How do I get a UK passport?

How to get a UK passport? - Legal assistance

Great Britain is a country with a high standard of living and a favorable investment environment. People come here for quality medicine and a high level of education. A British passport allows visa-free crossing of the borders of 192 countries and territories. All this makes British citizenship one of the most desirable in the world.

In this article, we will tell you how a foreigner can become a subject of the British kingdom.

How to get a British passport?

There are two ways to become a British citizen: by birthright or by naturalization.

Citizenship by birthright

Obtaining birthright citizenship is quite simple. You can apply for citizenship if:

• one of your parents is a British citizen;
• one of your parents has the status of a permanent resident or lives in the country on a visa with the right to receive permanent residence;
• you were born in Great Britain before 1 January 1983.

Automatic citizenship status is only granted to children of British citizens. In other cases, to obtain an English birthright passport, you will need to apply and provide all the necessary evidence.

Naturalization process

Naturalization is the process of obtaining citizenship of a country at one's own will. However, in order to become a subject of the British Crown, you must meet certain requirements set out in British law.

Let's consider the standard way of obtaining British citizenship.

The first step is to obtain an immigrant visa. You need to enter the country on a long-term visa, which will later allow you to apply for permanent resident status. Not all visa categories provide this option. To obtain British citizenship, it is important to first have a visa, which will open the way to permanent residence in the future. More details about visa categories will be discussed later.

The second step is obtaining the status of a permanent resident (indefinite residence permit). To qualify for this status, you must have resided in the United Kingdom for 3 to 5 years on a long-term visa.

The third step is to apply for British citizenship. The application can be submitted 12 months after obtaining the status of a permanent resident. The exception is the spousal visa, which allows you to apply for citizenship immediately after obtaining a permanent residence permit.

In addition, it is necessary to confirm the absence of administrative, immigration and criminal violations.

It is also necessary to pass an English language test of at least B1 level and successfully pass a test on life in the UK.

Acquisition of British citizenship by marriage

Foreigners who are married or in a civil partnership with British citizens can get citizenship through a simplified procedure. This requires meeting naturalization requirements such as English proficiency, passing an exam on the country's culture and history, and having no criminal record. However, unlike other applicants, they can apply for citizenship already after 3 years of residence in the UK.

Confirmation of marriage or partnership with a British citizen and permanent residency are mandatory. It is important that the requirements regarding the length of stay in the status of a permanent resident do not apply.

However, during this period it was not possible to be absent from the country for more than 270 days, and in the last year before submitting the application, an absence of no more than 90 days is permissible.

Current questions - answers

Helping a solicitor to apply for British citizenship

The help of a lawyer when obtaining British citizenship can greatly simplify the process and ensure the correct preparation of documents and application. A lawyer will help:

• Citizenship counseling - will provide detailed information on all stages of the process, requirements for the applicant and help assess the chances of success.
• Preparation of documents - the lawyer will check and help you collect all the necessary documents, including certificates of English proficiency, a test of knowledge of life in the UK, letters of recommendation, etc.
• Completing an application for naturalization - a lawyer will help you fill out an application for citizenship, avoiding mistakes that can lead to rejection or delay in processing.
• Representation in official bodies - a lawyer can accompany you during the application process, interact with state institutions and provide support in case additional explanations are needed.

The support of a lawyer minimizes the risk of mistakes and increases the probability of successfully obtaining British citizenship.

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