ILR > Citizenship

My wife arrived here on Spouse Visa 2019
Renewed for ILR 2022.

Confused when she can apply for citizenship/naturalization ?

https://www.gov.uk/british-citizenship

If you’re married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen
To apply as the spouse or civil partner of a British citizen you must have lived in the UK for the last 3 years.

You’ll also need to have either:

indefinite leave to remain (ILR)
settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme

Does this mean she can apply now for Citizenship? I thought it was 5 years… sorry, probably silly question

It does take 5 years… because needs to apply for and be granted ILR before she can qualify for UK citizenship, and it takes 5 years of living in the UK on spousal visas in order to qualify for ILR.

When you renewed her visa, she would have applied for and been granted FLR(M) (Further Leave to Remain), not ILR.

So, if she arrived in the UK on her spousal visa in 2019, she will qualify for ILR in 2024.

Once she has been granted ILR, she will be able to apply for UK citizenship, showing the most recent 3 years of residency in the UK


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Her visa path to citizenship is:

- 2.5 years on initial spousal visa (cost £1523 plus £1560 IHS surcharge)
Then
- 2.5 years on FLR(M) extension spousal visa (cost £1033 plus £1624 IHS surcharge)
Then
- ILR after 5 years in the UK (cost £2404)
Then
- UK citizenship once ILR has been granted (cost approx £1300)


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Hi @ksand24

How quickly can you get citizenship after ILR ?

Ie if granted in dec next year, how quickly
Could you be a citizen (married to a british citizen so doesnt need to wait 12m)

Hi @ksand24

How quickly can you get citizenship after ILR ?

Ie if granted in dec next year, how quickly
Could you be a citizen (married to a british citizen so doesnt need to wait 12m)

If you are married to a British citizen, you can apply for citizenship as soon as you receive your ILR BRP… of course, that is as long as you meet all other the requirements for citizenship at that time (3 years of residency, no more than 270 days outside the UK etc).

If you are NOT married to a British citizen, you must have held ILR for at least 12 months before you can apply for citizenship (must have 5 years of residency, no more than 450 days outside the UK).


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Hello

It’s approaching time.

Question - so mid Sept is 5 years for ILR?
We are away in October.
Is the safest way to apply when we are back from that trip given turnaround? Or can it be fast tracked - I thought I saw someone mentioned having done it in a day? I also note there is possibility to apply 30 days before eligible?

Waiting is not any issue as the prev Visa is for 3 years, right?

Thank you