ILR allows you to live and work in the UK, no longer subject to UK immigration controls. This means you can enter and exit the country whenever you like. There is often confusion between the two and so, we list the differences of both and the advantages of having British citizenship.
After you have gained ILR or “settled status”, you can then apply for British citizenship.
British citizenship or naturalisation gives you the right to a British passport and the full rights of a UK citizen. To apply, you will need to have held ILR for one year.
You should note that it can take up to six months to process a citizenship application and you are required to attend a citizenship ceremony within three months of your application being approved. It will then take about six weeks to be issued.
To apply for British citizenship, you must hold ILR. If you leave the UK for more than two years, your ILR will be lost and you will need to apply for a Tier 2 visa.
Once you hold British citizenship, it will be for life. With British citizenship you can freely enter, exit, live and work in the UK forever. It also gives you the right to vote while ILR does not allow you to vote in UK elections.
UK law allows you to hold dual citizenship, but it is important to check the relevant laws in your home country.
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Sableinternational.com. (2019). British citizenship and indefinite leave to remain: Why you need to know the difference. [online] Available at: https://www.sableinternational.com/blog/british-citizenship-and-indefinite-leave-to-remain-why-you-need-to-know-the-difference [Accessed 20 Sep. 2019].
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