Are you planning on settling down in the UK for good?
Being one of the world’s top economies and having a high standard of living, the UK is a wonderful place to make the move. The UK is also full of employment opportunities and has a diverse culture. Because of that, it makes a lot of sense why many ex-pats prefer to settle down and live there as UK citizens.
The road to becoming a UK citizen is long and can be confusing to some. However, an approval for citizenship can make the wait and effort worth it. There were over 200,177 applications for British citizenship last June.
Are you interested in finalizing your move to the UK? Find out how you can become a UK citizen by reading the article below.
British Citizenship And Life In The UK
If you have plans on applying for British citizenship, it’s crucial to remember a couple of things. The first is to familiarize yourself with the current UK citizenship law. Knowing about this law will help you be aware of the different ways you can become a citizen of the UK.
The existing citizenship law comes from the 1981 British Nationality Act. This includes different citizenship options and the UK’s rules for citizenship and nationality. While these rules are quite liberal, they’re also a bit complex.
Due to this, you get a lot of options when applying. But in return, getting approval becomes more difficult and expensive. You also have to take on a UK test that revolves around UK life or living.
Despite that, there’s no denying that living in the UK can be quite comfortable. The UK is rich in history and landscape, offering a good mix of urban and rural living. Not only that but because it comprises four nations and other regions with a lot of job opportunities.
Becoming A UK Citizen
To become a UK citizen, there are a lot of paths that you can choose to apply in. While they’re all different, these applications are all challenging and complicated. Other paths are more used and have higher approval rates than others.
- Citizenship by birth with at least one parent being a British citizen
- Citizenship by descent
- Naturalization
- Registration
- Adoption
- Marriage
When it comes to applying for citizenship in the UK, there are common requirements you have to do. Keep in mind that there will be other conditions depending on the path you’ll be taking for citizenship.
- Current passport
- BRP card
- National insurance number
- Evidence of English language (IELTS; Pearson; Trinity College of London)
- Proof of citizenship test
- Tax records
- Evidence of freedom from immigration restrictions
You’ll also need to get two referees that can vouch for your identity. Remember that they should not be in any way related to you, migration agents, or Home Office employees. Your referees should also not have had any criminal convictions within the past ten years.
For your UK test, you can take on practice tests to help you ace it. You can practice for the test at https://www.citizenshipbritish.com/life-in-the-uk-practice-test/.
Naturalization
Naturalization is one of the most used paths to becoming a UK citizen. Many ex-pats from foreign countries and residents who were born in the UK apply for citizenship by naturalization.
To get citizenship by naturalization, you need to have lived in the UK for at least five years. Aside from that, you must also have a permit of at 12 months of the following:
- Indefinite leave to remain (ILR)
- Indefinite leave to remain under the EU settlement scheme
- Indefinite leave to enter the UK
There are also other requirements for British citizenship through naturalization. Here are some of them.
- At least 18 years old
- Has enough knowledge of the English language
- Passed the UK Test
- Should be of sound mind
It’s also best to get all these documents ready upon application to avoid the hassles of getting them.
By Birth
You can get your British citizenship through birth. But this path is only available to certain people.
To get citizenship by birth, you need to be born after January 1, 1983. You must also have one parent that’s a UK citizen or has lived in the Falkland or British islands.
You can also become a UK citizen if you’re born after January 13, 2010. Besides that, you also need to have a parent who was part of the British Armed Forces during that time.
There may also be a specific set of rules if your parents are citizens of the European Union, European Economic Area, or Switzerland.
By Descent
Getting British citizenship by descent is applicable if you were born overseas before 1983. One of your parents should have citizenship by naturalization, birth, or adoption.
Citizenship by descent is also transferable. This means that your parent, who’s a naturalized citizen, can transfer their British citizenship to you.
By Registration
This path of citizenship is similar to naturalization. But unlike naturalization, citizenship by registration is only given to specific applicants. These individuals should have connections to the British islands or have any type of British nationality.
Citizenship by registration is one of the most common paths for children under 18. They’re also an easier path to gain citizenship approval.
By Adoption
Adopted children can gain British citizenship through citizenship by adoption. To become a UK citizen, your time of adoption was on or after January 1, 1983.
Your adoption should also get approval in a UK court or a court in the Channel and Falkland Islands or the Isle of Man. This also includes those legalized in other British Overseas Territory on or after May 21, 2002.
A Definitive Guide On Becoming A UK Citizen
The road to becoming a UK citizen is often challenging and complicated. Sometimes, it can also be quite time-consuming. Here are some tips to give you a headstart when applying for British citizenship.
Knowing what paths are available for you can help avoid getting citizenship rejections. Do you want to learn more about life in the UK? Check our other blog posts to discover more interesting and relevant content.