Abingdon: Citizenship applications rise in light of a possible Brexit 

Migrate UK, the Abingdon-based law firm specialising solely in immigration law for organisations and individuals, has seen a five-fold surge in British citizenship enquiries since the Government called for the referendum on whether to remain in the EU.

Migrate UK, based in Milton Park and Tianjin, China, has noted that the increase in the number of enquiries is coming from skilled local EU professionals and their employers, who are concerned about their future in the UK should the public vote for a Brexit in June.

The firm is now handling around 25 enquiries each month from individuals and organisations, located in the surrounding area but stretching as far as London, seeking permanent residency and British nationality status ahead of the referendum. Applications are being handled on behalf of professionals in a range of sectors including engineering, science and IT, and applicants include self-employed personnel and local retired people. 

Jonathan Beech, managing director of Migrate UK, commented: "Oxfordshire is home to a number of global organisations which rely heavily on the skills accessible to them through an international workforce. With a skilled-labour shortage already in the county, talk of an exit from the EU has left many of these employers uncertain over whether they will be able to retain or expand the workforce they depend on.”

Since November 2015, EU citizens must have applied for a permanent residency card before they can apply for British nationality. To qualify for British nationality they must have lived in the UK for a minimum of five years, or three years if they are the spouse of a British citizen.