British Citizenship for EEA Nationals

SECTION GUIDE

Eligible European citizens working in the UK are considering applying for permanent residency as the mandatory first step to attaining British citizenship.

What is permanent residency?

Permanent residency proves your right to live in the UK for the rest of your life. There are no restrictions attached to your leave in the UK and you are free to exit and enter as you wish, provided you are not out of the country for more than 2 years, at which point permanent residence is lost.

An application for permanent residence costs £65.

Am I eligible?

While the Government is striving to reduce net migration, if you are an EU citizen and have worked in the UK for more than 5 years as a qualifying person, you could be eligible to apply and secure your status as a permanent UK resident.

If you have been in the UK fewer than 4 years and are ineligible for permanent residency, we can advise on the options available to you based on your specific circumstances.

How we can help

As the first step to naturalisation, EU citizens must secure their status and right to reside here indefinitely by applying for permanent residency now.

The UK government’s initial offer on EEA citizens’ rights after Brexit included a proposal for ‘settled status’ for EU nationals in the UK. The proposal includes a requirement on EEA citizens who have secured permanent residence since Brexit to also register for ‘settled status’, but the proposals remain subject to Brexit negotiations.

At DavidsonMorris we have the experience to advise you on the most appropriate type of application for your individual circumstances and have the insight to make the application process as smooth as possible.

We have an established reputation for effective and efficient management and processing of permanent residency applications. We have a team of professionals who will look after you from the start until you obtain your card.

About DavidsonMorris

As employer solutions lawyers, DavidsonMorris offers a complete and cost-effective capability to meet employers’ needs across UK immigration and employment law, HR and global mobility.

Led by Anne Morris, one of the UK’s preeminent immigration lawyers, and with rankings in The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners, we’re a multi-disciplinary team helping organisations to meet their people objectives, while reducing legal risk and nurturing workforce relations.

Read more about DavidsonMorris here

About our Expert

Picture of Anne Morris

Anne Morris

Founder and Managing Director Anne Morris is a fully qualified Immigration solicitor and workforce compliance specialist, advising corporates and SMEs on strategic immigration, global mobility and workforce compliance.She is recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers, providing Board-level advice on business migration, compliance risk and efficient immigration programme delivery.Anne is also a public speaker, immigration commentator and policy contributor, and regularly delivers training for employers and HR professionals.
Picture of Anne Morris

Anne Morris

Founder and Managing Director Anne Morris is a fully qualified Immigration solicitor and workforce compliance specialist, advising corporates and SMEs on strategic immigration, global mobility and workforce compliance.She is recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers, providing Board-level advice on business migration, compliance risk and efficient immigration programme delivery.Anne is also a public speaker, immigration commentator and policy contributor, and regularly delivers training for employers and HR professionals.

Legal Disclaimer

The matters contained in this article are intended to be for general information purposes only. This article does not constitute legal advice, nor is it a complete or authoritative statement of the law, and should not be treated as such. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the information is correct at the time of writing, no warranty, express or implied, is given as to its accuracy and no liability is accepted for any error or omission. Before acting on any of the information contained herein, expert legal advice should be sought.