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Hi all,

I'm an EU citizen and have recently obtained my DCPR, and now want to apply for citizenship (the letter accompanying my DCPR says that PR was achieved in Spring 2016, so I can go ahead and apply for citizenship).
My British partner and I are, however, getting married soon, so as I see it, I have 2 choices: either apply for citizenship in my own right or as the spouse of a British citizen. Are there any advantages/disadvantages to applying for citizenship as the spouse of a British partner?

Applying as a spouse seems slightly more straightforward (only having to list absences over the last 3 years), but could it lead to any problems in the future (i.e. if we'd get divorced, my spouse passes away, etc.)?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

No difference, same end result, no effect if you should separate etc.

3 year route has slightly difference requirements though, obvs must be married, no more than 270 days absence in 3 years and you must have been physically present exactly 3 years prior to the date of application.

If you UK Permanent Residency (ILR) and have been in the UK for 1 year after obtaining ILR (without being absent for more than 90 days), then apply as normal. why do you need to obtain spouse visa and additional 3 year route ? Just get your passport and done...

khuseynov wrote:If you UK Permanent Residency (ILR) and have been in the UK for 1 year after obtaining ILR (without being absent for more than 90 days), then apply as normal. why do you need to obtain spouse visa and additional 3 year route ? Just get your passport and done...

Breev Isn't asking about obtaining a spouse visa, and PR and ILR may both be settled status in the UK, however, they are not the same thing.

Thanks for all your responses.

CR001: It is helpful to know there is no difference in the end result. I don't think there has been any year in the last 6 or so where I have been absent for more than 90 days. Any absences have been fairly short (no more than 3 weeks) so it should be easy enough to find a day where I was present in the UK 3 years ago, and apply on that day.

khuseynov: I don't fully understand your response, but as the following poster points out, I think we are talking about different things. I'm talking about this: https://www.gov.uk/becoming-a-british-c ... sh-citizen

It sounds like you are in the opposite situation to the one I was in—I applied to naturalise after getting married because otherwise I would have had to wait until the first anniversary of my getting indefinite leave to remain, which is in August. In your case, it sounds like you've already had ILR for a year, so waiting to apply as the spouse of a UK citizen would mean delaying your application. Personally, I would apply under the category that allows me to do it sooner, but if you're not in a rush, even that doesn't matter very much.

Tea_Rocket wrote:In your case, it sounds like you've already had ILR for a year, so waiting to apply as the spouse of a UK citizen would mean delaying your application. Personally, I would apply under the category that allows me to do it sooner, but if you're not in a rush, even that doesn't matter very much.

Thanks, that's a useful point. Unfortunately my home country only allows dual citizenship under a small number of circumstances, including if one is married to someone with another nationality. This means I'll have to wait until I'm married anyway in order not to lose my original nationality.

Breev wrote: Thanks, that's a useful point. Unfortunately my home country only allows dual citizenship under a small number of circumstances, including if one is married to someone with another nationality. This means I'll have to wait until I'm married anyway in order not to lose my original nationality.

Sounds like the Netherlands?

In answer to your question- there is no difference as to the "quality" of British citizenship by naturalisation based on marriage vs. otherwise.