How difficult is it for a Canadian to receive UK Citizenship?
August 5, 2017 3:08 PM Subscribe
Is it even possible? Are the chances rather slim? I believe one would have to reside in the UK for five years. Yet, landing a solid job there is mighty difficult if locals are able to fulfill the role. Any tips or advice? I would really like to reside in Scotland or Ireland for good. Would doing a Masters in the UK help that at all? I really prefer to live in the UK. Are there any UK Citizens on MetaFilter that moved to the UK to live there for good, if so, please tell me more about the process and how difficult it was. My Great-Great-Grandfather was from Ireland and Great-Grandmother is from London; so I cannot obtain citizenship since the lineage is too far back.
The only two advantages that you really intrinsically have as a Canadian citizen (vs., say, an American or Chinese citizen), in trying to work and settle in the UK are:
1. Eligibility for a UK Ancestry Entry Clearance ("ancestry visa"), which requires you to be a Commonwealth citizen with a grandparent born in the UK.
2. Eligibility for a Tier 5 Youth Mobility visa, which if you are aged 18-30 would allow you to work in the UK for up to two years, and is only open to a select set of countries, Canada among them.
Obviously, these are not the only ways to legally work and settle in the UK. But in all the other ways (getting sponsored by a UK company, claiming an Irish or other EU passport for now, applying for some other British work visa) there's nothing special for Canadians and you're subject to the exact same legal regime that any other non-EU citizen is subject to.
I'm emphasizing this point because your question is "How difficult is it for a Canadian to receive UK citizenship?" and there's often an implicit assumption in these sorts of questions that Canadians (and Australians and New Zealanders), as Commonwealth citizens, have some sort of special pathway to UK citizenship that other non-EU citizens don't have. Unfortunately, aside from the limited exceptions above, that's not the case.
This may change. But given the totally unknown direction of Brexit, I wouldn't count on it.
posted by andrewesque at 3:48 PM on August 5, 2017 [5 favorites]
1. Eligibility for a UK Ancestry Entry Clearance ("ancestry visa"), which requires you to be a Commonwealth citizen with a grandparent born in the UK.
2. Eligibility for a Tier 5 Youth Mobility visa, which if you are aged 18-30 would allow you to work in the UK for up to two years, and is only open to a select set of countries, Canada among them.
Obviously, these are not the only ways to legally work and settle in the UK. But in all the other ways (getting sponsored by a UK company, claiming an Irish or other EU passport for now, applying for some other British work visa) there's nothing special for Canadians and you're subject to the exact same legal regime that any other non-EU citizen is subject to.
I'm emphasizing this point because your question is "How difficult is it for a Canadian to receive UK citizenship?" and there's often an implicit assumption in these sorts of questions that Canadians (and Australians and New Zealanders), as Commonwealth citizens, have some sort of special pathway to UK citizenship that other non-EU citizens don't have. Unfortunately, aside from the limited exceptions above, that's not the case.
This may change. But given the totally unknown direction of Brexit, I wouldn't count on it.
posted by andrewesque at 3:48 PM on August 5, 2017 [5 favorites]
I did it via an ancestry visa, however my brother, for reasons unknown to me, came here via a working holiday visa. Assuming you're under 30, this is a 2 year experience which would help you find sponsorship of needed and test out if you enjoy the place!
NB. This would be valid for Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) and Northern Ireland. The Republic of Ireland is an independent country with its own system, but I do believe they offer a working holiday option too.
posted by teststrip at 3:49 PM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
NB. This would be valid for Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) and Northern Ireland. The Republic of Ireland is an independent country with its own system, but I do believe they offer a working holiday option too.
posted by teststrip at 3:49 PM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
Also, marriage and fiance/partnership visas. Although in my experience I found it easier to qualify for my permanent residence under my own steam (the 5 year qualifying period), rather than using my boyfriend's luxe UK citizen status.
posted by teststrip at 3:52 PM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by teststrip at 3:52 PM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
I would really like to reside in Scotland or Ireland for good.
You're aware Ireland is not in the UK, right?
From my investigations, it appears that the immigration process in Ireland is easier. If you can get a job offer, it looks like the work visa is easy.
This is true, but requires a job offer from a company willing to file for a General Employment Permit on your behalf. Those job offers are not that easy to get; we have a skilled job market here, so the need is low. The easiest way is via intra-country transfer; that is actually very straight forward, except that you need to be working with one of the large multi-nationals.
None of this applies if you are married to an Irish citizen; if you are, you can just work here (there's a 20 minute registration process) and after 5 years, you can apply for citizenship.
All of this is much harder in the UK.
posted by DarlingBri at 8:02 PM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
You're aware Ireland is not in the UK, right?
From my investigations, it appears that the immigration process in Ireland is easier. If you can get a job offer, it looks like the work visa is easy.
This is true, but requires a job offer from a company willing to file for a General Employment Permit on your behalf. Those job offers are not that easy to get; we have a skilled job market here, so the need is low. The easiest way is via intra-country transfer; that is actually very straight forward, except that you need to be working with one of the large multi-nationals.
None of this applies if you are married to an Irish citizen; if you are, you can just work here (there's a 20 minute registration process) and after 5 years, you can apply for citizenship.
All of this is much harder in the UK.
posted by DarlingBri at 8:02 PM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
You're aware Ireland is not in the UK, right?
Northern Ireland is
posted by TheRaven at 12:46 AM on August 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
Northern Ireland is
posted by TheRaven at 12:46 AM on August 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
Northern Ireland is
We call that Northern Ireland. The OP said Ireland, which is a Republic.
posted by DarlingBri at 5:29 AM on August 6, 2017 [5 favorites]
We call that Northern Ireland. The OP said Ireland, which is a Republic.
posted by DarlingBri at 5:29 AM on August 6, 2017 [5 favorites]
CANZUK International campaign for Freedom of Movement between these countries
posted by Lanark at 5:35 AM on August 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Lanark at 5:35 AM on August 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
Ireland does have a working holiday scheme as well, some info here. It is available until you're 35. A friend went recently and unfortunately the job market is very difficult. But worth a look if you're within the age limit.
Re: doing a degree there. For the UK IIRC when I was doing some research, they use a points system and a degree from there does give you some points but not enough on its own.
posted by My Kryptonite is Worry at 10:23 AM on August 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
Re: doing a degree there. For the UK IIRC when I was doing some research, they use a points system and a degree from there does give you some points but not enough on its own.
posted by My Kryptonite is Worry at 10:23 AM on August 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
Also see here for UK visa information.
And one more thing, if you happen to work for a large international company with offices in Ireland or Scotland you could look into possible secondment opportunities.
posted by My Kryptonite is Worry at 10:28 AM on August 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
And one more thing, if you happen to work for a large international company with offices in Ireland or Scotland you could look into possible secondment opportunities.
posted by My Kryptonite is Worry at 10:28 AM on August 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
I can't say this with certainty as I haven't gone through either process. But from browsing the website, the feeling from Ireland I get is "door could be open" while in the UK it's a very firm "door's closed, thank you".
posted by PercussivePaul at 3:47 PM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]