Page 1 of 1

Applied early ?

Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2021 11:15 am
by Conansenshe
Hi I've a question.

I came to the UK on 29/10/2016

I've been granted ILR on 5/10/2021 ( spouse visa 5 years route)

Obviously I've got my ILR earlier then 5 years

I've applied for British citizenship and had my bio appointment on the 11/10/2021 as I'm married to British citizen

My question is have I applied early ? Did I have to wait until 29/10/2021 to apply as I arrived to the UK on same date 2016 ?


I've read somewhere that I've to be in the uk for 3 year to apply for British citizenship but elsewhere says you can't apply unless you've been in the uk for 5 full year.

Can someone clarify this please

Any help would be much appreciated.

Re: Applied early ?

Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2021 11:22 am
by Bash_
if you are applying as a spouse of British citizen then the residency requirement is 3 Years from the date of application.

Re: Applied early ?

Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2021 11:34 am
by Ben1989
As Bash said. Everything is three years for a spouse route.

For instance, you would have had to have been present in the country three years prior to application rather than the 'usual' five.

Re: Applied early ?

Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2021 9:25 am
by Conansenshe
Thanks everyone for their reply, I appreciate it 🙏🏽

Re: Applied early ?

Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2021 9:52 am
by vinny
Conansenshe wrote:
Mon Oct 18, 2021 11:15 am
but elsewhere says you can't apply unless you've been in the uk for 5 full year.
That’s because the spouse of a British citizen also requires ILR. The qualifying period for a spouse’s ILR under the family route had increased to 5 years.

See also Can spouses of British citizens naturalise after just three years’ residence in the UK?