UK Edition
Applications for British citizenship rise dramatically in the run up to Britain's referendum
Applications for British citizenship by EU migrants have dramatically risen in the run up to Britain's referendum.
Since David Cameron began renegotiating the UK's relationship with Brussels six months ago, the number of applications rose by a quarter.
Lawyers have said they have dealt with a number of inquiries from EU citizens who are unclear about what their position would be in the event that the public voted for Brexit in June.
The Home Office figures, released to The Times under a freedom of information request, show the number of EU migrants applying for British citzenship rose from 4,179 in the third quarter of last year to 5,245 in the final three months.
Applications from Romanians and Bulgarians rose by 42 per cent from 784 to 1,119 and from citizens of eight east European states by 34 per cent from 1,810 to 2,433.
The latest statistics come after it was revealed that more than 1.6 million migrants moved to the UK from within the EU in nine years.
The figure, released by the UK Statistics Authority, means an average of 500 people every day moved to the country between 2006 and 2014.
Kathryn Bradbury, partner at Payne Hicks Beach solicitors, told The Times: "The firm has seen a significant number of inquiries from EU citizens living in the UK over the last couple of months or so.
"There is a general disquiet over the uncertainty of the situation and some people are worried that they would have to leave the UK if the referendum vote went in favour of Brexit.
"However, we try to reassure them that such an outcome is highly unlikely, that the government would create some sort of transition process for EU citizens who have been living and working in the UK for a certain amount of time, but nonetheless many of them just want to be absolutely sure."