Becoming A British Citizen vs. Holding Indefinite Leave To Remain

Individuals who hold Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), including Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme, and those who have naturalised as British citizens, have a number of similar entitlements. However, both statuses are not the same and do not confer identical rights. In this article, we discuss their key differences and highlight the fact that obtaining British citizenship continues to be the most desirable option for those wishing to make the UK their home.

ILR and British citizenship are similar in that individuals with this status are able to live, work, study, receive benefits, and access the NHS healthcare system in the UK. They can also sponsor family members to join them and can travel to and from the UK freely. However, there are a number of ways in which ILR falls short of the entitlements granted to British citizens, which means that applying to naturalise is often a popular choice.