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Hi all,

I am an EU national and I have been living and working (exercising treaty rights) in the UK since January 2007. I applied for permanent residence in April 2012 and received the PR card in July 2012.

Does anybody know when exactly can I apply for naturalisation?

According to the requirements listed on the UKBA website 'If you are a national of a country in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, or you are the family member of such a person, you will automatically have permanent residence status if you have exercised EEA free-movement rights in the UK for a continuous five-year. You should have held permanent residence status for 12 months before you apply for naturalisation'.(http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/briti ... uirements/)

When does this qualifying period start? In January 2012 (because I exercised treaty rights for 5 years, January 2007 to January 2012) or July 2012 when I actually received the card confirming PR status?

Has anybody faced the same dilemma before? Any suggestions or advices?

Thanks in advance

The card is merely confirmatory of rights already held, so the date you started working in the UK in January 2007 is the start of the relevant 5+1=6 year period. So you can apply from some time in January 2013.

Also, do make sure that you were physically in the UK exactly five years before you apply for Naturalisation.

Thank you John, appreciate your reply.

See EEA3 or naturalisation.