Table Of Content
- Ways To Get British Citizenship
- Should You Apply For British Citizenship?
- Benefits Of British Citizenship
- The Right To Live In The Uk Forever
- You Hold The Power Of A British Passport
- You Get The Right To Work In The Uk Permanently.
- You Can Reunite With Your Non-british Family Members.
- Access To Healthcare And Public Benefits
- Right To Vote
- Dual Citizenship
- Sound Future To Your Next Generation
UK is one of the best places in the world to live, study, work, do business, and several other things. This is the reason why many individuals who are in the UK on a valid visa look to settle down permanently in the UK. Indefinite Leave to Remain is one for you to live and work in the UK without any time restrictions. Most visa routes lead to settlement or ILR. Hence, you need to know if ILR is enough for you or if you still want to acquire British Citizenship.
British Citizenship comes with several benefits. You get the opportunity to make this country your home forever. There are numerous other benefits of British citizenship. For example: you get the right to vote in the UK, access to the National Healthcare System, Dual Citizenship, and more.
Ways To Get British Citizenship
There are many ways to obtain British citizenship. You can acquire British Citizenship automatically by descent, birth, or registration or you can apply to naturalize to become a British Citizen.
For adults over the age of 18, naturalization is the most common route. On this route, you have to acquire permanent residence, or settled status such as indefinite leave to remain or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme. Once you have held any of these immigration statuses for at least 12 months you may be eligible to apply for British Citizenship. However, if you are married to or in civil partnership with a British Citizen you can apply for British Citizenship immediately after acquiring ILR.
Children below the age of 18 can be British Citizens by birth (children born inside the UK), by descent (children born outside the UK), by registration, or by living in the UK until they are 10 since their birth. How you apply depends on the date and place of your birth and the immigration status of your parents on or after your birth.
Should You Apply For British Citizenship?
It is not to undermine the benefits of British Citizenship. However, though there are quite a few obvious and great benefits of British Citizenship, you may still consider whether you need it or not. Because with indefinite leave to remain you get most benefits such as you can live and work in the UK without any time restriction. You also don’t need to give up your country’s citizenship if your country does not allow dual citizenship.
Applying for British Citizenship is a complex and costly affair. If your application is rejected you will get only a nominal refund.
Benefits Of British Citizenship
Great Britain is one of the dream places for thousands of people. Because the country offers the best living conditions, business opportunities, civil rights, rich culture, welcoming people, the best education, the best security to its citizens and healthcare system, and so on. That is why the country receives hundreds of citizenship applications every year. Before you also apply for it provided you are eligible for it, here is the list of benefits you will get once you become a British Citizen.
1 The Right To Live In The Uk Forever
British Citizens can live and work in the UK forever. You become free from all immigration restrictions. You don’t have to renew any visa, get a work permit, or be under any immigration control whatsoever. You can buy property in the UK with easy availability of financing. You don’t have to worry about losing your citizenship no matter how long you live outside the UK after becoming a British Citizen. You can any time leave and re-enter the UK. The per capita income of the UK is also in excess of $50,000 which makes the living standard of British Citizens quite high.
2 You Hold The Power Of A British Passport.
British Passport is one of the strongest passports in the world. British Passport holders can travel visa-free or visa-on-arrival to several countries. Even though the UK has left the EU post-Brexit, British Passport still enjoys travel to the EU and Schengen countries on holiday without a visa. British Citizens get visas for most countries quite easily. A British passport allows you to go through immigration checking counters absolutely hassle-free at most airports in the world.
The UK has great ties with some of the major countries in the world that allow its citizens to participate in cultural exchange programs.
3 You Get The Right To Work In The Uk Permanently.
British Citizens can do any legal job be self-employed or do business in the UK. The UK comes right up there in the list of ‘ease of doing business’ published every year. This is why British Citizens are known for innovations and start-ups and some of the great legacy and new businesses in the world. It becomes quite easy to avail of finance or funding from UK banks or other lending institutions.
As a British Citizen, you don’t have to go through acquiring a business visa or work permit to work in the UK. The process of doing business or taking employment becomes easy for you.
4 You Can Reunite With Your Non-british Family Members.
This is also one of the major benefits of British Citizenship. You can marry a non-British national, have a child with him/her, and bring them to join you in the UK provided they meet other eligibility criteria. You can sponsor them and bring them to the UK. They can live, work, and study here depending on the visa type they apply for. They can later become eligible to apply for an indefinite leave to remain and then British Citizenship. You can get British Citizenship for your children even if they are born outside the UK.
5 Access To Healthcare And Public Benefits
The UK has one of the best health systems in the world. As a British Citizen, you get free access to the NHS the National Health Care System of the country ensuring comprehensive medical care for you and your family. You get general practitioner (GP) visits, hospital care, emergency treatment, and specialist services. British Citizens get the best healthcare service provided by the NHS without financial burden. British Citizens also get state support in their challenging times. They get several public benefits such as child support, pensions, and unemployment benefits
6 Right To Vote
British Citizens get the right to vote. You get to have your say in choosing the Prime Minister at the national level, Local Councillors, Local Mayors, Police, and Crime Commissioner. You also get the right to vote in referendums which is vote on a single issue. All of this enables you to participate in the country’s vibrant democracy.
British Citizens can also stand for elections at national and local levels.
7 Dual Citizenship
The UK offers dual citizenship. This is one of the best benefits of British Citizenship. If the country you come from allows its citizens dual citizenship you can enjoy the citizenship and its benefits of both countries at the same time. It is not required for you to renounce your current nationality to become a British Citizen. Similarly, you don’t need to give up your British Citizenship to apply for another nation’s citizenship.
8 Sound Future To Your Next Generation
As a parent, you always want the best for your children. The British Citizenship is not just about you but also about your future generation. As a British Citizen, you have to worry the least about it. Once you become a British Citizen you can give your children the possibility of a safe and bright future. You can send them to the best schools and universities at lower tuition fees compared to foreign students. They will grow up in a vibrant and diverse culture learning various facets of life. They will learn the great history of the country and enjoy the benefits of a democratic society.
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