I have lived in UK since 1987, received a NI number when 16, voting cards from 18. Am I already a citizen?

Additional Details
Just to update...my mother married my step-father in 1988. I can already vote & work in the UK. I was 4 when I came over. And now I have two young children (who are UK citizens) and a partner who is a UK citizen. Really need clarification that I am not already a citizen before taking all of the time out to apply.

greaser115

No, you have to apply for citizenship.
Before you apply, the requirements are:

1. you are aged 18 or over; and
2. you are of sound mind; and
3. you intend to continue to live in the United Kingdom, or to continue in crown service, the service of an international organisation of which the United Kingdom is a member, or the service of a company or association established in the United Kingdom; and
4. you can communicate in English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic to an acceptable degree; and
5. you have sufficient knowledge of life in the United Kingdom; and
6. you are of good character; and
7. you meet the residential requirements.

To demonstrate the residential requirements for naturalisation you need to:

1. have been resident in the United Kingdom for at least five years (this is known as the residential qualifying period); and
2. have been present in the United Kingdom five years before the date of your application; and
3. have not spent more than 450 days outside the United Kingdom during the five year period; and
4. have not spend more than 90 days outside the United Kingdom in the last 12 months of the five-year period; and
5. have not been in breach of the immigration rules at any stage during the five-year period.

If you've been here since 1987, you should definitely apply for citizenship.

Docar

Check with your parents if possible. If your step-father adopted you he might also have filed for your citizenship. Even if he didn't adopt you he might have applied. Good Luck!

mamour

only citizen of a country can vote, that should give you a clue already......have you voted yet?
now? if you are not sure?
has the husband of your mother adopted you?
if not? you have been in the UK long enough to become a citizen;
what do your papers say?
and what passport do you have?
to vote? you must detain an UK passport or UK id........or naturalization papers...
do you have that?

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