§ Mr. HicksTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what legislative provisions the spouse of a United Kingdom subject working overseas on a permanent basis may satisfy the criteria for eligibility for naturalisation as a British citizen; and if he will make a statement. [15878]
§ Mr. KirkhopeThe provisions governing naturalisation of the spouse of a British citizen are set out in sections 6(2) of and schedule 1 to the British Nationality Act 1981. Applicants are required to be:
- aged 18 or over and not of unsound mind;
- of good character;
- married to a British citizen at the time of application;
- free of any time limit on their stay in the United Kingdom under the immigration laws on the date of application;
- and to meet certain conditions regarding residence.
Except where the British citizen is in Crown or designated service, the spouse is required to have lived in the Untied Kingdom during the three years prior to application.