The UK is a versatile country with a pool of opportunities that utilises talent and skills to its true potential. When foreigners migrate to the UK, they are often reluctant to give up the citizenship of their native land.

The UK understands the sentiment and hence created a process where you can hold the citizenship of both countries, in which you can exercise your rights and own property. In this blog, we will explore the advantages and how to apply for UK dual citizenship.

Benefits of a Dual Citizenship

UK citizenship gives you access to travel to over 180 countries visa-free or with a visa on arrival, which gives you a great advantage in expanding your global reach and quick travel arrangements.

At the same time, it allows you to own properties or retain the citizenship rights of your native country, enabling you to get the best of both countries. A second passport can also act as a safety net if one of the countries you have a permanent visa in gets entangled in a state of political turmoil or unrest.

Application for Dual Citizenship:

One often wonders about how to get dual nationality in UK, and the way to go about it. So the following points will guide you in your quest, adhering to different situations:

1. Application to Another Country: If you are a British citizen by ancestry, then you are already qualified to apply for citizenship in another country. However, you just have to confirm whether the other country that you are applying to provides the same facilities for dual citizenship or not and then you can proceed with the application process.
2. Came to the UK via marriage to a British Citizen: If you are on a spouse visa, then first you have to prove your capability to support yourself through your own funds by working in the UK for five years. After that, you can apply for an Indefinite Leave to Remain. If that IRL gets accepted, you can apply for British citizenship, which comes with a dual citizenship perk.
3. Working in the UK and Get Married to a British Citizen: Many students and skilled professionals come to the UK for career and education purposes. If they get a job offer from a UK employer with a sponsorship license, they can obtain the Skilled Worker visa. In such scenarios, if they get married to a British citizen and have been staying in the UK for 3 years, they can apply for an IRL, which is the foundation for applying for British citizenship in the future.
4. Naturalization: If you are working in the US for five years, and are independent and capable of affording an accommodation, then you can apply for an IRL. Then you have to wait for 1 year and ensure you have no immigration restrictions relating to imprisonment or deployment due to criminal grounds. After completing the duration, you may be eligible to apply for British citizenship.
5. Army: Citizens of Commonwealth countries and the Republic of Ireland can apply to enlist in the UK armed forces serving the Crown. Before that, you have to be of good moral character and pass a fitness test. Once you are enlisted, you have to serve in the army for at least five years before you have the right to file for an IRL. After a 12-month observation period, you can apply for British Dual Citizenship.

Application Process of Dual Citizenship

Obtaining British citizenship qualifies you to get a Dual citizenship feature. However, you must actually apply to ensure you have the right to use that feature. Here, the process of how to get dual nationality in the UK is stated below:

●     Eligibility: You have to be of British ancestry or obtain the Indefinite Leave to Remain via the following grounds stated earlier, to fill in the online application form. Only then can you proceed to the next step of the process.

●     Gather the Required Documents: Evidence of identity and prints depicting your proof of residency should be organized. This enables the UK embassy to see your capability to support yourself and adjust to the UK lifestyle.

●     Submit the Online Form: Along with the application form, travel history depicting accurate information of all your trips outside the UK, including the departure and return dates, should be provided. This helps them to calculate the total duration of your stay in the UK and whether you are genuinely aiming for permanent settlement.

●     An English Language Test: After the submission of the form, your communication skills must be verified to see whether you are well-versed in speaking English. This is essential as English is their primary language and is often used on a daily basis to interact with people.

●     References: Once your application is accepted, you will require two witnesses to vouch for your authenticity in the citizenship ceremony.. Among them, one must be of British ancestry or a holder of UK citizenship to ensure you have adjusted to the laws and regulations of the country.

Conclusion

Getting to know the intricacies of how to apply for UK Dual citizenship may seem daunting, but many online platforms are available that will guide you through the entire process. Having the basic knowledge may not be enough to maneuver any minor complications that may arise, so you may need a professional service to intervene. Passportia is a company aimed to solving any doubts and providing clarity to people thinking of obtaining dual citizenship in the UK.