united-kingdom european-union citizenship naturalization
Obtaining British citizenship through naturalization as EEA citizen
<p>I am Lithuanian (EEA European Economic Area Citizen) and have lived in UK for 5 years. My wife is Lithuanian too. First proof of me being in UK is my NIN appointment (I had to be present in UK) that was on 1st of November 2010. I have worked in UK since (without more than 3 week breaks), own my house in UK, second child was born here.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/becoming-a-british-citizen/check-if-you-can-apply" rel="nofollow">Based on information on gov.uk</a> I have been living in UK for 5 years and this allows me to apply for citizenship. (I qualify on other points too, passed the Language and Live in UK tests). </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>There are different ways to become a British citizen. The most common is called ‘naturalisation’.</p>
  
  <p>You can apply for British citizenship by naturalisation if:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>you’re 18 or over    </li>
  <li>you’re of good character, eg you don’t have a serious or recent criminal record, and you haven’t tried to deceive the Home Office or been involved in immigration offences in the last 10 years   </li>
  <li>you’ll continue to live in the UK     </li>
  <li>you’ve met the knowledge of English and life in the UK requirements   </li>
  <li>you meet the residency requirement  </li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>And you must usually have:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>lived in the UK for at least the 5 years before the date of your application    </li>
  <li>spent no more than 450 days outside the UK during those 5 years    </li>
  <li>spent no more than 90 days outside the UK in the last 12 months    </li>
  <li>been granted indefinite leave to stay in the UK (or permanent residence if you’re an EEA national) - this means there’s no specific date that you have to leave</li>
  <li>had indefinite leave to stay in the UK for the last 12 months (or permanent residence if you’re an EEA national)      </li>
  <li>not broken any immigration laws while in the UK      </li>
  </ul>
</blockquote>

<p>Since <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/448606/Master_Fees_Leaflet_2015_07_21.pdf" rel="nofollow">citizenship application fee is hefty</a> (~£1k) I figured to <a href="https://www.gov.uk/becoming-a-british-citizen/how-to-apply" rel="nofollow">apply using NCS service</a>. I live in Hampshire so I went to <a href="http://www3.hants.gov.uk/registration/citizenship/nationality-checking-service" rel="nofollow">Hampshire nationality checking website</a> and there requirements differ from those on gov.uk.     </p>

<p>According to Hampshire council:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>EEA National applications must be submitted with documentary evidence of your residence during the qualifying period of either 6 years, or 5 years if married to a British Citizen.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>This (in my eyes) is conflicting information between gov.uk and local authority.</p>

<p><strong>How long does one have to live in UK to apply for citizenship via naturalization if he is EEA citizen?</strong></p>

<p>Actual email thread between me and an immigration lawyer: <a href="http://nadinewongsolicitors.co.uk/contact-us" rel="nofollow">http://nadinewongsolicitors.co.uk/contact-us</a></p>

<h1>Me</h1>

<blockquote>
  <p>I think I need to do more reading... But maybe you can clarify that
  for me - to become British Citizen 5 years is enough?</p>
  
  <p>"lived in the UK for at least the 5 years before the date of your
  application"</p>
  
  <p>If 5 years is enough then maybe we can apply for citizenship straight
  away without intermediate step of permanent resident?</p>
  
  <p>(not entirely sure, my knowledge is limited)</p>
</blockquote>

<h1>Lawyer</h1>

<blockquote>
  <p>To qualify for naturalisation as a British national you need to have at least one year with permanent residence, i.e. 5 years to get PR plus 1 >with PR = 6 to qualify.</p>
  
  <p>Please see this link:</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/becoming-a-british-citizen/check-if-you-can-apply" rel="nofollow">https://www.gov.uk/becoming-a-british-citizen/check-if-you-can-apply</a></p>
  
  <p>One of the requirements is that you:</p>
  
  <p>·         “had indefinite leave to stay in the UK for the last 12 months (or permanent residence if you’re an EEA national)”</p>
  
  <p>If you want to be more precise go can see the Schedule 1 (2) (c ) of the BNA1981 which says:</p>
  
  <p>(c)that he was not at any time in the period of twelve months so ending subject under the immigration laws to any restriction on the period for >which he might remain in the United Kingdom;</p>
  
  <p><a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/61" rel="nofollow">http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/61</a></p>
  
  <p>Sometimes the info is very confusing but you need 12 months with PR to qualify.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>You need apply for <strong>Permanent Residentship</strong> <em>(5 years required)</em> first and then after a year for <strong>Citizenship</strong>.</p>
