Eligibility for British Citizenship

Hi, first of all gonna get things straight and say, I'm a fool for not paying attention to how immigration and nationalities work in the UK let alone for anything and have been oblivious to this fact.

I'm 21 was born and educated in the UK. I've pretty much stayed here for about 21 years of my life, never go holidays. The thing is my parents made me hold a malaysian passport since I was 6, and having renewed it possibly 3 times, last time being 2010.

As far as I know as now I'm working as a Software Programmer I was required to provide proof of right to live and work I did mention that I am a British Citizen making an assumption that I've lived here all my life and pretty much used to how things are run. Today I just checked .gov.uk and found that I'm not a british citizen and would need to pay £800 for a british citizenship, really?

As it says on .gov.uk what would happen if I was to apply for a british passport, and for some extra info of eligability it goes like this;

Born in UK since 1992 - Have the certificate
Parents Married in UK in 1991 - Have the certificate
Have GCSE's and Degree certificates
However, my parents didn't get a permanent residency till 2005 - Have the document
And If it matters I'm earning £25000+

Does anyone know much about the issue at where I'm at?

Can you check if you have got ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain) stamp on your passport?

I'm assuming your parents are/were Malaysian national from your post before getting settled in 2005.

Don't have my passport with me at the moment but, what would be the situation if I did or did not have the ILR?

You may be entitled to register.

Have you ever applied for leave?

Tofudoe wrote:I've pretty much stayed here for about 21 years of my life

This 'pretty much' is a key point, especially as you were born in the UK. If you were never out of the UK more than 90 days out of any given calender year and of the first ten years of your life living in the UK, then you have a lifetime right to register as a British Citizen, which I believe is atleast a bit less than the £800 you quoted.

See Register as British Citizen Online and Guide

vinny wrote:You may be entitled to register.

Have you ever applied for leave?

No, not that I have been aware of I've not applied for anything relating to Visa's and such. However If it does include going on holiday, then I have when I was very young (during when I was aged 5 or 6 I recall going to America, Netherlands and France and when I was 12 I went to Malaysia and have not been on holiday since.

Having read the guide and information on the application, I'm assuming I'll need to register for this and not apply for naturalization even though I'm a holder of a malaysian passport. Knowing this I'll need to prove the first 10 years of my live on where I lived/education/statements am I right?

Registration and naturalisation both lead to British citizenship.

Yes, for registration, you are required to prove that you had spent the first 10 years in the UK; ILR is not a requirement. What is your current status?

My passport does not have a stamp for an ILR, however my name is in my Parents PR. Since I was still under 18 would that still apply for me as I'm now under 18 and independant (however still living with parents).

After doing some reading I'm planning to register as a British Citizen as I've spent the first 10 years here. Only problem is that I had moved house when I was 8, and I'm not sure if I can find enough supporting documents to prove that. However I can provide my previous passports as they have the details of where I've been to outside.

Bumping thread slightly.

I was looking for alternative ways to get BC, going through the English Language certifications and proof, I can't find anything to do with GCSE's or Degree's as I hold both of these. Would an English GCSE be sufficient if it was?

Tofudoe wrote:Bumping thread slightly.

I was looking for alternative ways to get BC, going through the English Language certifications and proof, I can't find anything to do with GCSE's or Degree's as I hold both of these. Would an English GCSE be sufficient if it was?

GCSE is not acceptable. A degree is.

Note that registration under 1(4) does not require ILR nor English language nor Life in the UK.