Citizenship
You may be granted British citizenship in two ways:
- If you have successfully registered as a British citizen
- If you have completed 10 years of leave to remain in the UK, get indefinite leave to remain and then successfully apply to become a British citizen.
Important
After you’ve completed 10 years of leave to remain you can apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR). ILR is considered a settled status. This means that once you have it, there is no time limit on your status and you don’t need to renew it. After a year of having ILR, you can apply for British citizenship.
Benefits of citizenship
Having British citizenship means you will be a UK national. Benefits include:
- the right to live in the UK forever – your status will be permanently settled
- the right to hold a British passport
- full civic rights – this includes the right to vote in elections and the right to stand for public office
- free NHS medical care
- no restrictions on your right to work
- unrestricted entry to the UK
- no restrictions on travelling abroad
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