UK Naturalisation as an EEA national
UK Naturalisation as an EEA national
How can you obtain UK naturalisation as an EEA national?
Naturalisation enables you to become a full British citizen, even as an EEA national after you have acquired permanent residence. A successful naturalisation application gives you the option to apply for a British passport thereafter.
You can apply if you:
- Are 18 or over; children under 18 will have to apply as dependants
- Are from the EEA
- Have held permanent residence in the form of a permanent residence card for at least 12 months
- Can prove you were in the UK at least 5 years before the day the Home Office receives your application
- Can prove your knowledge of English, Welsh or Gaelic
- Can pass the Life in the UK test
- Intend to continue living in the UK
- Are of good character.
Additionally, further requirements to obtain naturalisation as an EEA citizen involve proving you have adhered to the following rules of continuous residency. You should not have:
- Spent more than 450 days outside the UK during those 5 or more years
- Spent more than 90 days outside the UK in the last 12 months
- Broken any UK immigration laws, e.g working illegally
Applications cost £1,330 and a further £19.20 is required to obtain your fingerprints and a photo biometrically.
Please note that if you are an EEA national seeking UK naturalisation and you are married to or are in a civil partnership with a British citizen, the requirements are different.
Successful applications:
If your application succeeds and you obtain British citizenship you must attend a citizenship ceremony. You will be able to apply for a British passport if you wish and you will have the full rights given to every other British citizen.
How can we help?
We are a specialist immigration law firm and we can help you gather the correct documentation to submit to the Home Office as well as ensure it is in the required format. You will be guided and fully briefed about your application, from the first consultation to the day your application is decided upon.
For more information on this topic that was not mentioned on this page, please visit the related pages: EEA Permanent Residence, EEA Permanent Residence card
If you wish to obtain naturalisation and you are not an EEA national, please click here.