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Hi all, I have a huge puzzle regarding the British passport application- the appropriate insurance cover for the last 5 years.

I have been living here in the UK since 1999 as a student back then with my legal guardians here, and my study life took me all the way until early 2013 when I finished my PhD study here. Throughout all these years it had never occurred to me that I would need to obtain any forms of health insurance as I normally reside here, and have certainly fulfilled their 5 years statutory period for automatic permanent residency (even before the 2006 treaty change regarding the health cost cover within the EU that I only realise that exists now). However, I have never applied for a Certification for my Permanent Residency that might be useful for me to bypass any conflicts regarding the health insurance costs.

Hence I would like to ask for your opinion on what should I do now? I have been in full-time employment since early 2014 so I have been starting to pay into NI for close to 2 years now, but the main problem was from 2010 until early 2013 I was studying for my PhD, while in the most part of 2013 I was taking a break from the marathon of studying and I was also looking for jobs in the later stage of that year. SO for those 3 years I had not paid into my NI (though to be honest I had not really used any NHS services) and wonder whether that will be a huge problem for me even though I have been living here for the most part of my life?

Thanks!

eggson17 wrote:Hi all, I have a huge puzzle regarding the British passport application- the appropriate insurance cover for the last 5 years.

I have been living here in the UK since 1999 as a student back then with my legal guardians here, and my study life took me all the way until early 2013 when I finished my PhD study here. Throughout all these years it had never occurred to me that I would need to obtain any forms of health insurance as I normally reside here, and have certainly fulfilled their 5 years statutory period for automatic permanent residency (even before the 2006 treaty change regarding the health cost cover within the EU that I only realise that exists now). However, I have never applied for a Certification for my Permanent Residency that might be useful for me to bypass any conflicts regarding the health insurance costs.

Hence I would like to ask for your opinion on what should I do now? I have been in full-time employment since early 2014 so I have been starting to pay into NI for close to 2 years now, but the main problem was from 2010 until early 2013 I was studying for my PhD, while in the most part of 2013 I was taking a break from the marathon of studying and I was also looking for jobs in the later stage of that year. SO for those 3 years I had not paid into my NI (though to be honest I had not really used any NHS services) and wonder whether that will be a huge problem for me even though I have been living here for the most part of my life?

Thanks!

I assume you are an EEA national. Is that correct?

As a jobseeker CSI is not required; however you will need full supporting evidence of your status as a jobseeker.

For student years, there are a few chances & options that may help you...

1) Did you have a foreign-issued EHIC? that may suffice (there are asssociated conditions);

2) Are you/were you covered in any way by a reciprocal health insurance from your home country healthcare system? (some countries do that)

3) Last chance, did you hold a RC issued to you as a student at some time up to 2011?
fyi - if so, there was a transitional arrangement for CSI for students that may cover you (throughout your studies).

If any of the above applies you may be able to show you were exercising treaty rights in one or other recognised category of 'qualified person'.

You will need adequate evidence of doing this continuously for 5 years in order to have acquired PR automatically..

Otherwise your PR clock may only have started when you started employment ie as a 'worker' qualified person.

Final thought, are you (or have you been) the dependent family member of another EEA national who was (or has been) in UK exercising treaty rights? eg a parent?

And have you been a 'minor in education'?

If so, you may have acquired PR via such a sponsor.
Something else to dig into.

Note: one first applies for naturalisation.
If successful the next step is to apply for a first British passport.

Good luck.