Naturalisation: EU Nationals
(asked on 7th December 2017) - View Source
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to removing the requirement for a permanent residence card in the case of EU citizens wishing to apply for British citizenship.
Answered by
Baroness Williams of Trafford
Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
An EEA national applying for naturalisation must provide a permanent residence document if they wish to demonstrate that they have settled status on the basis of EEA law.
This is consistent with other applicants, who apply for citizenship following a period of residence under the Immigration Rules and have to show that they are free of immigration time restrictions before applying.
Future arrangements for how EU citizens and their family members will be able to apply for citizenship after the UK has left the EU are being considered, though we have no current plans to amend the law at this time.