Divorced in Pakistan, Applying for UK Naturalisation (10-Year Route)

[AAY24]

My divorce has been registered in Pakistan, but the divorce hasn’t been officially recorded in the UK. My ex-husband is a British citizen, but we’ve been separated now. I now live independently — I have my own apartment.

I’ve been living in the UK for over 10 years (legally and continuously), and I’m applying for naturalisation based on the 10-year long residence route.

My questions are:

What marital status should I select on the application? Can I put ‘divorced’ even though it’s not formally registered in the UK? or 'settled'?

Am I okay to apply under the 10-year route given my circumstances?

Thanks in advance for any advice or shared experiences.

[contorted_svy]

Do you have ILR already? There is no 10 year route for naturalisation.

[AAY24]

Yes I have ILR - got it in 2023. I came to UK in 2014. So my 10 years in UK completed last year.

[contorted_svy]

That was not needed for citizenship. You only needed one year on ILR to apply. Have you divorced in any country? If not, separation is not enough to consider yourselves divorced.

[AAY24]

Thats what I said 'My divorce has been registered in Pakistan, but the divorce hasn’t been officially recorded in the UK'

[contorted_svy]

My guess is that you would count as divorced then, though other members may confirm.