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Hi, I came to UK with my family on a dependent visa where my mum was the main applicant and had been granted student visa before coming to UK. Now I have lived in UK for more than 5 years and I am above 18 too. Currently I am now about to get married to a British Citizen. All I wanted to know is that can I apply for naturalisation after three years or do I need to wait for another five years to apply for it ?

Before your leave expires, after marriage, you should switch to leave as the spouse of a British/settled person, etc.

Hi Vinny,

Thanks for replying back but I am still confused by your answer. I really didn't get what did you meant by , "after marriage, you should switch to leave as the spouse of a British/settled person, etc". what does switch to leave as the spouse mean ? secondly can I get naturalisation after three years or not ?

Thanks

Once you marry, you will have to apply for a FLR(M) spouse visa. This will set you on new 5 year path to permanent settlement (ILR).

As soon as you are granted ILR at the end of the 5 year period you will be able to apply immediately for British citizenship, assuming you meet the standard requirements.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... -form-flrm

How long have you been living in the UK as all valid leave can be accumulated for ILR under 10 year long residence? ILR is required before you can apply for BC even if you have a British spouse.

There is no 3 year route to ILR or to the privilege of citizenship.

szakir_786 wrote:Hi Vinny,

Thanks for replying back but I am still confused by your answer. I really didn't get what did you meant by , "after marriage, you should switch to leave as the spouse of a British/settled person, etc". what does switch to leave as the spouse mean ? secondly can I get naturalisation after three years or not ?

Thanks

There are virtually no paths to citizenship in 3 years (other than accelerated ILR through Tier 1) as settlement takes a minimum of 5 years.