Can I get a British passport if I am married to a British Citizen? The short answer is ‘Yes, you can!’. However there is a certain journey you need to undertake before this happens.
Entry Clearance = 33 months
If you are applying from outside the UK and you meet all the necessary requirements of your entry clearance application than your spouse entry clearance application will be granted for 33 months. Entry clearance is a legal term. It means visa applications made outside the UK.
Further Leave to Remain = 30 months
Once you are in the UK you can submit your further leave to remain application. This means a visa application made in the UK. You should submit this application before your previous visa is about to expire. If you meet all the necessary requirements, than your further leave to remain application will be granted for another 30 months.
Indefinite Leave to Remain = after 60 months
After having your spouse visa for 60 months, you will become eligible to make a settlement application. It is also known as Indefinite leave to remain application. As in previous case, you should submit this application before your further leave to remain expires.
Naturalisation
After your ILR application is granted you can make your naturalisation application straightaway. Naturalisation application is a legal term for making your British citizenship application. This can be on the basis of being a spouse of a British citizen. There is no need for you to wait for 12 months before you can make your naturalisation application. This requirement was removed for spouse of British citizens. For this reason you can apply on the same day of receiving your ILR, provided, of course, you meet all the necessary requirements.
Your Journey in Pictures
Here is how your journey will look like visually:
If you are abroad, you’ll start right here with an entry clearance application. Then you’ll need to take 5 steps to get your British passport.
If you meet all the necessary requirements, your entry clearance application will be granted for 33 months.
Then, once you are in the UK, you can make your Further Leave to Remain application. You need to do it before the expiry of your previous spouse visa. If you meet all the necessary requirements, it will be granted for another 30 months.
After holding your spouse visa for 60 months, you may become eligible to make our ILR application. That is
provided, of course, you meet all the necessary requirements.
And once your ILR application, you can make a Naturalisation application.
Once it is granted, you can apply for your British passport.