British citizenship requirement

[Fattima1]

Dear member,

I am planning to apply for naturalization. I have passed the Life in the UK Test and would like to confirm if I need to pass the B1 English language test. I am currently in my second year of university and have not yet obtained my degree. What documents do I need to request from my university that would be accepted by the Home Office?

Many thanks

[alterhase58]

When is your graduation?
If it's not far off then why not wait til you have your degree certificate and save £150?
If you are in a hurry then take the B1 test.

[contorted_svy]

Before you obtain a degree, unless you already passed an English test to obtain a visa or ILR you need to sit for a SELT B1 test. Assuming you don't have a passport from a majority speaking English country.

[Fattima1]

Thank you for your response!

Can I also ask about 5 years residence requirement. My current passport was issued in Feb 2021 and it’s valid until Feb 2026. would I have to provide them with proof of residency for the period from Jan 2020 to Feb 2021 ?


Many thanks

[contorted_svy]

Yes, if you are applying in your own right and need to satisfy 5 years residence. Do you have an older passport to show?

[Fattima1]

Thank you for your response!


The older passport I have was expired in dec 2019 so basically I didn’t renew my passport for the whole 2020 as it everything was under lockdown due to covid. I got my passport renewed in Feb 2021. I did not travel outside UK from 2019 to 2022. Do I have to submit both of my passports ?

[contorted_svy]

From the guidance

Absences
You must check the available evidence to see whether an applicant meets the residence requirements.

The following can be used as evidence of residence:

passports or travel documents which have been stamped to show arrival in the UK and entry and departure from other countries: these should be checked against the list of absences that applicants are asked to provide on the application form

Home Office records

if the applicant does not have passports to cover the qualifying period, other evidence such as employers’ letters or tax and National Insurance letters:

in such cases you should assess whether there is sufficient evidence to show that that applicant has been resident in the UK during the qualifying period, giving them the benefit of any doubt where claimed absences are within the limits we would normally allow and there are no grounds to doubt the accuracy of the claim
You must not normally accept doctors’ letters on their own as proof of residence. However, if nothing else is available and the doctors can confirm that they have seen the applicant on a regular basis during the period concerned these may be accepted.

If there are gaps in a person’s evidence of residence and it is clear from the information available that they could not have travelled, you must accept this. Examples of this might include a refugee who has no means of travel or where immigration records confirm continuous residence.

So as you didn't have a passport it is possible you don't have to submit anything else as it is not possible for you to have travelled, given also the situation in 2020. However if you want to be safe you can submit a P60 for 2020 and 2021 or request a SAR to UKVI.

[Fattima1]

Thank you again for the information.


I have lost my P60 for 2020-2021 and I also don’t have payslips for that particular year, however I was employed during time. Would home office accept just my employer letter confirming that I was employed during that time? Do I need provide any other form of evidence of residency i.e employment contract, council tax letter or NHS letters? Do I also need to provide a letter for each month or just pick letters from random months?


Thank you again in advance!

[contorted_svy]

A letter from your employer that covers that period would work.

[Fattima1]

Perfect thank you so much for your help!

[Fattima1]

Dear Members,

Can I use my employer's letter to confirm continuous employment status as proof of residency as my passport is not covering last 5 years. this letter was issued in July 2024.
I'm still employed for the same company.


Many thanks

[contorted_svy]

Yes. I had advised this before I think.

[Fattima1]

Thank you for your response.

My question this time is specifically about the employer’s letter. Can I use a letter that was issued in July 2024, which is now dated six months ago, confirming my continuous employment?

Many thanks.

[contorted_svy]

Best to get a more recent one. Sorry I had misunderstood your query.

[Fattima1]

Thank you for all your responses!


Would you suggest me adding a cover letter as well explaining that why my passport was expired during dec 2019 to March 2021?


Many thanks

[contorted_svy]

I guess it can't hurt. Many people will have been in that situation during COVID.

[Fattima1]

Dear Members,

I have come across this information on Gov.uk website -

'A dated and signed letter from an employer, confirming the duration of a period of UK-based employment which has been undertaken, and confirmation of the employer’s status (such as registration with HMRC or Companies House). This will be considered evidence of residence for the period of that employment.'

Do I need to provide a another letter alongside the employment confirmation letter that proofs employer's status with HMRC ?


Many thanks

[contorted_svy]

If the letter is on official company paper it should report that information.

[alterhase58]

Every company must/should show this information on their letter head format.
Therefore one letter is ok. Can you post a link to the document you quoted?

[Fattima1]

Dear respected members,

I would like to confirm the residency requirement for a naturalisation application. I have read somewhere that I need to provide proof of residency for the last 6 years (5 years with Settled Status + one year with ILR) instead of 5 years.

I am a bit worried as I have already submitted my application under the 5 -year route. Could you please confirm whether the requirement is 6 years or 5 years?

Many thanks!

[contorted_svy]

The requirement is 5 years. The thing is that to have reached 5 years of residence of which 1 is on ILR one (usually) has to live in the UK for at least 6 years, but only the last 5 need to be proven for citizenship. Rest easy.

[Fattima1]

Thank you for your quick response!

I was issued with permanent residence card as a family member of EU citizenship in March 2018 but that was replaced with a EUSS settled status in August 2019 online and the PR card was replaced in June 2021.

So I have lived in the UK for more than 5 years since I was issued permanent residence. I just wanted to make sure if I provided home office everything that was required.


Many thanks for your help