UK citizenship applications from EU nationals up by 108% in Q3 2017

According to latest UK immigration statistics published on Nov 30, 2017, total applications for British citizenship fell by 3% to 137,286 in the year to September 2017.

• UK Citizenship applications made by non-EU nationals fell by 17%
• UK citizenship applications by EU nationals more than doubled +108%
• UK Permanent residence cards issued to EEA nationals increased by 480%

EEA nationals and their family members can apply for documents certifying permanent residence and permanent residence cards, as confirmation of a right of permanent residence in the UK. EEA nationals only need to apply for a permanent residence document if they want to apply for British citizenship

After 12 November 2015, a person applying for citizenship who is claiming to have permanent residence as an EEA national or the family member of an EEA national has been required to provide a permanent residence card or a document certifying permanent residence as evidence

To apply for British citizenship by naturalisation, the conditions are:

• lived in the UK for at least the 5 years before the date of your application
• spent no more than 450 days outside the UK during those 5 years
• spent no more than 90 days outside the UK in the last 12 months
• had settlement in the UK for the last 12 months if you are from outside the European Economic Area (EEA)
• had permanent residence status for the last 12 months if you are a citizen of an EEA country
• not broken any immigration laws while in the UK

Applications for citizenship, EU and non-EU nationals

Source: Home Office, Immigration Statistics July to September 2017

Permanent residence cards for EEA nationals and their family members

Source: Home Office, Immigration Statistics July to September 2017

Source: Gov.uk