British Citizenship

British citizenship can be granted in a number of ways if you have been living in the UK for at least 5 years. However, this can be as short as 3 years in some circumstances.

If you are not married to or the civil partner of a British citizen, then there are a number of requirements that need to be met in order to make a successful application for British citizenship.

From the outset, there are a number of UK visas that will allow residence in the UK from between 12 months and 3 years, depending on the type of visa.

It is possible to have the original length of a visa extended and in some instances this can end up being a total of 5 years.

Once the minimum 5 year period has been reached, it is possible to apply for British citizenship.

It is important to note that during the 5 year period you must not have spent more than 450 days outside the UK. Furthermore, during the final 12 months before your application, you must not have spent more than 90 days outside of the UK.

If you are married to or a civil partner of a British citizen, it is possible to make an application for British citizenship after 3 years.

In making an application for British citizenship you must be able to show that:

• you have a sufficient understanding of life in the UK
• you intend to continue living in the UK
• you can speak English or another British language
• you are of good character and sound mind
• you are over the age of 18 years

Applying for British citizenship is both procedurally and legally complex.

To ensure that your application is submitted correctly and with the right supporting evidence, getting the best legal advice is vital.

Getting In Contact

Getting in contact with Paramount Chambers is really simple. You can call direct on 0208 088 0555 or, if it is outside normal Chambers hours, you can call the Clerks on 0784 2729394.

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