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Romanian married to a British citizen

A section for posts relating to applications for Naturalisation or Registration as a British Citizen. Naturalisation

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hopefulcat
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Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Sep 14, 2015 9:26 pm

Romanian married to a British citizen

Post by hopefulcat » Mon Sep 14, 2015 9:42 pm

Hi everyone,
I am a Romanian, married to a British citizen since 2012. For the time being we live in Romania, since we still have some unsolved problems here (house ownership, old parents to take care of etc )
My question is - is there any way in which I can I become eligible for British citizenship even if I don´t live in England at present ? Being married to a British citizen gives me any rights in this area?
So far, I was told I don´t have any rights and the marriage does not count for anything unless I stay in GB for a few years ?! Is that correct ?
I visit England a few times/year, and each time I use my Romanian ID card instead of a British passport, which seems a bit strange for the wife of a British citizen ?!
I also have to mention the fact that I have a "highly skilled" profession, working in the IT field.
Is there any law under which I can apply and get British citizenship?
Any information would be welcome!

Wanderer
Diamond Member
Posts: 10511
Joined: Thu Apr 21, 2005 1:46 pm
Ireland

Re: Romanian married to a British citizen

Post by Wanderer » Mon Sep 14, 2015 9:44 pm

You need residency, very few states now give out citizenship without residency, Ireland is one but you need ancestry, i.e. Irish Grandparent at least.
An chéad stad eile Stáisiún Uí Chonghaile....

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Casa
Moderator
Posts: 25817
Joined: Wed Jul 23, 2008 3:32 pm
United Kingdom

Re: Romanian married to a British citizen

Post by Casa » Mon Sep 14, 2015 9:45 pm

Afraid not. You would need to complete 5 years of residence in the UK before qualifying for British citizenship as the spouse of a British national. No concessions.
(Casa, not CR001)
Please don't send me PMs asking for immigration advice on posts that are on the open forum. If I haven't responded there, it's because I don't have the answer. I'm a moderator, not a legal professional.

secret.simon
Moderator
Posts: 11592
Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2013 9:29 pm

Re: Romanian married to a British citizen

Post by secret.simon » Mon Sep 14, 2015 10:20 pm

hopefulcat wrote: each time I use my Romanian ID card instead of a British passport, which seems a bit strange for the wife of a British citizen
No, it is not strange. You are not a British citizen and so you do not have a British passport. The non-British spouses (either EEA or non-EEA) of British citizens enter the UK on their non-British passports, not on any British passport.

Being the wife of a British citizen does not give you any right to citizenship. You have to qualify in your own right. In your case, as an EEA citizen, the only way you can qualify is by exercising treaty rights for five continuous years. Only after qualifying (by acquiring PR in the UK under EU law) can you apply for British citizenship.

The one advantage you have as the wife of a British citizen is that you can apply for British citizenship immediately after getting PR, rather than waiting for a year after that, which is the normal rule for people who are not married to British citizens.

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