Romanian/Bulgarian nationals: main issues when applying for Permanent Residency and British Citizenship
These are based on our experience as a London-based practicing immigration company. Confusing ‘5 years of residency’ with the ‘5 years of exercising treaty rights in the UK’. First is a myth, latter is a compulsory requirement. All EU nationals, including Romanian/Bulgarian must show they have exercised Treaty rights in the UK for continuous 5 years, rather than just being in the UK for 5 years. Examples of exercising treaty rights: working, being self-employed; plus studying and/or being self-sufficient (in both cases applicants need private medical insurance). If there is a break in exercising treaty rights then you will not qualify for Permanent Residency and therefore, won’t qualify for Citizenship either (Citizenship is mainly based on qualifying for Permanent Residency). In many cases we have to find a point where exercising treaty rights in one or more in the above activities became continuous. For example, counting from the date of start of the last job when there wa