Acquiring British citizenship after 03/2019

[kim24]

Hi,

I hope you are all well.

I am a Polish citizen and I have been living in the UK since 05/2013. I am planning on getting a permanent residence document next year (by the look of it, I meet all requriements) and I was wondering whether it will be possible for me to apply for a British Citizenship after a year of having a permanent residence status (on 05/2019)? By the look of it, I will also have to apply for a settled status after 03/2019, but on https://www.gov.uk/becoming-a-british-citizen it doesn't say whether any of those requirements will change after 03/2019. Any ideas?

Kind regards,
Kim

[CR001]

At this stage, no one can tell you what the transitional arrangements will be for EU citizens.

None of the UKVI/HO guidance notes will say anything regarding post March 2019. They will only reflect what the current rules are.

[kim24]

Thanks for the quick reply! That makes sense. I just read:

"People who have been continuously living here for 5 years will be able to apply to stay indefinitely by getting ‘settled status’. That means these citizens will be free to live here, have access to public funds and services and apply for British citizenship."

I guess there will be a way to acquire British citizenship with a settled status, but we don't know yet what the requirments will be. Looks like there is no point of getting permanent residency if I will have to apply for a settled status few months later...

[Tea_Rocket]

It can't hurt to make sure that you have all the documents you will need to prove your continuous residence, as I can't imagine that they will relax that requirement. Make sure you collect your P60s, letters of employment, and anything else that might help establish your physical presence in the UK and keep them in a safe place for the next couple of years.

[kim24]

Thanks for the advice. It does help that a lot of documents are delivered online, so it's easier to store and find them. Good thing I back up all my data.

[secret.simon]

Worth keeping in mind that

a) Naturalisation is an has always been a process entirely under UK law (unaffected by EU law) and is therefore unlikely to be significantly affected by Brexit.

b) The laws and requirements for naturalisation are different and distinct from the ones for PR under EU law. You will almost certainly need to prepare a different set of documentary proof for the two.

c) Even now, there is no distinction between EEA citizens and non-EEA citizens when it comes to naturalisation applications. Both must meet the same requirements. However because EEA passports are not stamped within the EEA, while non-EEA passports may be, the proof required to prove residence in the UK differs between applicants with EU PR and applicants with ILR.

Thanks for the advice. It does help that a lot of documents are delivered online, so it's easier to store and find them. Good thing I back up all my data.

Online documentation may not be acceptable for naturalisation. You will need to get printouts of online documents verified in different ways. That may be a hindrance, not a help.