IMPORTANT PLEASE READ Citizenship applications with PR cards possible until end of June if you haven't got settled status

[Site Admin]

The way you apply for citizenship is going to change from January 1st 2021.

In order to apply for citizenship, applicants must have either:

• A PR card or document certifying Permanent Residence;
• ILR; or
• Settled Status.

The application submission date is the relevant date for ALL practical purposes, not the biometrics appointment date.

From January 1st, if you have settled status, you MUST apply for citizenship with settled status.

If you have settled status, you CANNOT apply with a PR card from January 1st 2021.

If you haven't had settled status for 12 months and have a PR card, you can still rely on your PR status to apply before you've had settled status for 12 months, as noted here: When can I apply for citizenship?

If you apply before 11pm on December 31st 2020, you can still use your PR card even if you have settled status.

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When you can apply

You can apply for citizenship with settled status 12 months after you first got permanent residence status.

From January 1st 2021, if you had PR before you got settled status, you can count that time towards the 12 month qualifying period. For example, if you came to the UK in 2013 and obtained PR status in 2018. In 2020, you applied for settled status. Usually, you'd need to wait 12 months after getting settled status, but because you had permanent residence for 2 years, you can apply straightaway.

If your spouse or civil partner is British at the time you submit the application, there is no requirement to have had settled status nor PR status for any minmum period.

[Site Admin]

If you haven't got settled status, you need to make an application before the end of June even if you have applied for citizenship and even if your application has been approved, as noted here: Citizenship applicants without settled status - UKCEN Citizenship and Residence for European Nationals and their families