Self-centered passport question

[bellainthemiddle]

I've had this one running through the back of my mind since...uh, 2016. Moved to the UK as a child aged 8, but never needed to have UK nationality because = EU passport. I'd like to be able to vote in GEs, but I just couldn't be bothered to get one.

I got settled status sorted early (since fortunately I had good advice) and haven't given in much more thought. But with all that's happening, I'm freaking out. What if they change the rules / move the goalposts again? Could I end up with work, healthcare restrictions and so on?

The more I consider it, the more I feel like it's crazy to hold a passport for a country I haven't lived in full-time for 20 years. Should I lean towards the safe side and just apply for UK nationality? Would I even be eligible?

I'm just freaking out that they will turn me down and say "Out!"

Sounds like it might do no harm - you're settled in the UK and would like a say in how it's run. I think it can be quite an expensive process though, and not every other country allows dual citizenship. But I'm sure you know all that.

sorry everything's a bit shit atm.

You have an EU passport, hold on to it tightly.

I have an Italian passport and they do allow dual citizenship - they would not recognise my dual nationality (as in, as far as they would be concerned, I'd just be Italian), but it wouldn't really make any difference!

It is expensive and I'm just worried that they're not going to allow me!

Thanks for your and sympathy!

You have an EU passport, hold on to it tightly.
Getting a British passport wouldn't affect that one bit. Clearly, having both would be an advantage.

Also, if for any silly reason you didn't qualify, you wouldn't be chucked out. You have settled status and it wouldn't make any difference to that.

As an immigration lawyer, I can confirm you should very much be eligible for naturalisation, as long as you have lived here for at least 5 years, haven't had large absences from the UK, don't have any criminal convictions etc.

If you are not married to a British citizen you will need to wait 12 months after your Settled Status was granted, but once that 12 months is complete you should be able to make an application, which will be straightforward (although expensive).

Personally, I would go ahead and get British citizenship despite the expense. You never know what may happen in the future - and if you move away from the UK for over 5 years you will lose Settled Status - if you have British citizenship you could move away for 30 years and would not lose your citizenship. I think the expense is worth it for the peace of mind.

And as the poster above says - even if a citizenship application was refused, that would not mean you lost your Settled Status.