How long do you have to be married to get British citizenship?

Asked by: Brock Ortiz  |  Last update: September 29, 2022
Score: 4.1/5 (16 votes)

You can apply for British citizenship by 'naturalisation' if you: are 18 or over. are married to, or in a civil partnership with, someone who is a British citizen. have lived in the UK for at least 3 years before the date of your application.

How long does it take to become a British citizen through marriage?

How long does it take to become a British citizen through marriage? 3 Years - You can apply for British citizenship through marriage if you are married to or the civil partner of a British citizen and have lived in the UK for a minimum of 3 years before you apply.

How long does it take to get citizenship after marriage?

This process can vary in length, but for most people, it will take between 9 months and two years. If you received your green card based on marriage to a U.S. citizen, you can usually apply to naturalize and become a U.S. citizen after three years from the date you received your green card.

What happens when a foreigner marries a British citizen?

Marriage or civil partnerships in the UK does not automatically grant citizenship to the spouse that is not a UK resident. Therefore, when a person marries a UK citizen and ultimately wishes to remain and live in the UK, they must apply for legal recognition of their status to remain in the UK.

Does marrying a British citizen give you citizenship?

You can apply for British citizenship by 'naturalisation' if you: are 18 or over. are married to, or in a civil partnership with, someone who is a British citizen. have lived in the UK for at least 3 years before the date of your application.

British Citizenship by Marriage in 2022 | Apply for British Citizenship {WATCH BEFORE APPLYING}

40 related questions found

Do I need a UK visa if I am married to a British citizen?

Also known as a UK marriage visa, a spouse visa allows married partners of UK citizens to immigrate to the UK because they are married to someone who is 'settled in the UK' - i.e. a person who is ordinarily resident in the UK and has no immigration restrictions on how long they can stay in the UK.

Can I lose my citizenship if I divorce?

Depending on your circumstance, a divorce may affect your eligibility to become a U.S. citizen even with a green card. When you file to become a citizen, the USCIS will review your immigration file in its entirety. They may find the timing of your divorce to be suspicious.

Do you automatically become a citizen through marriage?

Marriage to a U.S. citizen does not guarantee a green card or U.S. citizenship. Applications for U.S. green cards through marriage are scrutinized carefully, because the government takes fraudulent marriage very seriously.

Which country is the hardest to get citizenship?

The most difficult countries to obtain citizenship include Vatican City, Liechtenstein, Bhutan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Switzerland, China, and North Korea. If you have ever submitted an application for citizenship, you will know just how difficult the process can be.

Which country gives immediate citizenship after marriage?

Switzerland. Switzerland is a landlocked and mountainous country located in south-central Europe. It is an advanced society that allows citizenship by marriage.

Is getting British citizenship difficult?

Becoming British is one of the most arduous and expensive citizenship processes in the world. Many of the tens of thousands of people who are accepted as UK citizens each year will have faced years of preparation and bills of between £5,000 and £10,000.

Can I apply for citizenship before 3 years of marriage?

Living in Marital Union for Spouses Residing in the United States. The spouse of a U.S. citizen residing in the United States must have been living in marital union with his or her citizen spouse for at least 3 years immediately preceding the time of filing the naturalization application.

Which passport is the strongest in the world?

In 2022, the most powerful passport in the world in terms of travel freedom is the Japanese passport, according to the HPI. A passport issued by Japan allows the holder to enter 193 different countries and territories without having to get a visa in advance. Singapore and South Korea are tied for 2nd place.

What is the best citizenship to have?

The best passports to hold in July 2022 are:
  • Japan (193 destinations)
  • Singapore, South Korea (192 destinations)
  • Germany, Spain (190 destinations)
  • Finland, Italy, Luxembourg (189 destinations)
  • Austria, Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden (188 destinations)
  • France, Ireland, Portugal, United Kingdom (187 destinations)

How do you apply for citizenship after marriage?

Citizenship through Marriage Requirements

Be a lawful permanent resident at the time of filing the N-400 application; Living in marital union with the U.S. citizen spouse for at least three years preceding the naturalization application. (The citizen spouse must have been a U.S. citizen for those three years.);

How does marriage citizenship work?

A marriage green card allows the spouse of a U.S. citizen or green card holder to live and work anywhere in the United States. A green card holder will have “permanent resident” status until they decide — if they wish — to apply for U.S. citizenship, for which they become eligible after three years.

What happens if you fail the citizenship test?

If an applicant for U.S. citizenship fails the U.S. citizenship test, he or she will only be able to take it one more time before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) denies citizenship. Because of this restriction, it's important for individuals to sufficiently prepare for this test before taking it.

What are 3 ways to lose citizenship?

Renounce or Lose Your U.S. Citizenship
  1. Run for public office in a foreign country (under certain conditions)
  2. Enter military service in a foreign country (under certain conditions)
  3. Apply for citizenship in a foreign country with the intention of giving up U.S. citizenship.

What happens if I divorce before 2 years?

But if you divorce (or your marriage is annulled) before the two years have passed and you want to continue to live in the U.S., filing this petition jointly with your spouse will be impossible. You will still need to submit Form I-751, but will have to include a request for a “waiver” of the joint filing requirement.

Does immigration check text messages?

If you are at U.S. port of entry or under investigation DHS may be able to view your phone calls and text messages. DHS also views your social media information.

Can I stay in the UK if I get married?

You can apply for: a marriage visitor visa - if you're not going to live in the UK and will stay less than 6 months. a family visa - to live permanently in the UK if your partner is a British citizen, settled in the UK, has refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK.

How long does it take to get British citizenship?

After you've applied

You'll usually get a decision within 6 months - some applications can take longer. It may take longer than the usual 6 months to get a decision because of coronavirus (COVID-19). This will not affect the decision. You'll be told if you need to provide more information to help with your application.

How long does it take to become a British citizen?

You can usually apply for ILR after you've lived in the UK for 5 years. To apply for citizenship with ILR you must usually have lived in the UK for 12 months after getting it.

How strong is British passport?

The British passport is the world's sixth most powerful with visa-free or visa on-arrival access to 187 countries. The UK passport was one place ahead of the US at 186 countries, while EU states dominated much of the top rankings, data from Henley & Partners' 2022 Henley Passport Index showed.