US applications for British citizenship hit record high
The number of Americans seeking citizenship in the United Kingdom has reached the highest number since records began.
This is according to data released by the UK Home Office on Thursday 22 May, which found that in the year to March 2025, a total of 6,618 Americans applied for citizenship in the UK – the highest number ever recorded.
Of these applications for citizenship, 1,931 of them were received in the first quarter of this year, the highest quarterly figure recorded and a significant increase over the same period last year.
This surge in applications for UK citizenship was recorded during the beginning of Donald Trump’s second term as President of the United States.
The start of Trump’s second term has been characterised by increased geopolitical tensions and instability due to a major shift in the country’s position on tariffs and global trade.
The latest data also found that overall immigration to the UK has fallen by almost 50% over the past year, driven largely by a decrease in immigration from non-EU+ nationals.
10-year wait period for settlement
Before the latest immigration data was published, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced stricter rules on immigration as part of the government’s Immigration White Paper, which includes sweeping revisions to UK policy on those entering and applying for leave to remain in the country.
Immigrants to the United Kingdom will have to live in the country for 10 years before qualifying for settled status under new rules announced by the Home Office on Tuesday, 13 May 2025.
Among the biggest change announced was the doubling of the amount of time required to quality for settled status from five years to 10 years.
Under the new rules, however, immigrants will need to have lived in the UK for 10 years to qualify for permanent settlement, and thereafter they will be able to apply for citizenship.
The existing point-based system will be expanded to apply to settlement and citizenship qualification, and new English language requirements will be implemented for applicants and their dependants.
The proposed rules could also apply to those already living in the UK, with Interior Minister stating that the government would consult on rules to apply the 10-year requirement to migrants already living in the UK. She noted, however, that the current five-year route will be retained for those on dependent or family visas.
“We will set out further details of the earned settlement and citizenship reforms later this year, and we will consult on them,” Cooper said.
