Written question asked by Lord Laird (Ulster Unionist Party), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Browning (Conservative) on Thursday, 11 August 2011.

Visas

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Browning on 11 July (WA 123-24), how many applicants for naturalisation last year quoted time spent in the United Kingdom on a student visa for all or part of the qualifying period for naturalisation as a British citizen; and whether time spent in the United Kingdom for educational purposes merits award of citizenship.

Answer: The information requested could only be obtained by the detailed examination of individual records at disproportionate cost. The residence requirements for naturalisation as a British citizen are in Schedule 1 to the British Nationality Act 1981. These provide that a person should have been in the United Kingdom for a qualifying period of three or five years, with a limit on the number of days that should have been spent outside the UK. That schedule provides that residence in the United Kingdom should have been legal, but does not specify that a person should have been here in a particular capacity. There are no plans to amend the requirements for naturalisation at the current time.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 11283; 729 c451WA
Session: 2010-12
Related items: British Nationality Act 1981
Monday, 11 July 2011
Written questions
House of Lords
Notes: Answer received between Monday 25 July and Monday 1 August 2011.
Subjects: Naturalisation Overseas students Visas
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk