Personal Immigration Service
We offer a range of services suited to your personal immigration situation, including preparing and submitting visa applications, immigration reviews or representing you in your appeal or challenge of a refusal decision.
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Should I become British?
Seraphus can assess your situation to help you navigate whether a British Citizenship application is the best option for you to live and work in the UK.
Rights and entitlements of British citizenship
You have the right to live and work in the UK permanently if you have settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, indefinite leave to remain, you have Irish citizenship, or you have the right of abode. You can stay in the UK for as long as you wish, and you do not need to apply for British citizenship.
You can choose to become British if you want access to rights and entitlements that come with being British. You need British citizenship if you want to:
- Apply for a British passport.
- Vote in elections, if you do not already have the right to vote from other sources. For example, you may have the right to vote of you are an EU, commonwealth, or Irish citizen.
- Leave the UK for as long as you want without losing your right to return to the UK. You can leave the UK for up to 5 years if you have settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, 4 years if you are a Swiss national with settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or 2 years if you have indefinite leave to remain. You need British citizenship if you want to stay outside the UK longer.
- Access British consular assistance outside the UK.
- Apply for some jobs that require it.
- Get British citizenship for your children if they will be born outside the UK. Your children born to you in the UK will be British if you have settled status, indefinite leave to remain or you are British.
- Acquire stronger protections. If you obtain a serious criminal conviction attracting at least a 12-month prison sentence and you are not British, you could lose your immigration status and be deported from the UK much easier. You also cannot become British after being found guilty of a criminal offence.
Are there circumstances where it would be a disadvantage to become British?
If you have refugee status or humanitarian protection, you will not be able to make a family reunion application to bring your family to the UK if you become British. It may therefore be more difficult and more expensive to bring your family to the UK.
In the UK, it is possible in most situations to hold dual citizenship and not give up your current nationality. However, you should check the laws of your home country to ensure that it allows dual citizenship. Some countries do not allow their citizens to hold more than one citizenship. This means if you become British you might lose your current citizenship. You should check if your country of nationality will allow you to keep your existing citizenship if you become British (if you’re a refugee, only contact your embassy if it’s safe for you to do so). There are no restrictions on the number of citizenships you can retain while also being British. So, if your country of nationality allows you to retain your existing citizenship when becoming British then you can remain a citizen of both countries.
We’re here to help you
When it comes to obtaining reliable legal advice, Seraphus is your dedicated source of expert guidance.
We specialise in providing personalised support to help you navigate the complexities of the application process, ensuring a seamless and hassle-free experience.
Contact us today using the contact us form.
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Application Checks
Find out moreNeed help checking an immigration application? We’ll make sure it’s thoroughly reviewed, and you are provided written feedback so you can perfect your application.
£499 + VAT 5 working days
Video Consultation
Find out moreGet a one-off assessment of your situation and receive advice on next steps.
£199 + VAT 30 min