EEA Applications

 

General Requirements

An applicant for naturalisation as a British citizen has to satisfy a number of general requirements if applying for naturalisation on the grounds of their residence in the UK. An applicant must be able to satisfy the Border & Immigration Agency of the following:

                        ● is at least 18 years of age;

                        ● is of "sound mind"; and

                        ● intends to continue to live in the UK or the service of an international organisation of which the UK is a member, or the service of a company or association established in the UK; and

                        ● can communicate in English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic to an acceptable degree; and

                        ● has sufficient knowledge of life in the UK; and

                        ● is of "good character"; and

                        ● meets the residential requirements.

 

The residential requirements will differ depending on the grounds upon which naturalisation is being sought.

 

Residential requirements for applicants who are married to, or the civil partners of, British citizen

An applicant who is married to a British citizen must satisfy the following residential requirements, namely:

                         ●he has been physically present in the UK for at least 3 years before the application date;

                       ●during the 3 year period, he has not been absent from the UK for more than 270 days during the 3 year period, of which no more than 90 days have been in the last 12 months.

 

Residential requirements for applicants who are not married to, or the civil partners of, British citizen

If an applicant for naturalisation is not married to a British citizen, the following residential requirements, namely:

                         ● he has been physically present in the UK for at least 5 years before the application date;

                        ● during the 5 year period, he has not been absent from the UK for more than 450 days during the 5 year period, of which no more than 90 days have been in the last 12 months.

 

Discretion & residential requirements

If an applicant's period of absence from the UK exceeds the permitted number of days, the Border & Immigration Agency has a discretion to disregard excessive absences. Such applicants are advised to seek legal advice.

 

Knowledge of language and Life in the UK

All applicants (except those those who are over the age of 65 and those who have a long term physical or mental condition that prevents them from leaning English or being tested on their knowledge of life in the UK) satisfy the requirement for both knowledge of English language and knowledge of life in the UK by either:

                   ● successfully completing a course of study in ESOL with citizenship; or

                   ● passing a short test, set in English, on knowledge of Life in the UK at a Life in the UK Test Centre