It's time! 2013 is when Bulgarian/Romanian nationals can start applying for British Citizenship
This is for those who are looking to apply using
European regulations. Those who had UK visas issued before 2007 under the
Immigration Rules should read below.
Citizenship rules are the same, in general, for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals as for other European nationals. However, 2013 is the first year they can apply because Bulgaria and Romania joined EU on 1st January 2007. This is if they want to use their rights under European law.
So, one of the conditions is to have a status of a permanent resident, which Bulgarian/Romanian nationals can achieve after 5 years of exercising European Treaty rights in the UK, such as working, being self-employed, studying, being self-sufficient etc.
Bulgarian/Romanian nationals do not have to apply for permanent residency (unless they want to, voluntarily). They ‘achieve’ this status automatically after 5 years of exercising Treaty rights in the UK. So, the first time Bulgarian/Romanian nationals could qualify for permanent residency was on 1 January 2012 not earlier), ie 5 years after these 2 countries joined the EU.
Romanian/ Bulgarian nationals do have some restrictions on working in UK but not on qualifying for permanent residency.
Another general rule for Citizenship is to wait for 12 months after permanent residency, which means waiting for a 6th year. This in turn means the first applications for British Citizenship can be submitted from 1 January 2013 (not earlier), ie 6 years since Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU.
Bulgarian and Romanian nationals who had UK visas before 2007 under the Immigration Rules:
If you had a UK visa (work permit, spouse, student etc) issued before 1 January 2007 those visas would be under the UK Immigration Rules and not under the European Regulations. You cannot combine time spent on UK visas under the Immigration Rules with the time spent under European Regulations when counting ‘your’ 6 years (5 years for permanent residency plus 6th year).
Instead you can either continue under the Immigration Rules and obtain an Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the same way as non-EU nationals. This is quite rare from our experience. Most of Bulgarian/Romanian nationals who worked here before 2007 simply had a sigh of relief that they didn’t have to do anything and EU membership was good enough they already worked here (many could have a Blue certificate), so many did not continue with visas under the Immigration Rules. However, now 6 years later, they are beginning to wonder and many decide to sort their British citizenship out.
If you are from the above you can only count residency since 1 January 2007 which would be under the European regulations, which means you cannot apply for Citizenship before 2013 (or late when you qualify if you came to the UK after 1 January 2007).
To sum up, rules for Bulgarian/ Romanian citizens are no different from those for other EU nationals. Bulgarian/Romanian nationals do have different rules on working in UK but not on obtaining permanent residency or Citizenship.
Did you know there is no obligation to apply for Permanent Residency?
On one hand, this status comes automatically, after exercising European Treaty rights in the UK for 5 years. There is no 'visa stamp' which comes automatically but status gets achieved without having to apply for a 'visa stamp'.
On the other hand, 1 more year later it is possible to apply straight for British Citizenship, even without applying for a Permanent Residency first. Applications for Permanent Residency under European law would take up to 6 months and it is only postal (there is no same- day service) and original passport would be led by the UK Border Agency. Applications for British Citizenship do not require original passports, so you could submit your application and travel while it is being considered.
For more advice or to make an application email: info@1st4immigration.com or visit www.1st4immigration.com
Citizenship rules are the same, in general, for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals as for other European nationals. However, 2013 is the first year they can apply because Bulgaria and Romania joined EU on 1st January 2007. This is if they want to use their rights under European law.
So, one of the conditions is to have a status of a permanent resident, which Bulgarian/Romanian nationals can achieve after 5 years of exercising European Treaty rights in the UK, such as working, being self-employed, studying, being self-sufficient etc.
Bulgarian/Romanian nationals do not have to apply for permanent residency (unless they want to, voluntarily). They ‘achieve’ this status automatically after 5 years of exercising Treaty rights in the UK. So, the first time Bulgarian/Romanian nationals could qualify for permanent residency was on 1 January 2012 not earlier), ie 5 years after these 2 countries joined the EU.
Romanian/ Bulgarian nationals do have some restrictions on working in UK but not on qualifying for permanent residency.
Another general rule for Citizenship is to wait for 12 months after permanent residency, which means waiting for a 6th year. This in turn means the first applications for British Citizenship can be submitted from 1 January 2013 (not earlier), ie 6 years since Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU.
Bulgarian and Romanian nationals who had UK visas before 2007 under the Immigration Rules:
If you had a UK visa (work permit, spouse, student etc) issued before 1 January 2007 those visas would be under the UK Immigration Rules and not under the European Regulations. You cannot combine time spent on UK visas under the Immigration Rules with the time spent under European Regulations when counting ‘your’ 6 years (5 years for permanent residency plus 6th year).
Instead you can either continue under the Immigration Rules and obtain an Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the same way as non-EU nationals. This is quite rare from our experience. Most of Bulgarian/Romanian nationals who worked here before 2007 simply had a sigh of relief that they didn’t have to do anything and EU membership was good enough they already worked here (many could have a Blue certificate), so many did not continue with visas under the Immigration Rules. However, now 6 years later, they are beginning to wonder and many decide to sort their British citizenship out.
If you are from the above you can only count residency since 1 January 2007 which would be under the European regulations, which means you cannot apply for Citizenship before 2013 (or late when you qualify if you came to the UK after 1 January 2007).
To sum up, rules for Bulgarian/ Romanian citizens are no different from those for other EU nationals. Bulgarian/Romanian nationals do have different rules on working in UK but not on obtaining permanent residency or Citizenship.
Did you know there is no obligation to apply for Permanent Residency?
On one hand, this status comes automatically, after exercising European Treaty rights in the UK for 5 years. There is no 'visa stamp' which comes automatically but status gets achieved without having to apply for a 'visa stamp'.
On the other hand, 1 more year later it is possible to apply straight for British Citizenship, even without applying for a Permanent Residency first. Applications for Permanent Residency under European law would take up to 6 months and it is only postal (there is no same- day service) and original passport would be led by the UK Border Agency. Applications for British Citizenship do not require original passports, so you could submit your application and travel while it is being considered.
For more advice or to make an application email: info@1st4immigration.com or visit www.1st4immigration.com
