Trying to get UK citizenship!

[Jamming]

Hi all. I’m in my mid 30’s and came to the UK from Germany when I was 1 years old. I am a Nurse and have never lived anywhere except England. In fact I have a very strong East London accent and people are surprised to hear I’m German! I have never bothered to get UK citizenship because of the guarantees of being in the EU gave me.

Essentially I want to gain British citizenship and retain my German citizenship too.

I understand you can keep your German passport if you gain another nationality within the EU. Is this correct?

If yes, I will seek to gain UK nationality too because of the fact the post Brexit, things are very unclear and I will probably never leave this country.

I always believed you had to get Permanent Residency for two years before you could apply for British citizenship, but I was told be a colleague that because I had been through the UK school system I didn’t have to do that or even take the citizenship test.

I can’t find any information regarding the process relative to my situation that is clear. Can anyone point me in the right direction or give me some helpful information please?

Thanks for reading and have a great day.

[CR001]

It is mandatory to have a document Certifying PR before you can apply for citizenship.

It is mandatory to do submit the life in the UK pass letter and meet the English requirements for citizenship.

[alterhase58]

If you haven't already reviewed these documents for naturalisation:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... en-form-an
What your colleague said is not correct - tenure in this country alone is not enough for naturalisation, and English and Life in the UK tests are mandatory. You will retain your German citizenship.

[Jamming]

I thought as much. It’s frustrating seeing as I’ve been here since I was a year old that I have to jump through these long hoops, but I guess this is the process.

Also seems like it might be pointless to do this because of the Settled Status scheme and maybe the ability to get citizenship through that? But then again I might lose my German citizenship if I gain British because Britain will be out of the EU.

It’s a conundrum alright.

[alterhase58]

Regarding German citizenship, you will be able to retain this as long as you manage to gain UK citizenship by the end of the transition period (2020). A law to this effect has been drafted and is in progress in the Bundestag.
FAQ Embassy (german) - https://uk.diplo.de/uk-de/02/faq-inform ... xit/610518
Brexit Transition Law (german) - https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/auss ... tz/2119360

[Jamming]

Thanks for your reply. Don’t you need PR for two years though? Wouldn’t I be out of the time frame for it by the time I’m eligible to apply for citizenship? It would be Jan 2021 before I could apply and the UK would possibly have left already.

Thanks again everyone.

[Hioru]

Also seems like it might be pointless to do this because of the Settled Status scheme and maybe the ability to get citizenship through that? But then again I might lose my German citizenship if I gain British because Britain will be out of the EU.

It’s a conundrum alright.

With PR you can apply for citizenship straight away (if when you apply for the document proving PR you provide them with the documents that you acquired PR at least one year ago, and since you lived here since age of 1 you can do that).
With the new EU Settlement Scheme you have to wait 12 from the date it is issued until you can apply for citizenship.

[alterhase58]

Thanks for your reply. Don’t you need PR for two years though? Wouldn’t I be out of the time frame for it by the time I’m eligible to apply for citizenship? It would be Jan 2021 before I could apply and the UK would possibly have left already.

Thanks again everyone.

You could apply for PR now, based on “exercising treaty rights” for a continuous period of five years retrospectively, under EU regulations. https://www.gov.uk/uk-residence-eu-citi ... -residence
After 29.3.2019 EU regulations are replaced by UK regulations and “settled status” application will be compulsory for EU citizens and family members: https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
In relation to retaining your German citizenship you would still have plenty of time then to apply for naturalization. Just to clarify: were both your parent German citizens?

[Jamming]

Thanks guys. Yes both my parents are German citizens.

So just to be clear. I apply for PR now. And once I get it I can apply right away for citizenship?

But I will also have to get settled status, but waiting for that alone means I’ll have to wait another 12 months, but getting PR means I can sort it out right away because I have been settled for so long, right?

My work is paying for settled status too.

Thanks again.

[alterhase58]

Thanks guys. Yes both my parents are German citizens.

So just to be clear. I apply for PR now. And once I get it I can apply right away for citizenship?
If you specify in your PR application the last six years as exercising "treaty rights" you could on approval go straight to citizenship application.

But I will also have to get settled status, but waiting for that alone means I’ll have to wait another 12 months, but getting PR means I can sort it out right away because I have been settled for so long, right? That is my understanding.

My work is paying for settled status too. maybe they'll cover PR as well?

Thanks again.

[Jamming]

Okay great. I’ll look into it a bit further. Thanks so much

[Jamming]

One last question, are the fees for PR, Citizenship payable on successful application or regardless whether you are accepted or not?

Thanks.

[CR001]

One last question, are the fees for PR, Citizenship payable on successful application or regardless whether you are accepted or not?

Thanks.

Payable before HO even looks at your application for processing. If you don't pay, it is sent back as invalid due to non payment.

If an application is refused you lose the fee paid. For citizenship refusal you would get £80 back which is the ceremony fee and for PR I believe you get a small portion back.

[Jamming]

Blimey that’s bloody harsh. Good to know. Thanks.

[Jamming]

So just out of interest, I send in my application. They take the fee of £1200+. There’s something wrong, do they reject the application out right, leading to a new application and £1200+ fee, or so they write to you asking for clarification, more documentation, a correction etc?

Thanks again.

[CR001]

Depends what the error or your mistake is.

[secret.simon]

I think you should first focus on your DCPR (Document certifying Permanent Residence) application. You may be surprised how many hoops you have to go through for that.

Also start compiling a list of all your absences from the UK in the past five years, which will be required for both the DCPR application and the naturalisation application.

Regarding German citizenship, you will be able to retain this as long as you manage to gain UK citizenship by the end of the transition period (2020). A law to this effect has been drafted and is in progress in the Bundestag.
FAQ Embassy (german) - https://uk.diplo.de/uk-de/02/faq-inform ... xit/610518
Brexit Transition Law (german) - https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/auss ... tz/2119360

Interesting update. Thank you for that.