Drop in Poles acquiring British passports
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
10.03.2016 09:20
The latest data from the UK Home Office has shown a drop in the number of Poles who have acquired British passports by almost half.
Photo: Glowimages
However, the newest statistics only pertain to those who applied in 2014.
It remains unclear whether anxieties over a possible 'Brexit' will spark a spike in applications.
According to the Home Office, just 3,100 Poles who applied in 2014 received passports.
“Those who wanted to apply for citizenship have probably already done so already,” commented labour market expert Dr. Ewelina Wiszczun in an interview with the Dziennik Gazeta Prawna newspaper.
The chief wave of Polish immigration to the UK came after Poland joined the EU in 2004. Immigrants need to be resident for five years before they can apply.
Meanwhile, recent research conducted among Polish students in the UK indicates that 83 percent plan to return to Poland, up 7 percent on last year.
The 2011 UK census found that close to 600,000 Poles were living in Britain at that time. (nh/pk)
Source: PAP