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Citizenship
Benefits
Residence
How to become
a British citizen
If you want to become a British citizen, you have to apply with the Home Office.
You must:
- have lived legally in the United Kingdom for 5 years
- be 18 or over 18
- be of good character
- have sufficient knowledge of English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic (depending
on your age and physical and mental condition)
- stay closely connected with the UK
If you are applying for naturalisation
as a British citizen, you will need to show that you know about life in the
UK.
You can do this in 2 ways:
- you can take the Life in the UK Test
- you can take English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and citizenship
classes
You should take the test if your
level of English is ESOL Entry 3 or above.
If your level of English is lower than ESOL Entry 3, you will need to take
English language (ESOL) and citizenship classes. Classes will be run at your
local further education or community college.
If you need help to find a centre where you can take a test, call the Life
in the UK Test Helpline:
0800 0154245
Benefits
A benefit is financial support that the UK government gives to people who
are having financial problems. To get a benefit you have to complete an application
form and show that you are in need of support.
You can apply for benefits if:
- you have a low salary
- you have dependent children
- you are sick or disabled
- you are caring for someone
- you are aged 60 or over 60
- you have been bereaved
- you are waiting for a baby or have recently had a baby
- you have a low salary and need help to pay the rent of your house
- you do not have a job
Usually, to claim a benefit you must be living in the UK. For migrants the
situation can be more complicated, depending on your immigration status. So,
we advice you to visit your local Citizens Advice Bureaux to have help and
information.
How to apply
If you want to apply for a benefit visit your local Citizens Advice Bureaux
(CAB). CABs provide free, confidential and independent advice about benefits,
housing, discrimination, employment, immigration, and other problems.
You can get advice in many different ways:
- you can get an appointment
- you can call your local CAB
- you can write an email (not all the CABs have this service)
- you can ask them to visit you in your house
To find your local CAB click
here.
You can do the research by putting the name of the place you live in OR the
name of the region OR the postcode.
To have more information about different types of benefits you can click
here.
In Plymouth
Plymouth Citizens Advice Bureau
2nd Floor
Cobourg House
32 Mayflower Street
PLYMOUTH
Devon
PL1 1QX
Telephone: 0870 1264011
Email: bureau.plymouthcab@cabnet.org.uk
Website: www.plymouthcab.org.uk
Residence in the UK
Indefinite Leave to Remain (or permanent residence): immigration status that
allows you to remain in the UK permanently and that gives you the freedom
to do any kind of work in the UK.
You can get it after 10 years of staying legally in the UK, or 14 years of
legal or illegal stay in the UK.
If you are from the EEC you will have right to permanent residence if you
have been resident in the UK for 5 years. During these 5 years you must have
been working, in self-employment, been a student, or been economically self-sufficient.
To apply for it you must:
- have 10 years of lawful residence in the UK, or 14 years of lawful or unlawful
residence
- must not have been outside the UK for longer than 6 months anytime during
the 10 or 14 year period
- must not have been outside the UK for longer than 18 months in total during
the relevant period
- must have got extensions to your stay in the UK during the 10 year period.
This is relevant if you are a student and have spent much of your student
life in the UK
- must not have left the UK during the relevant period with a clear intention
not to return to the UK
- must not have left the UK over the 10 year period after being refused entry
to the UK, or after being refused an extension of leave to remain in the UK
or after being deported
- must not have been convicted of an offence and imprisoned
The following information will be taken into consideration when you apply:
- your age
- your connection to the UK
- your personal history - including character, conduct, associations you belong
to and employment record
- your domestic circumstances - this generally means any family ties you have
in the UK
- any previous criminal record and the nature of any offence you may have
committed in the UK
- any compassionate circumstances
- any representations received on your behalf
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