Foreign volunteers to be fast-tracked for British passport

The foreign nationals will be allowed to slash up to two years off the time it takes to win citizenship, in return for completing community work, charity fundraising, working as a school governor or running a children's sports team.

The plan, to be unveiled by the Home Office next week, is designed to meet Gordon Brown's declaration that citizenship must be 'earned'. 

It will also say that every migrant settling in Britain should apply for citizenship rather than keeping his or her own existing nationality.

The move is likely to increase the number of applications to 250,000 every year.

Ministers will say that they have listened to the public, and voters want migrants to prove they have clearly established the right to live here permanently.

They will stress that in order to be eligible for the fast-track process migrants will already have a long track record of 'working hard and paying taxes'.

They must also speak English, sources said. 'The volunteering is only a small part of this,' one said.

Currently would-be passport holders must live here for five years, but this will be lengthened to eight, except for those who prove they are active in the community. They will be allowed a two-year reduction to six years.

Immigration Minister Liam Byrne will therefore describe the move as a significant toughening of the rules and will emphasise that those who want to gain citizenship must 'play by the rules'.

Full access to benefits - such as jobseeker's allowance, housing and income support - will also no longer be granted after a person has been in the UK for five years.

Successful applicants will instead have to wait until they have completed a 'probationary' period, either one year extra for those who do voluntary work, or three years for those who do not bother.

Criminals will face a longer wait but may still be allowed a passport in the end.

Critics dub this approach 'passports for all', and point out citizenship is already handed out to foreign nationals at a breathtaking rate.

But the Government will point to the legislation as fulfilling a promise made in February by the Prime Minister.

At the time, Mr Brown said: 'For people coming to Britain, and wanting to become British, citizenship should not only be a matter of their choice but should depend upon actively entering into a contract through which, by virtue of responsibilities accepted, the right of citizenship is earned.'

Last year, a record 164,635 applications were approved - the equivalent of one every three minutes.
The figure is up seven per cent on the previous year and takes the total since Labour came to power to almost 1.2million.

Once next week's proposals are enforced - a Bill has been promised in this year's Queen's Speech - the number of approvals each year could rise even higher. This is because any migrant who wants to stay in Britain permanently will be expected to take citizenship.

At present, arrivals are free to remain in a 'limbo' of having the right to settle, while not being obliged to seek nationality.

But Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has said: 'I would want to see a larger proportion of those here moving to full British citizenship. Once your period of temporary residence ends you will need to apply for the next stage or leave.'

Officials say only 60 per cent of people given the right to settle here permanently apply for citizenship.

The Home Office said: 'The public supports the idea that newcomers must earn their right to stay. That's why we're asking people to speak English, obey the law and contribute to the community.'