A report published by Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) maintains that a fundamental reform of the UK citizenship policy is required in order to resolve the status of EU citizens living in the UK. The report highlights that citizenship reform in the UK should seek to integrate long-term migrants in the national population in order to ensure social cohesion. 

Ahead of the referendum, there was an increase of 14% in in applications for British citizenship by EU nationals. The vote to leave the EU is likely to trigger a further increase in UK citizenship applications.

Read the IPPR report, details of citizenship application increase in The Guardian, our analysis of the effects of the Brexit on citizenship.

For details of the current and past citizenship legislation in the UK consult our country profile pages.