New report details how people on pathway to citizenship live for years with constant stress and anxiety
Citizens UK, which is the country's biggest people-powered alliance, last week published a new report detailing the problems inherent in the UK settlement and citizenship system.
The 32-page report, From Rooted to Recognised: Unblocking the Pathway to Citizenship, can be downloaded here.
Overall, the report finds that the pathway for becoming a British citizen is unnecessarily long, costly, and unfair, causing people to live for years without secure jobs, without access to safety nets, and with constant stress and anxiety.
Citizens UK said: "Rather than encouraging people to settle and become citizens, the design and delivery of the current system at times actively prevents people who have made the UK their home from becoming British citizens. For many, it will be more than a decade and tens of thousands of pounds before they can finally have the security of permanent residency and access to citizenship. People live in limbo, with constant stress from visa applications, waiting times and ever-increasing fees and charges. Whilst on the pathway, most people will be denied access to basic services and support and some will as a result face poverty and destitution. This disproportionately impacts black and racialised communities."
The report highlights how the UK imposes some of the most demanding and costly requirements for temporary residents to become permanent residents and, ultimately, citizens.
"In most EU countries, the US, Canada and New Zealand, temporary residents have the right to become permanent residents after five years. In the UK, certain groups must wait much longer - ten, twelve or even thirty years," the report states.
It continues with a notable comparison in terms of cost: "The UK has the most expensive citizenship system in the Western world. The combined cost of applying to become a citizen in Australia, Canada, the USA and France still does not add up to the cost of a single application in Britain."
Citizens UK calculates that a family of four on the 10-year route to settlement faces paying £37,000 in application fees and over £73,000 in total when including health surcharges.
Despite paying high visa fees and contributing through taxes, many people on the pathway to citizenship are excluded from public services and welfare support, including childcare entitlements and child benefits, as a result of the 'no recourse to public funds' (NRPF) conditions on their visas.
Testimonies collected for the report detail the emotional and financial toll of NRPF, with families unable to access homelessness or domestic violence shelters and some avoiding GP visits despite being eligible. Many people told Citizens UK they felt stigmatised and isolated by the system, which takes its toll on mental health.
The citizenship system is also complex, leaving many in need of support to navigate it. People consistently highlighted the difficulty of accessing adequate and affordable legal advice. In some areas, such services are insufficiently available, and where they do exist, they are often prohibitively expensive.
Citizens UK calls for change of the citizenship system, stating: "The urgent need for change is clear. We need to unlock the pathway to citizenship for people rooted in our communities, so they are able to build permanent, fulfilling and settled lives in their communities and recognise their contributions to the country."
The report advocates for a reformed pathway to British citizenship that is timely, affordable, and fair. Detailed recommendations are proposed, grouped into three key areas: making citizenship acquisition a central goal of the migration system, ensuring protections for children and families navigating the pathway to citizenship, and establishing an efficient, accessible application process for settlement and citizenship. These changes, Citizens UK argues, would create a more inclusive and equitable society for all.