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British Citizenship by naturalisation
Naturalisation as a British citizen, including residency requirements, eligibility criteria, and key application steps.
What is British citizenship by naturalisation?
British citizenship by naturalisation is the most common route to British citizenship for non-British nationals who can meet certain eligibility requirements. Naturalisation is the process of applying for citizenship for adults. Registration is the process usually for those under the age of 18 and has separate requirements, for more information, see our topic page on British citizenship by registration.
The benefits of becoming a British citizen can include the right to live and work in the UK without restrictions, the ability to travel using a British passport, receive consular assistance while abroad, and access to certain benefits and services.
However, citizenship isn’t the only way to live and work in the UK permanently, so it’s important to decide if citizenship is right for you before you apply. The rules regarding British citizenship can be complex and depend on individual circumstances. If you have any questions or concerns about your own citizenship status, you should book an online consultation with us.How do you apply for British citizenship by naturalisation?
You can apply for British citizenship by completing the application and paying a fee (the amount of the fee changes depending on Government policy). Afterwards, you will need to confirm your biometric details in person at a UKVCAS centre. Once these steps are complete, the Home Office will process your application and if approved, you will be invited to attend a citizenship ceremony.
What are the requirements to naturalise as a British citizen?
To naturalise as a British citizen, you must meet the following British citizenship requirements:
- Age: You must be at least 18 years old.
- Residence: You must have lived in the UK for at least five years (or three years if you are married to a British citizen).
- You must have been physically present on the date at the start of the five-year qualifying period (or three years if you are married to a British citizen).
- Absences: You should not have spent 450 days (or 270 days if you are married to a British citizen) outside the UK. There is some limited discretion to disregard these absences, but it is important to get advice if you hope to rely on this.
- Settled in the UK: You must have Indefinite Leave to Remain, Permanent Residence or Settled Status for at least 12 months (unless you are married to a British citizen) and intend to continue living in the UK.
- Good character: You must be of good character, which means you must not have a criminal record or any other relevant convictions or breaches of immigration law. The Home Office will review your character, including positive contributions that you have made in the UK, to decide if you have the necessary character to become British.
- English language: You will either need to pass an English language test from an approved provider, or demonstrate that you are exempt from the requirement.
- Knowledge of life in the UK: You must pass the ‘Life in the UK’ test, which assesses your knowledge of certain aspects of British history and culture, as contained in the official ‘Life in the UK’ handbook, or, you must demonstrate that you are exempt from the requirement.
Referees for British citizenship
Your British citizenship application will also require two referees, to establish your identity.
You can decide who they are so long as they meet the requirements. Broadly these requirements are that:
- Both referees must have known you for at least three years;
- They cannot be related to you or to the other referee;
- They must not have had any criminal convictions within the last ten years;
- One must be a British passport holder, and either be:
- A professional person, these include a minister of religion or a dentist, however, other recognised roles can be found on the list of recognised professions online; or,
- Over the age of 25 years old.
- The other referee can be of any nationality but must be a professional person.
Note that at least one of your referees must be a professional person and cannot include your legal representative.
Your application might still be successful if you are unable to provide two referees (for example, for young children) but you will need to explain why you are unable to do so and it is recommended that you seek legal immigration advice.
What documents do I need to apply for British citizenship?
The documents needed can vary depending on your circumstances, but in general, you will need to provide the following:
- Your current valid passport or travel document.
- Evidence of your current immigration status and that you are free from immigration control/time restrictions such as your Indefinite Leave to Remain or Permanent Residence, EU Settled Status and/or a Biometric Residence Permit.
- Evidence of your residence in the UK for the required period of time, such as utility bills, bank statements, or tenancy agreements.
- Relevant details of any period of absence that you have spent outside the UK.
- English language test results unless you are exempt.
- Pass certificate for the Life in the UK test.
- Other supporting documents relevant to your circumstances, such as marriage or civil partnership certificates, divorce decrees, or evidence of a change of name.
We’re here to help you
When it comes to obtaining compassionate legal advice, Seraphus is your dedicated source of expert guidance.
We specialise in providing personalised support to help you navigate the complexities of the application process, ensuring a seamless and hassle-free experience.
Contact us today using the details below or book a consultation with us.
Phone: 020 8142 8211
WhatsApp: 07538 208 096
Email: info@seraphus.co.uk
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British Citizenship FAQs
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What is the British citizenship ceremony?
If you are over 18 years old and your application is approved, you must attend a citizenship ceremony to finalise the process of becoming a British citizen. After your application is approved you will receive an invitation from the Home Office to book your ceremony. When you attend, you need to take certain documentation, take an Oath of Allegiance, and pledge your loyalty to the United Kingdom. You will then be given your certificate of naturalisation, which is your legal proof that you are a British citizen.
You can take one guest to your service. If you live outside the UK, you can ask the embassy or consulate in your country to have your ceremony there. Otherwise, you may be able to postpone your ceremony until you are able to return to the UK.
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What is the English Language Test?
You will normally be expected to meet the English language requirement by providing a test qualification at B1 from an approved test centre. You do not need an English language test if you have a relevant degree taught in English, you are 65 years old or older, or you are a national of an English-speaking country. If you do need an English language test certificate, it must be dated within the last 2 years or been used as part of your Indefinite Leave to Remain application.
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What happens if I cannot pass the British citizenship tests?
You will be exempt from doing the Life in the UK test, if you are under 18 or 65 or older or if you already completed a successful test to obtain Indefinite Leave to Remain. If you suffer from a long-term illness or disability which impacts your ability to take and pass the British citizenship test questions you might be able to ask the Home Office to exempt you from taking it. You will be expected to provide medical evidence to confirm that the test for citizenship is too difficult for you to pass.
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Can the way I entered the UK affect my citizenship application?
The way you first entered the UK could affect a citizenship application. There is a good character requirement that you need to meet when applying for British citizenship. This covers matters such as criminality, international crimes, and breaches of immigration law. This is not an exhaustive list.
In February 2025 the Home Office updated the good character guidance to introduce a rule that people considered to have arrived ‘illegally’ into the UK would have their applications refused. The guidance makes it clear that it does not matter how long ago the entry took place. This means that the way you initially entered does affect your citizenship application, however there are a few important exceptions. The Good character requirement is very complex, if you are affected by the good character requirement, you should seek legal advice. You can find more information on gov.uk.
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What happens if I've exceeded my permitted absences for British citizenship?
There are residence requirements you have to meet to be granted British citizenship. The permitted absences during this period are up to 450 days in the five years, or 270 days in the three years (if married to a British citizen). An additional 30 days above those limits may also be disregarded without you having to meet extra requirements.
If you exceed these limits then there are certain requirements that you need to meet. The Home Office look at your total absences, whether you have established ties to the UK and whether there was an exceptional reason for the time spent abroad. This can include not being able to return due to the Covid-19 pandemic or absences being unavoidable due to the type of job that you do, among other reasons.
If you’ve exceeded your permitted absences you should seek legal advice. This is not the same list of exceptions as other visa immigration routes and is more restricted. We can help you during a consultation if you need assistance.
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Can I apply for citizenship before I've had settled status for 12 months?
Some people can apply for citizenship without having to wait the full 12 months. If you are married to a British citizen, you can apply as soon as you have been granted your settlement in the UK.
You may have acquired permanent residence known as having a ‘Withdrawal Agreement right to reside’ if you hold status under the EU Settlement Scheme in certain situations. You would need to have had five years residence, have been living in the UK before 30 December 2020, and were a qualifying person during that time. This rule is complex and relies on old EU law which has its own set of requirements. It is much easier to rely on settled status and wait 12 months. If you have questions book an appointment with us.