ILR is the highest tier of immigration status in the UK, and as such, it comes apart from all the other tier requirements. Such requirements have to be reviewed separately. For those who do not have ILR, the best way is to consider this application first and then opt for British citizenship.

Normally, the person will then have to hold ILR for at least one year before applying for citizenship. This rule, the same applies to immigrants who have EU-settled status. People in a civil partnership with or married to a British citizen do not have to wait one year to apply for citizenship.

If you are trying to figure out the eligibility for British citizenship, then keep reading.

Why Opt for British Citizenship?

To begin with, there are two distinctions in permission to reside in the United Kingdom: ILR and British citizenship. The Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) is a lower step on the citizenship ladder. All Indefinite Leave to Remain rights and benefits are granted to citizens, and it does not go the other way around. Therefore, British citizenship is said to have many advantages over ILR.

British citizenship essentially cancels most limitations imposed on ILR holders, which in a way differentiates the two. Voting rights, absences from the country for a period longer than two years without a compromise on status, and many other privileges, all available for an individual to whom ILR provides significant rights, belong to a citizen. There are minor differences between ILR and citizenship that could be found out separately.

A passport is not automatically given with the granting of citizenship. It serves as a travel document as well as proof of identity and citizenship for a British citizen abroad. This is one of the benefits of acquiring British citizenship.

Requirements for British Citizenship 

As expected, it is not easy to become a British citizen after ILR, and several qualifications must be met. The primary is that the person has to be first of all inducted into ILR. The applicant has to be held with ILR for at least one year when applying unless married to a UK citizen or in a civil partnership with a UK citizen. The applicant has also been in this country for five years before the citizenship application, which is also usually part of the ILR requirement.

There are several other requirements, which include proficiency in the English language, the Life in the UK test, and the requirement of being a person of good character. Some of these further requirements are also levied on ILR applicants. One must keep in mind that all the above will be asked for by the Home Office to prove the applicant's eligibility for a citizenship application.

Individuals with previous travel outside the country records will have some other requirements. Similarly, some restrictions need to be considered. First of all, one who is in a civil partnership with or married to a British citizen must not have spent more than 450 days out of the UK during the five years before the application is submitted and must have been last present in the UK exactly five years ago. For a partner in a civil partnership with or married to a British citizen, this would be 270 days in the last three years and must have been present three years ago in the UK. The applicant should not be out of the country for more than 90 days during the 12 months immediately preceding the application.

How to Apply for British Citizenship after ILR? 

There are two ways to receive British citizenship by naturalization. You can either: 

1. Make an application by yourself, or 

2. Hire an agent or representative.

1. Application by Yourself

Read the guidance to find out whether you can apply for British citizenship and what documents you must provide. 

• Fill in the online form.

• You will have to attend a service point where you will provide biometric information, i.e., fingerprints and a photograph, through UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS).

• You will not need to submit your documents somewhere. You may: 

• Upload copies via the online service

• Get them scanned during your appointment with UKVCAS

• Post-application is another option

You will need a physical presence in the UK exactly 5 years before the receipt of the application by the Home Office. An online application will be received the same day, while a postal application takes longer. 

For those Applying from the Channel Islands, a British overseas territory, or the Isle of Man

If you live in the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands, or a British overseas territory, you will have to apply in person or by post instead. Check with your governor's office to understand which one you can do.

The information on where to provide your biometric data will be provided to you upon applying.

Apply through a Representative or an Agent

An agent is like an individual or private organization that can assist you in applying and also gives the best advice.

A visit to the website of the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) will help determine if the agent or representative is registered with that office.

You would also find some solicitors or barristers who are not registered with OISC, but the said solicitor or barrister is registered with one of the following bodies:

• General Council of the Bar

• Chartered Institute of Legal Executives

• Law Society of England and Wales

• Faculty of Advocates

• General Council of the Bar of Northern Ireland

• Law Society of Scotland

• Law Society of Northern Ireland
  
  

Conclusion 

If you don't comply with the citizenship rules, you may face British citizenship refusals. Hiring an immigration solicitor may help, as they will guide you throughout the process and ensure a successful application.