Petition

Remove the rule denying citizenship to those who entered the UK illegally

Rejected 18 signatures

What the petition asks

The new Home Office rule unfairly denies British citizenship to people who entered the UK illegally, even if they have lived here for years and meet all other requirements. We urge the government to remove this restriction and allow fair access to citizenship based on existing eligibility criteria
This rule unfairly punishes people who have built lives in the UK and meet all other citizenship requirements. Many have contributed to society and deserve a fair chance to become British citizens. The government should remove this restriction and ensure a just immigration system

Why it was rejected

There was already a petition about this issue. Duplicates are rejected so signatures collect in one place.

You may wish to sign the following petition, which calls for similar action:

Reverse guidance stopping refugees gaining citizenship
Reverse guidance stopping refugees gaining citizenship

Timeline

18 Feb 2025 Petition opened for signatures
13 May 2025 Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 18
Status Rejected
Rejected 13 May 2025

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 10 Aug 2026.