ILR but NO BRP (oops) shall I apply for citizenship now anyway...

[gingerWIce]

Hi all - hoping for some help or ideas on which way forward seems best.

I have ILR granted in 2010. The original document is in old passport. I've since found out I need BRP to prove eligibility to work. It seems to take 6 months for a decision, so I figure I might as well apply for citizenship in the meantime as that takes as long. Am I right in thinking I can go straight to naturalisation (NZ National) without needing to do BRP?

I suppose, more importantly, can I continue to work whilst this application goes through the motions?

Anything else I need to be aware of? My partner is in the same situation... and she is applying for a new job which is how we found out this thing even exists! We can't both be out of work (i've been in the same company for 13 years so no recent checks for me, although they wrote once a few years back and asked what my visa status was... )

TIA!

[CR001]

Am I right in thinking I can go straight to naturalisation (NZ National) without needing to do BRP?

Yes.

I suppose, more importantly, can I continue to work whilst this application goes through the motions?

Yes, provided you are not looking to change jobs.

https://www.gov.uk/check-job-applicant-right-to-work

[gingerWIce]

Thank you CR. One last question, my partner is in the exact same situation but in the process of applying for a new job. Do you know if they apply for citzenship, can they use that application reference as evidence of being eligible for working. I'm trying to make sense of this guidance here: https://www.gov.uk/employee-immigration ... ent-status

[CR001]

No, not as far as I am aware. Citizenship does not come under the UK immigration rules, it is the Nationality Laws.

An application for citizenship doesn't confer any special rights while application is pending.

The right to reside and work in the UK is the proof of ILR.

You can get a BRP card sooner, but it costs an extra £800.