when can my wife apply for citizenship

[phil1264]

I am a British citizen married for 7 years to a Moldavian citizen.

We arrived in the UK on the 03/04/2009 after living and working in Cyprus my wife travelled on a Family permit which was valid from
26/03/2009 till 26/09/2009, I was classed as EEA because I was working in Cyprus.

My wife has a Residence card valid from 26/01/2010 till 26/01/2015 and is working as a community interpreter and has passed 'life in the UK test'.

My question is when can she apply for British Citizenship, can she apply once she has been in the country for 5 years which will be 03/04/2014 or does she have to wait till her residence card expires?

[Jambo]

once she has been in the country for 5 years which will be 03/04/2014

She will also need to meet the English B1 requirement.

[phil1264]

Thanks for your reply she is an english/russian interpreter so all should be good

[Casa]

The following from the UKBA website applies:
If you are a national of a country in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, or you are the family member of such a person, you will automatically have permanent residence status if you have exercised EEA free-movement rights in the UK for a continuous five-year period ending on or after 30 April 2006. You do not need to apply for leave to remain. You should have held permanent residence status for 12 months before you apply for naturalisation.

Your wife needs 5 years of legal residence and can then apply for BC 1 year following this. i.e 6 years in total.

[vinny]

I am a British citizen married for 7 years to a Moldavian citizen.

Jambo was correct.