EU citizen applying for UK citizenship?

[lexa]

I'm currently holding a Greek passport which is due to expire in few months and I can not renew it because of a military service issue (I'm required to attend a compulsory military training in Greece for 9 months which is against my religious beliefs). I still have my national ID and can legally stay in the UK after my passport is expired.

For the last 4 years I have been studying in the UK as a full-time student and worked part-time (I have NI since 2005). I have been regularly out of the country on term-times and summer vacations (I don't believe its over 450 days altogether, but can be close or just slightly over).

If I stay for another 12 month in the UK just with my national ID and work, will I be able to apply for UK citizenship (i.e. after the 5 years period in the country)? Are my chances good on getting one or I'm luckily to be refused? Any additional suggestions or advice will be highly appreciated.

[EUsmileWEallsmile]

You need to qualify for Permanent Residence (PR) under the EEA immigration regulations first. In general, that means five years living in the UK under the terms of those regulations (student is one of the ways of doing so). You cannot normally be out of the UK for more than six months or your five years would re-start.

One year after PR, you could apply for naturalisation.

Have a look at the EEA route forum for more info.

[friendinneed]

Unless married to a BC then you are required to have been free from immigration for 1 year. Under the EEA route you get PR after 5 years and so you can apply for BC after 6 years.

The one consideration is that as you are a student then you are required to have evidence of having comprehensive medical insurance in place for the complete time you were not working. Do you have this?

[lexa]

Thanks for the info guys.

The one consideration is that as you are a student then you are required to have evidence of having comprehensive medical insurance in place for the complete time you were not working. Do you have this?

I'm not sure to be honest. I am registered with a GP while I'm at the university and I'm entitled to free medications and etc. Not sure if that would count though...

[friendinneed]

UK NHS provision is not sufficient, you either need private health insurance for the complete time you were not working or to be from one of the countries where your home health cover extends sufficiently to you living in other countries. For the latter I dont know which countries this applies to but have seen it mentioned on the EEA board here with a few places named as it being applicable.