Will driving conviction now stop me getting citizenship?

[Annika230]

Hi

I am a EU national who may get a driving conviction in the European country I come from - I took a sleeping medecine on prescription. Will this stop me from applying for British citizenship in 2 years time - if the court finds me guilty and will any years already spent in the UK be wasted?

Many thanks.

[darkguy18]

You are safe if it's 3 > years from conviction date if you will receive a non-custodial sentence. All offences from abroad are treated the same way as in the UK.

[Annika230]

Hi,

Will I be able to start counting time now with proof of living for this year if I get
a driving conviction in court in another EU country in 2 months time?
Thanks

[darkguy18]

You will be able to start counting the time only after you get the conviction. Date of the conviction is different than the day of the offence. However, this only applies to court convictions. The question is did it go to court? For anything equivalent to Fixed Penalty Notice, then this doesn't matter unless you have many of these. Now being from abroad, they will have to see what would the equivalent charge be here which is hard to say unless you specify exactly what your 'conviction' is.