Page 1 of 1

GTV to naturalisation - documents for 5 year residency?

Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2024 7:09 pm
by rk12345
Hi all,

I am nearing the period of 12 months of ILR and want to apply for Naturalisation as soon as the date arrives.

Here is my history:

1. ILR 1 year
2. gtv - 1 year
3. Tier 2 (2 different ones) - two years
4. Tier 4 Doctoral Extension (1 year).

I applied for all these visas within the UK, no breaks. I only needed to provide information for the two Tier 2 years and the GTV year for my ILR application.

To prove the full 5 years residence, do I need to provide additional documents for my Tier 4 DES year besides my passport for the full period of the 5 years (employer letter; payslips)? The online form only specifies passport as mandatory, but is this usually enough when that period was not counted towards ILR, as in my case?

I know Council Tax, bank statements, and utility bills are not allowed for non-EU.

Furthermore, do I need to provide any letter from my current employer as my last few overseas journeys have not been stamped in my passport (for the last year or so) at the border as they say this is all recorded digitally now? My employer is happy to provide this, but what should it say besides these absences?

Do I need to provide boarding passes (I have them).

Thank you for your advice - just want to make sure I have collected all the right documents ahead of submitting any application. It's a very big mistake (and an expensive one!) to get it wrong!

Re: GTV to naturalisation - documents for 5 year residency?

Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2024 7:16 pm
by alterhase58
rk12345 wrote:
Mon Jul 15, 2024 7:09 pm
Hi all,

I am nearing the period of 12 months of ILR and want to apply for Naturalisation as soon as the date arrives.

Here is my history:

1. ILR 1 year
2. gtv - 1 year
3. Tier 2 (2 different ones) - two years
4. Tier 4 Doctoral Extension (1 year).

I applied for all these visas within the UK, no breaks. I only needed to provide information for the two Tier 2 years and the GTV year for my ILR application.

To prove the full 5 years residence, do I need to provide additional documents for my Tier 4 DES year besides my passport for the full period of the 5 years (employer letter; payslips)? The online form only specifies passport as mandatory, but is this usually enough when that period was not counted towards ILR, as in my case? Your passport with stamps is sufficient as ILR holder. It's not necessary to provide more than is asked for.

I know Council Tax, bank statements, and utility bills are not allowed for non-EU. For all applicants, though council tax is normally accepted.

Furthermore, do I need to provide any letter from my current employer as my last few overseas journeys have not been stamped in my passport (for the last year or so) at the border as they say this is all recorded digitally now? My employer is happy to provide this, but what should it say besides these absences? Not required as proof of travel/absences is not required.

Do I need to provide boarding passes (I have them). No

Thank you for your advice - just want to make sure I have collected all the right documents ahead of submitting any application. It's a very big mistake (and an expensive one!) to get it wrong! Naturalisation is generally a simple applications with limited number of documents required - it's not immigration, comes under the British Nationality Act with it's own rules and requirements.

Re: GTV to naturalisation - documents for 5 year residency?

Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2024 8:16 pm
by rk12345
Thank you for explaining!

In regard to the fact that my last few journeys have not been stamped, you say that proof of absence is not required. However, do I need to provide proof of re-entry into the UK? Or is this on the system already?

Re: GTV to naturalisation - documents for 5 year residency?

Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2024 9:16 pm
by contorted_svy
It will be on the system, but if you have a few journeys that you don't have a stamp for, provide a letter from an employer as proof of presence and explain in a cover note that those trips didn't get stamped.

Re: GTV to naturalisation - documents for 5 year residency?

Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2024 1:31 pm
by rk12345
Thank you! Fingers crossed.