How can you prove that you've been in the UK (residence)?

I have been in the UK since the end of 1999. I have been living everywhere and nowhere: from Bournemouth to Cambridge and the biggest part of time in London.

Yet I cannot proof my residence as I have been most of that time (sadly) on the streets (but I'm not a drug addict or engaged in any other illegal activity...)

Currently thanks to an inheritance and a lot of luck things have gotten much better and although I am a EU citizen (Belgian nationality) I would like to get a British passport. I feel good in the UK and wich to stay and officialise this.

I only have my Belgian passport currently (and driver's license). I have nothing else as official papers. My bank account is in Belgium.

Can I apply for ILR if I now rent a room in London or Cambridge? Can I just after a year of ILR apply for citizenship?

Will the procedure be any easier for me as I am a EU citizen and therefore can stay as long as I wish in the UK even without ILR/citizenship?

How to deal with the lack of proof of residence/official papers? Should I just fill out the ILR application with this limited information?

Just to complete the above message: I am fully financially self-supporting right now and have never benefited from any aid. Never had anything to do with either police or justice and I am still in good health.

Hello,

Well, you must prove that you have been in the UK for 5 years as a self-sufficient person.

Ideally, it the required documents must be bills, bank statements, council tax etc etc.

At the same time the Home Office may exercise a discretion and accept witness statements and some ofher part official docs, although it is unlikely.

Woody wrote: Currently thanks to an inheritance and a lot of luck things have gotten much better and although I am a EU citizen (Belgian nationality) I would like to get a British passport. I feel good in the UK and wich to stay and officialise this.

I only have my Belgian passport currently (and driver's license). I have nothing else as official papers. My bank account is in Belgium.

Can I apply for ILR if I now rent a room in London or Cambridge? Can I just after a year of ILR apply for citizenship?

The rule for EEA citizens now is that after five year "exercising Treaty rights" such as being self-sufficient, permanent residence is automatically granted on the later of the fifth anniversary or 30 April 2006.

Form EEA3 is used to apply for evidence of permanent residence. However as someone else has pointed out, you will be expected to provide some evidence of "exercising Treaty rights" and because you have not been a worker/student your case is likely to be more complex than usual.

Find a good lawyer.

After holding permanent residence for 12 months, you can apply for British citizenship.

Under current Belgian law you would automatically lose Belgian citizenship by becoming British: (unless things have changed recently)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_nationality_law

JAJ wrote:

Woody wrote: Currently thanks to an inheritance and a lot of luck things have gotten much better and although I am a EU citizen (Belgian nationality) I would like to get a British passport. I feel good in the UK and wich to stay and officialise this.

I only have my Belgian passport currently (and driver's license). I have nothing else as official papers. My bank account is in Belgium.

Can I apply for ILR if I now rent a room in London or Cambridge? Can I just after a year of ILR apply for citizenship?

The rule for EEA citizens now is that after five year "exercising Treaty rights" such as being self-sufficient, permanent residence is automatically granted on the later of the fifth anniversary or 30 April 2006.

Form EEA3 is used to apply for evidence of permanent residence. However as someone else has pointed out, you will be expected to provide some evidence of "exercising Treaty rights" and because you have not been a worker/student your case is likely to be more complex than usual.

Find a good lawyer.

After holding permanent residence for 12 months, you can apply for British citizenship.

Under current Belgian law you would automatically lose Belgian citizenship by becoming British: (unless things have changed recently)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_nationality_law

JAJ many thanks for your very informative answer. I am thinking of hiring this law firm: http://www.wilsons-solicitors.org.uk/index.html (Mr Hanley would do my case)