Unlock the freedom to live, work, study, and explore all the benefits of the UK with British citizenship. Enjoy indefinite residency, access to benefits, and even the ability to apply for a UK passport. Discover the essential steps, costs, and processing times for your citizenship journey today!
Our qualified immigration solicitors can help if you intend to obtain British citizenship and stay permanently in the UK. To get immediate assistance call us now at 02033939272. We’re always available to help you.
A person can get British citizenship in two ways: either by birth or by applying for naturalisation after they reach the age of 18 or older. You often need to show that you’ve been in the UK on Indefinite Leave to Remain or EU Settled Status for a specific amount of time in order to become a British national. Additionally, you must not have a criminal record or have broken any visa rules.
There will be no more immigration restrictions on your ability to live, work, and study in the UK after your application for permanent residence status is granted. Furthermore, you don’t need to worry about losing your status if you travel or spend time overseas.
In order to find out if you are eligible for settled status in the UK, you can contact our team of expert immigration lawyers.
A person seeking naturalisation into the UK must first satisfy certain requirements outlined in the British Nationality Act. UK The term “naturalisation” refers to the steps an individual takes to become a citizen of the UK. These are the requirements (the exact ones you need will depend on the path you take):
Proving your “good character” is a requirement for UK citizenship. In other words, you can’t have a serious or recent criminal record. In addition to dealing with immigration matters pertaining to the United Kingdom, the Home Office will investigate any crimes committed overseas.
If you need detailed guidance about UK citizenship requirements, you can call us at 02033939272.
The process for obtaining British citizenship is based on your eligibility and specific situation. Here are the most common routes to attaining British citizenship:
You could seek British citizenship through naturalisation even if you weren’t born in the UK. To qualify, you need to be 18 or older and fulfil specific requirements. On top of that, during your time in the UK, you were not involved in any major crimes or violations of British nationality rules.
Most importantly, you must have permanent resident status and have resided in the UK for a minimum of one year (with valid immigration documents).
Citizens of the UK can apply for naturalisation if they are married and have resided in the country continuously for three years.
Make sure you fulfil any additional conditions before submitting your application to become a British citizen through naturalisation. In the last year of your qualifying term, you are not permitted to leave the UK for more than ninety days, and the total number of absences from the UK cannot exceed a certain length. English proficiency is also required unless an exemption applies.
Simply visit the Home Office and complete the necessary naturalisation paperwork to become a citizen of the United Kingdom. Typically, the application process can take anywhere from three to six months. In addition to receiving a Certificate of Naturalisation upon request approval, you will also be invited to a citizenship ceremony.
A person who was born abroad but whose parents or grandparents were British citizens can seek British citizenship through the British citizenship by descent program. Children born outside of the UK usually only get British status by descent for one generation. Thus, a person with “citizenship by descent” cannot pass their citizenship on to their offspring, unlike someone with British citizenship “other than by descent” who is born in the UK.
If you were born abroad to parents who were British citizens at the time of your birth, you may be immediately considered a British citizen by descent. A parent of yours may have been born or adopted in the UK, became a naturalised citizen, or worked in the Crown.
It is possible to apply for citizenship by descent in the UK if you do not already possess it automatically.
You don’t instantly become a British citizen just because you were born in the UK. If you were born in the UK, your citizenship status will be determined by the date and place of your birth. A person is usually considered a naturalised British citizen if they were born in the UK prior to January 1, 1983. If you were born in the UK after this date and your parents were either citizens or permanent residents at the time of your birth, you will most likely be automatically granted British citizenship.
After three years of continuous residence in the UK, you may petition for citizenship by marriage, civil union, or other partnerships with British nationals. You also need to have spent no more than 270 days abroad in the UK over the course of the three years (the “absence requirement”) according to the regulations. Applicants are more likely to be legitimate cases if they have not spent an excessive amount of time outside the UK while residing in the UK, which is the goal of the absence requirement. Additionally, you cannot have been outside of the UK for more than 90 days in the 12 months prior to your British Citizenship application.
If you have lived in the UK for five years and have held one of the following for one year, you can become a citizen through naturalisation:
Must not have left the UK for more than:
The proof you need to show could include any or all of the following types (this is not a complete list):
Documents showing proficiency in the language, including
Your application for UK citizenship could be delayed or rejected if you submit the wrong documents. For guidance, fill out our contact form or call our British citizenship attorneys at 02033939272.
Having British nationality or ILR (including permanent residence and EU settled status) allows you to live, work, and study in the UK without being subject to immigration controls. However, these are two different statuses.
If you become British, you will have all the rights and duties that come with being British. For example, you will be able to vote in local and parliamentary elections and get a British visa. Most significantly, your status will not expire even if you leave the UK for an endless amount of time.
After residing continuously in the UK for five years, you become eligible to apply for permanent resident status. This status allows you to live in the UK permanently, access public funds, bring your family to join you, and travel in and out of the country without needing a visa. Achieving this milestone officially recognises you as a British settled person, offering stability and expanded opportunities.
In order to become a citizen of the UK, you must first hold ILR. It is important to remember that if you reside outside of the UK for longer than two years, you risk losing your ILR status.
In most cases, you can become a British citizen once you have Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK, Indefinite Leave to Enter the UK, or, in the case of citizens of the European Union and the European Economic Area, after you have had settled status for a particular period of time.
Once you have been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK, you can apply for Naturalisation right away if you are married to a British citizen.
One cannot spend more than ninety days away from the UK within the twelve months before the application. Before submitting your request, you may be requested to explain any absences you made.
If you are in possession of Indefinite Leave to Remain and you depart from the UK for longer than two years, your status will be revoked and you will not be able to become a British citizen unless you spend additional eligible time in the UK.
After living abroad for more than five years, EU citizens with established status will no longer be able to permanently reside in the UK.
It is necessary to submit a fresh application in order to regain your status.
The specific steps you need to take to apply for British citizenship will vary based on the specific route you qualify for. The general steps to take to become a British citizen are:
You may be asked to provide the contact information of two individuals you’ve known personally for a minimum of three years regardless of the citizenship path you’re taking. You will have to give a good personal and business reference. The individual serving as the personal referee must either be a citizen of the UK or have worked in the relevant field for at least $25. A person with professional standing, such as an accountant, lawyer, or police officer, must serve as the professional referee.
When the Home Office has any enquiries about your application, they will get in touch with you to gather further details. In order to avoid having your application denied, it is crucial that you respond to any questions promptly.
If your citizenship application is accepted, you will receive an invitation to a ceremony that is nearest to your residence.
To apply for a British citizenship via naturalisation, you must first fill out Form AN. You must provide detailed information about your situation in each part of the form to demonstrate your eligibility. Your application documents should contain your resume, address evidence, employment status, and information on any dependents you are applying for.
It is necessary to present evidence of your relationship when you register as the spouse of a British national. Be sure to include the names and contact details of your two references; they will be required to sign off on your form confirming the accuracy of the information you provided.
Your visa application requires the endorsement of two individuals of your choice. They will verify that all of the data you entered in the form is accurate. Your application will not be considered valid until the referees sign it.
Two independent people who have known you for at least three years and are not linked to you or each other are required to attest to your British citizenship. In addition, they can’t have a criminal record that dates back more than 10 years to when you submitted your application.
You are required to have at least one referee who is a member of a professional organisation, a licensed medical practitioner, a minister of religion, or another similar occupation. Although they claim to be an attorney or agent for you, they cannot work for the UKVI. This person does not need to be a UK citizen. The second referee, on the other hand, must be a British citizen with a legal passport. This person must be 25 or older, or hold a valid professional licence.
The Home Office will start working on your case as soon as they get the entry fees. Within six months, the UKVI usually makes a decision on requests for British nationality.
Your application may still receive a response from the Home Office ahead of the allotted waiting time, even though the Premium Same Day Service is not applicable for this type of application. Although complex cases typically take longer than the usual six months, the Home Office can consider your case faster if you offer them enough documents. There can be delays in processing your request if you do not submit all of the required documents and evidence.
No matter how quickly your application is processed, you will not be able to access your Naturalisation certificate or apply for a British passport until the day of your Citizenship Ceremony is announced. Dial 02033939272 for more details.
This test, which is also known as the British Citizenship Test, is comprised of twenty-four questions that all citizens of the UK are required to know regarding the history, traditions, and culture of the United Kingdom. All of the questions are based on material from the Life in the UK Handbook, published by the Home Office. People who want to live in the UK must pass this test with a score of at least 75%.
As part of the requirements for Indefinite Leave to Remain, you must demonstrate that you have already resided in the UK and obtained a pass certificate. This will remove you from the British nationality requirements. Also, people between the ages of 18 and 65 and people who have long-term illnesses or disabilities are covered.
Arrange your test appointment online. You have to pick one of the five centres that is closest to your home at least three days ahead of time.
On the day of the exam, you must bring the same form of identification that you used to arrange it, along with any official documents that verify your address. Failure to submit the necessary documentation will result in both the inability to take the test and the loss of any potential refund.
If you are successful, the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) will send you a letter of notification that you can include with your permanent residence application. On the other hand, you are allowed to retake the test until you pass.
To apply for British citizenship, you must demonstrate fluency in English.
To qualify, you must have achieved a B1 level or higher on an official English proficiency test conducted by a recognized testing center. The UKVI only accepts certifications approved by ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages). This means qualifications such as GCSEs and NVQs (National Vocational Qualifications) do not meet this requirement.
It should be mentioned that certain test certificates have a two-year validity period. In order for the Home Office to accept an expired certificate, it must have been previously accepted for another UK immigration application, either for EU settled status or ILR (indefinite leave to remain).
You are exempt from taking an English proficiency test if you:
Academic Qualification Level Statements (AQUALS) are required for foreign degrees that were taught in English and are considered equal to UK qualifications.
Citizenship ceremonies are mandatory for all applicants who are 18 years old or older and who are granted British citizenship in the UK, as stated in the British Nationality Act. The goal is for every new British citizen to feel like they are part of British society.
The Home Office requires that you schedule the ceremony no later than three months after the date of invitation receipt. Although you are permitted to bring one guest to your service, these events are not available to the general public and are typically attended by the Mayor or Deputy Mayor of your local council.
Please ensure that you have both the letter of invitation from the Home Office and the official confirmation from the Register Office with you when you attend your ceremony. You will be asked to swear allegiance to the UK and take an Oath of Allegiance. Afterwards, you will be given a set of information regarding your new rights and responsibilities as a British citizen, along with your certificate of nationality.
If you live outside of the United Kingdom, you can request that your ceremony take place in your country’s embassy or consulate. If you intend to go back to the UK within three months after receiving your invitation, you are allowed to delay the ceremony.
It usually takes three to six months for the British government to process an application for nationality. This time frame may change, though, based on how complicated your case is and how many requests the Home Office has to handle.
You are allowed to go abroad throughout the processing of your case because your original passport is not required to be sent along with your Naturalisation form.
Online application status tracking is not available to you. However, you can contact the UKVI by phone or email whenever you like to find out where your request stands.
To renounce your British citizenship or status, you can submit an application. One possible reason to do this is to change your citizenship to one from a country that does not permit dual citizenship. But it’s important to remember that you won’t have to give up your British citizenship if you want to become a citizen of a country that grants dual citizenship.
You will be sent a “declaration of renunciation” if your request is approved. You can use this to prove that you are no longer a British citizen. But you’re the only one this will affect. Nobody else in your immediate family will lose their status as a citizen of the United Kingdom.
You need to be 18 or older to withdraw your British citizenship. Furthermore, you must meet the “sound mind” condition, which states that you must be legally considered capable of making your own decisions.
You can ask for resumption if you have changed your mind after giving up your status. According to the British Nationality Act 1981, this might be an option if “renunciation was required to enable the applicant to retain or acquire some other nationality.” You need to show that you still have strong connections to the UK when you ask to get your status reinstated. The Home Office will look at your good character before letting you regain your status as a British national, even though you may have been one in the past.
Dual citizenship is always permissible in the UK because renunciation of prior nations is not necessary. Being a citizen of both the United Kingdom and another country is possible for those who hold dual nationality. Being a dual citizen is also legal in the UK. So, it doesn’t matter whether you already hold multiple nationalities; you can still apply for UK naturalisation.
Registering for dual citizenship is not necessary. If you are already a British citizen, you can ask for citizenship in any other country that lets people have two nationalities.
But when it comes to dual nationality, every country has its own restrictions. This is why it’s crucial to verify with the British consulate or embassy whether you can keep your status in the UK.
Several things should be considered before you send your request. One example is that the British government will not be able to assist you with diplomatic matters if you are a dual national and you are currently residing in another country.
To become a citizen of a country that does not permit dual nationality, a British person must renounce their British citizenship. In other cases, losing one’s prior nationality is a natural outcome of becoming a British citizen. You should also verify with your home country whether you are required to inform them of your desire to become a naturalised British citizen before submitting your application.
Your application for British citizenship may be rejected. You might be able to appeal the decision. In the letter of refusal, you will get additional information about what to do next. The reasons for denying your citizenship application are outlined below:
It’s important to remember that you don’t always have the right to appeal a ruling about your citizenship. As a result, you should probably see a lawyer to figure out what’s best for you given your specific situation.
If you believe the Home Office made a mistake in its decision-making process due to a lack of knowledge of the relevant laws, policies, or procedures, you can ask them to reconsider by submitting a Request for Reconsideration.
In some cases, the Home Office may be more inclined to consider the request:
Applying for UK citizenship requires time, effort, and precision. At Rees Clayton Immigration, we’re dedicated to supporting you every step of the way. Your case will be managed by an experienced immigration solicitor who will carefully assess your circumstances and provide tailored advice for your application.
Let us handle the complexities while you relax. From eligibility checks to completing your application and verifying your evidence portfolio, we ensure every detail is meticulously managed. We can also draft a Letter of Representation to strengthen your case.
Get started today! Call us at 02033939272 or fill out our online form to check your eligibility for British citizenship.
Visit us at our offices in London, Birmingham, Manchester, or other locations across the UK. At Rees Clayton, we make the citizenship journey smooth and hassle-free.
A person can become a citizen of another country through a process known as naturalisation. By becoming a naturalised citizen, foreign nationals can live and work in the United Kingdom lawfully. To become a citizen of the UK, one must apply for British Naturalisation unless they can prove ancestry to be a British citizen. Applying for naturalisation is contingent upon your meeting certain requirements. You need to:
Be able to communicate well in English, Scottish Gaelic, or Welsh; and Live in the country for at least five years (or three years if you’re married to a British citizen).
If you are a citizen of an EEA member state or a family member of an EEA citizen, you will automatically be granted permanent residence status. However, you are required to continuously exercise your right to free movement within the EEA within the United Kingdom for five years before you can even apply. However, you are required to keep this status for a complete year before applying for naturalisation.
To proceed with your application, you must pay the whole fee for British citizenship. The total cost of naturalisation is £1,630, which includes a £130 fee for the ceremony. If your request is declined or withdrawn, you will not be eligible for a refund. But your form will be rejected as invalid unless you provide your biometric data, in which case you will get your money back less a £25.
The fees to become a British citizen and to register are increasing because:
The fee for the citizenship ceremony is £130. Your payment will be reimbursed in case that your request for naturalisation is denied or withdrawn.
Your credit or debit card information will be requested when you complete your form online. On the other hand, if you prefer to pay with a card or a cheque, you’ll have to use the paper form’s payment slip.
The cost of attending the citizenship ceremony is an additional expense of naturalisation. You will swear to protect the UK’s laws, rights, and freedoms, just like many other new citizens. It is a requirement of British citizenship to attend this event.
You might be able to apply as a British Citizen instead, but there are a lot of complicated rules about this. For example, you can’t be a British Overseas or Overseas Territory Citizen, you have to be a child under 18, you have to be stateless, or you have given up your citizenship in the past. All children, whether born in the UK to non-British parents or in the country on a dependent child visa, are considered to be part of this category.
It’s also possible to get British status through your grandparents in some situations. Such cases are complicated and are judged on their own.
If a British parent has a kid born outside of the UK, the child will not automatically be considered a British citizen, hence the parent must apply for British citizenship. Specific criteria must be satisfied for each group.
You can register your children for UK citizenship even though British Naturalisation is only available to applicants who are at least 18 years old. In fact, if your family members now possess Indefinite Leave to Remain, they may be listed on your application.
Your children, who must be 13 years of age or older, can only apply for Naturalization if they had resided in the UK for a minimum of 2 years prior to submitting the application.
As soon as you receive your status of settlement, kids who were born in the UK before you obtained ILR or EU Settled Status may be eligible to register for British citizenship. On the other hand, children born in the UK to non-British parents who are already residents of the nation are granted citizenship at the time of birth.
Gaining British citizenship paves the way for several benefits, including the ability to apply for a passport and freedom from UK immigration control.
If you do not possess the necessary documents to apply for a passport, you might be eligible to apply for a Nationality Status Document instead; nonetheless, this is still the most accepted form of proof of British citizenship.
British nationality law and citizenship applications can be quite complicated, so it’s strongly advised to seek assistance from an immigration expert.
It is common practice to require EEA nationals to have lived in the UK for five years or more from the date of their request before they are eligible to become British citizens.
If you have lived in the UK for five years without spending more than 90 days outside of the country in any given year, you are eligible to apply for settled status or Permanent Residence (PR). After being granted a Permanent Residency, you will have the opportunity to apply for British Citizenship twelve months later. To be eligible, you must meet certain requirements, such as having an adequate knowledge of the English language and not having spent more than 450 days outside of the UK during your five-year stay.
The British government is preparing to change the registration process for European citizens in light of the impending Brexit. In order to maintain their status after the UK exits the EU, citizens are required to enrol through the Settlement Scheme.
Those who have lived in the UK for five years or more are eligible to apply for Settled Status. You will be able to apply for British citizenship after you have held this for one year.
Past offences and convictions may have an impact on your citizenship eligibility, however, this may vary depending on the exact offence and sentence.
Contact an expert immigration specialist for further information. Our legal experts can advise on when a conviction will run its course and when a person may seek to become a citizen. We can also help you figure out how your conviction will affect your chances of getting settled status, permanent residence, or British citizenship.
In order to be eligible to apply for naturalisation under the British Nationality Act, you must have spent no more than 90 days outside the UK in the twelve months before your application date. This is a primary requirement for obtaining British citizenship.
