[dochne]

All of my EU friends living in the UK have now applied for citizenship.

The risk profile for "I have indefinite leave to remain" has moved from "this won't be an issue at all" to "we have no trust in the government on this" in a few short years.

Profoundly depressing

[graemep]

I really cannot understand why people who are permanently settled in a country would not apply for citizenship.

It is not a matter of trust. Unless you are a citizen your right to remain in a country is always subject to the approval of the government and rules can change. it is the point of the distinction between "indefinite leave to remain" and citizenship.

I have noticed that only white people commit to living in the UK without becoming citizens. Sindhu Vee is very funny about that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8DNgi5Tok4&t=90s

[saithound]

> I have noticed that only white people commit to living in the UK without becoming citizens.

Alas, you've not discovered a hidden pattern, except maybe a hidden pattern in the kinds of people you socialize with. Chinese nationals cannot hold dual citizenship, and renouncing their Chinese citizenship creates very serious complications, including around property and inheritance when parents die, which you would be aware of if you knew any Chinese person well enough to have had this conversation with them.

Based on gov.uk immigration system statistics data and tables, among those with indefinite leave to remain, the most likely to seek citizenship are British Overseas Citizens, Austrians and Lithuanians. The least likely are Moroccans and Venezuelans.

[fersarr]

Apart from the fact that some countries don't allow dual citizenships so you would loose the other one:

- cost: ~2k

- time: 2 exams

- paperwork required to keep other nationalities in some cases

- after feb 2026, you can only re-enter the UK with a British passport (more cost) or with extra paperwork to enable your other passport (more costs ~500)

[testing22321]

Cost is a big reason.

My personal reason is that I travel a lot, so I never meet the physical presence within the country requirements.

[dmacedo]

Some countries don't allow dual citizenship, which means you'd no longer be a citizen of your country of origin, you know, where your family might live.

I have plenty of friends who otherwise would apply, and ILR should be sufficient in a democratic government following social and political contracts.