United Kingdom - flag United Kingdom - Info - Residence in the UK

You are resident in the UK. Whatever your UK immigration status, there should be a way for you to naturalise in the UK as a British citizen after a further period of residency.

PERMANENT RESIDENCY

If you hold a form of Permanent Residency (Indefinite Leave to Remain, Right of Abode, EU Settled Status and some Diplomatic statuses), then the next step is normally to naturalise as a British citizen. If you are married to a British citizen, then this can take place immediately. If not, then you would normally have to spend at least 12 months as a permanent resident before naturalising.

QUALIFYING VISA

Examples of a "qualifying visa" would be the EU Pre-Settled status, the UK Ancestry Visa, a Spouse Visa, Skilled Person Visa or Work Permit. If you spend at least 5 years in the UK on one of these visa categories, then you should become eligible for permanent residency.

NON-QUALIFYING VISA

Examples of a "non-qualifying visa" would be a Tourist Visa, Study Visa or the Tier 5 Working Holiday Visa. Time spent in the UK on one of these visa categories does not normally lead to permanent residency unless you spend at least 10 years of continuous residence on a valid visa.

ILLEGAL OR UNLAWFUL RESIDENCE

Examples of this immigration status would be an asylum seeker, or someone who has overstayed their visa in the UK. It is essential that such a person seeks professional assistance in normalising their UK immigration status. If a person spends at least 20 years in the UK (whatever their visa status), then it may be possible to obtain permanent residency or to naturalise as a British citizen.

img4

Ask Philip Gamble whether you (or your children) have a claim to British nationality.

ASK PHILIP GAMBLE NOW!
Learn more about these routes to British Nationality:

WhatPassport.com is a specialist UK Nationality and British Citizenship site offering an online search and assessment. Claims to hold a British Passport can be complex and the site offers a quick, simple search to give you the answers. While many people qualify for the UK Ancestry Visa based on holding a Commonwealth passport with a UK born grandmother or grandfather, we have found that if you have a grandparent born in the UK, or if your mother is British or your father is British, then there are several scenarios where you can claim British Nationality and the right to hold a British Passport. This stems from Britain’s collection of British Colonies, British Protectorates and British Protected States in the middle of last century and the Nationality rules concerning what are now the countries of the Commonwealth.

WhatPassport.com is a subsidiary of Sable International.

Sable International offers a range of services relating to UK and Australian immigration. For over 20 years, we have been helping people with their UK and Australian visa applications. We assist with applications for Ancestry visas, spouse visas, work visas, Tier 1 visas, UK working holiday visas, UK dependant visas, Tier 4 visas, UK Visitor visas, sponsorship visas or UK permanent residency or indefinite leave to remain. We also specialise in UK visa extensions. If you’ve overstayed your visa, our Overstayer Status Trace service can assist to regularise your visa status.