as possible. If you would like any further advice on British Citizenship, how to get a British passport for EU citizens, or maybe you’re wondering is there an immigration lawyer near me? Why not call us free on +44 (0)333 414 9244 or make an enquiry using our online contact form? With offices in London, Manchester and many other areas, our UK-wide solicitors will be able to help