108% rise in number of EU nationals seeking British citizenship

The number of EU nationals applying for British citizenship has more than doubled, official statistics show.

They show the figure climbed by more than 108% as thousands of Europeans sought naturalisation following the Brexit vote.

In the year ending September 2017, there were 32,856 applications for citizenship from EU nationals, up from 15,766 in the previous 12 months.

EU applicants accounted for 24% of the total number of 137,286 registered in the latest period – compared with 11% in the year ending September 2016.

A Home Office statistical bulletin said: “Increases in applications from EU nationals in recent years are likely to reflect immigration in earlier years while the most recent rise may be partly due to the impact of rule changes and recent events.

“Variations in numbers of decisions can be affected by changes in resources and the mix of cases, as well as policy changes and application levels in earlier periods.”

The rise in citizenship bids from EU nationals contrasts with the number lodged by those from the rest of the world, which fell by 17% to 104,430 in the year to September.

Those seeking British citizenship by naturalisation are generally required to have lived in the UK for at least five years.