Settling down and ‘fitting in’ are valued deeply by migrants and long-settled residents alike.
Settling down and ‘ fitting in’ are valued deeply by migrants and long-settled residents alike
Here’s some good news: the number of migrants seeking British citizenship has boomed over the past decade.
That was not how the Times reported it this week of course. They, in the way of much of the media on immigration issues, complained of passport ‘giveaways’ and ‘soft touch Britain’.
In fact, while citizenship numbers have been growing – nearly 200,000 thousand people from overseas became British citizens in 2012, and more than 2 million have done so since the turn of the century – the British government has been raising the bar for those seeking naturalisation.
Since 2004, the cost of applying for British citizenship has escalated significantly. At just under £1,000, the fee is almost five times the cost of German or Canadian citizenship. Conditions have also been tightened to include a demanding English language exam, a ‘good character’ requirement and a challenging ‘Life in the UK’ test.
So why have migrants not been put off? There are some practical benefits to naturalisation. The main is undoubtedly peace of mind (we can assume that the feverish debate about migration and Britain’s position in the EU may is being factored in by the growing number of migrants seeking British citizenship).
But other more symbolic factors are also at play: being able to exert democratic rights, wanting to share the nationality of a British partners or children, simply feeling a sense of belonging.
Still, it may not be obvious why an increase in migrants becoming British citizens is cause for celebration at time when the migration debate is so divisive. The clue to why this is true lies in the now well evidenced fact that British people, contrary to received wisdom perhaps, strongly favour settlement over temporary migration.
This was born out again in a poll published by British Future this week. It showed that a significant majority of British people (63 per cent) prefer permanent settlement over guest worker schemes. IPPR’s research has also confirmed that settling down and ‘ fitting in’ are valued deeply by migrants and long-settled residents alike.
Meanwhile surveys of naturalised migrants also show that they tend to feel a higher affinity to Britain than natives.
By contrast, the transience and churn which the public have come to associate with a lot of EU migration has helped drive anxiety about issue.
All these factors combined mean that as migrants settle and become citizens we might expect the tensions caused by high migration to be reduced.
At present all the policy focus is on trying to further restrict migration. That’s understandable given the current political climate, but at some stage policy makers need to look more at how the migrants that are already here – and the ones who will continue to come in future – fit into our society more easily.
Part of that should include making the naturalisation process more meaningful and less transactional and top down. Those seeking citizenship should be encouraged to become active members of their communities through a systems of incentives (such as a reduction in fees for those who actively volunteer in the community).
Citizenship ceremonies should be localised and performed at the heart of neighbourhoods with the active participation of local residents, rather than behind closed doors in town halls. Tests should focus on the practicalities of living in Britain, not on knowledge of historical facts which can easily be crammed from the many manuals available online.
And the considerable fees which are being levied should be reinvested into ensuring that British people and new citizens build a shared life together n the communities where they live.
Such reforms should not be viewed as a way of reducing migration numbers. As the recent trends demonstrate, powerful forces are at play which drive migration and incentivise people to seek naturalisation. But they would contribute to wider, and arguably more meaningful, goal: building a strong society where people feel like they can play an active role.
Phoebe Griffiths is associate director of IPPR
To reach hundreds of thousands of new readers and to make the biggest impact we can in the next general election, we need to grow our donor base substantially.
That's why in 2024, we are seeking to generate 150 additional regular donors to support Left Foot Forward's work.
We still need another 124 people to donate to hit the target. You can help. Donate today.
29 Responses to “More migrants are becoming British citizens. And it could help to calm concerns about immigration”
Thom Brooks
A few issuss with the facts. Yes, the application fee for citizenship is under £1000. But this neglects the fact most applicants will have had to secure indefinite leave to remain first. This can cost over £1900 if applying in person. And to get to that stage requires at least one – and often two or more – temporary visas.
It is true there is a citizenship test to take and English language proficiency requirement, but these figure directly in permanent residency applications that come before a citizenship application (which must wait at least 1 year and 1 day from gaining indefinite leave to remain).
While I agree with several points, a major problem with talking about immigration is too few who are talking about it have actually done it. If they had, then the above points would be obviously relevant – and they could experience a citizenship ceremony themselves. And, yes, I am an immigrant and now UK citizen (and law professor).
Sparky
Because he was born here?
littleoddsandpieces
Whether immigrants here for generations and now citizens or native English or Celt born citizens, huge numbers of women born from 1953 and men born from 1951
will end up with NIL STATE PENSION FOR LIFE
and the bulk of the rest on far far less state pension
than even now being lowest of all rich nations bar poor Mexico.
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/state-pension-at-60-now
The bulk of citizens of all races going to food banks are in work, which will only see an increase to the nearly 1 million referrals to food banks ( source: Trussell Trust) as employment increases, which is only more working poor on low wages below the basic tax allowance.
The main reason for lack of food is loss of benefit, with 97 per cent of benefits bill needed by the working poor and poor pensioners, who can be the same person.
paulvew
I think naturalisations not (possibly transient) immigration are the problem.
swat
We should also have citizenship and fitting in trials and test for the 60m indigenous inhabitants and make it more difficult for them to retain their citizenship.