British Citizenship
Applying for naturalisation to become a British citizen could be one of the more important decisions of a lifetime.
Generally, residents in the UK are eligible to apply for naturalisation following a 12- month period of Indefinite Leave to Remain or Settled Status, unless they are married or in a civil partnership with a British citizen. If the latter is the case, they can apply for British citizenship as soon as they are granted Indefinite Leave to Remain or Settled Status, and the evidence they must provide about their life in the UK must cover only a 3-years period instead of 5.
Requirements for applicants who are not married to a British Citizen:
- Must have been living in the UK for at least 5 years.
- Have Indefinite Leave to Remain or Settled Status for at least a year.
- Not have been absent from the UK for more than 450 days in the last 5 years.
- Not have been absent from the UK for more than 90 days in the 12 months before the application.
- Be of a good character.
- Pass the Life in the UK test.
- Have sufficient knowledge of English.
- Must have the intention to live in the UK.
Requirements for applicants who are married to a British Citizen:
- Must have been living in the UK for at least 3 years.
- Have Indefinite Leave to Remain on the date of application.
- Not have been absent from the UK for more than 270 days in the last 3 years.
- Not have been absent from the UK for more than 90 days in 12 months before the application.
- Be of a good character.
- Pass the Life in the UK test.
- Have sufficient knowledge of English.
- Must have the intention to live in the UK.
Some of the documents you will need to support your application are:
- All passports or travel documents you have had during your time of living in the UK.
- All Biometric Residence Cards or Permits you may have had while living in the UK.
- Evidence to show you have Indefinite Leave to Remain or Settled Status.
- Life in the UK Test Certificate or confirmation email.
- B1 English Language Exam Certificate or University Degree Certificate.
- 2 references.
- A comprehensive list of trips outside the UK during the last 5 or 3 years.
- Evidence of having been living in the UK during your qualification period.
- If you are married to a British citizen, provide their passport and your marriage certificate.
- It is critical to disclose any information that could lead authorities to rule you are not a person of a good character, such as incidents or convictions of any sorts.
- Other requirements may be necessary depending on your circumstances.
Important links:
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You can find the Form AN and guidance to do this application here
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You can find information about the exam “Life in the UK” here, you can book your exam here
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You can find information about the English requirement here, you can book your exam here.
Applications for citizenship in the UK have to pay an application fee of £1735.
Registration
In the case of children, those who are entitled to British citizenship must apply for registration.
Different rules apply to children depending on whether they were born in the UK or abroad, and depending also on the immigration status of the parents in the UK at the time of birth.
For children born in the UK.
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Children born to a parent or parents who are British citizens are born British citizens. Parents can simply apply for their child’s British passport using the application form available online or at the Post Office.
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Children who are born to parents who are not British citizens but (at least one of them) had Indefinite Leave to Remain or Settled Status at the moment of birth are also born British citizens. Parents can apply for their child’s British passport using the application form available online or at the Post Office.
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Children who are born when their parents are not Indefinite Leave to Remain or Settled Status holders in the UK can be registered as British citizens when at least one of their parents is granted Indefinite Leave to Remain or Settled Status in the UK, or when the child has lived in the UK for 10 years.
For children born in the UK.
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Children born to a parent or parents who are British citizens are born British citizens. Parents can simply apply for their child’s British passport using the application form available online or at the Post Office.
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Children who are born to parents who are not British citizens but (at least one of them) had Indefinite Leave to Remain or Settled Status at the moment of birth are also born British citizens. Parents can apply for their child’s British passport using the application form available online or at the Post Office.
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Children who are born when their parents are not Indefinite Leave to Remain or Settled Status holders in the UK can be registered as British citizens when at least one of their parents is granted Indefinite Leave to Remain or Settled Status in the UK, or when the child has lived in the UK for 10 years.
For children born out of the UK.
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Children born outside of the UK are born British citizens by descent, if one of their parents is, at the moment of birth, a British citizen otherwise than by descent. Parents can apply for their children’s passport online.
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Children born outside of the UK to non-British citizen parents, but who have lived in the UK for many years may be able to apply for citizenship in different circumstances. Those applications are a bit more complex and we recommend you to book an appointment with us to study the case and advice further.
For more information, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/
Applications for registration of children in the UK generally have to pay an application fee of £1214 *** and can be submitted using different online forms, please check: https://www.gov.uk/government/
*** if you cannot afford the fees to register a child, you may be able to apply for a fee waiver, please check: https://www.gov.uk/get-child-