For many migrants, applying for British citizenship or nationality is the ultimate immigration goal. Acquiring UK citizenship entitles you to the entire range of privileges associated with living, working, and travelling in the United Kingdom. You can enter and exit the nation freely and enjoy the benefits of such prestigious citizenship. Citizenship is extremely unusual to be withdrawn. Consequently, getting British citizenship will assure your and your family’s security.
What is naturalisation?
Naturalisation is the legal process by which a non-British adult becomes a British citizen. All applications for naturalisation are assessed on a discretionary basis, which means that, while the prerequisites for naturalisation are spelt out in the law, no applicant is deemed to have the “right” to citizenship simply by completing these requirements. While the requirements for naturalisation are well stated, each case will be examined on an individual basis.
What is the difference between British citizenship and ILR?
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) status entitles the person to remain in the UK indefinitely. Holders of ILR are not required to obtain prior authorization to reside, work, or study in the UK. They have access to healthcare and benefits and may even be eligible to sponsor certain family members from abroad to join them in the UK. Children born in the United Kingdom to people with ILR status are automatically British.
Notably, an individual who possesses ILR status may be deported and their ILR status withdrawn. Most importantly, if an ILR holder is absent from the UK for a continuous period of two years or longer, they will lose their ILR status. If their ILR status expires, they may be required to apply for a new visa to enter the UK. In contrast, while British citizenship can be revoked in extreme cases, it cannot be lost due to a period of absence from the UK.
I was granted Indefinite Leave to Remain in the United Kingdom. When am I eligible to apply for British nationality?
Unless you are married to a British citizen, you must wait 12 months from the day your ILR was granted before applying for UK citizenship. Additionally, you must have lived in the UK for five years before the application deadline.
People married to British citizens can apply for naturalisation immediately after obtaining ILR status; they must also have lived in the UK for three years before the application date.
How do I apply for British citizenship by naturalisation?
You will require the following:-
- Verify that you meet all requirements, including residence and character requirements.
- Collect the relevant evidence to support your application.
- two individuals who meet the qualifications to serve as referees for your application.
- Fill out an online form.
- Submit the form and accompanying fee.
- Scan and upload your supporting documents to the relevant online portal.
- Make a “biometric appointment” and attend it.
- Cooperate with the Home Office in case the Home Office requires further information during the decision-making process.
- After your application is approved, you will receive a citizenship invitation letter. You must schedule a citizenship ceremony as soon as possible and within three months of receiving the letter. You will not become a British citizen until your ceremony is done.
- Attend your naturalisation ceremony, at which you will be expected to take an oath/affirmation of allegiance and get your certificate of naturalisation.
How long does the process of applying for British citizenship take?
The application process can take up to six months, but most applications are processed much faster. Once approved, you will receive an approval letter and, shortly thereafter, a letter inviting you to apply for citizenship. You must immediately arrange for a citizenship ceremony at your local registration. Ceremonies are available on a first-come, first-served basis. You will not become a British citizen until you have attended your naturalisation ceremony and obtained your naturalisation certificate. Once the naturalisation procedure is completed, you can apply for your British passport.
British Citizenship by Marriage
How do I obtain British citizenship through marriage?
Marriage to a British citizen does not automatically qualify you for citizenship in the United Kingdom. To be eligible for EU citizenship UK, you must also have been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain, whether through a spousal visa or another immigration route. Along with being married to a British citizen and possessing ILR status, you must have lived in the UK for a minimum of three years before applying.
British citizen by birth
What are injectable testosterone enanthate online the requirements for being a British citizen by birth?
If you were born in the United Kingdom before 1 January 1983, you are a citizen of the United Kingdom. If you were born in the United Kingdom after 1 January 1983, you are automatically a British citizen if at least one of your parents was a British citizen or had settled in the United Kingdom at the time of your birth.
What are the requirements for British citizenship through descent?
A British citizen by descent is someone who was born in the United Kingdom to a British parent or who was registered as a British citizen. If a British citizen by descent has a child born abroad, they cannot generally transmit their citizenship directly to the child; instead, they must register the child for British citizenship if the child is qualified. If the other parent is a British citizen through birth, naturalisation, or adoption, rather than descent, that parent should be allowed to convey their citizenship straight to the child.
Is it possible for a refugee to obtain British citizenship?
Yes, a refugee who fits the criteria for British citizenship may apply. Naturalisation is subject to strict criteria, particularly about prior immigration violations, and an individual’s circumstances must be thoroughly assessed to see whether their immigration history would affect their application or eligibility.
How can I check the status of my British citizenship application?
Once you have submitted your application and paid the applicable fee, your application will be assigned a unique reference number. Additionally, this reference will be utilized when uploading supporting papers and enrolling biometric data. However, tracking your application directly is not typically possible. If additional documents are necessary, you will be contacted in writing by a Home Office caseworker. If your application falls outside of the typical service standard, you should receive confirmation in the form of a letter. Once your application has been decided, you will receive a letter notifying you of the outcome.
Is dual citizenship permitted in the United Kingdom?
Yes, British law permits all citizens to possess UK dual citizenship.
What are the fees associated with British citizenship?
- Naturalisation costs £1,330 (including the £80 citizenship fee) at the Home Office. The charge for biometric enrollment is £19.20.
- Adult registration is £1,206 (including the £80 Citizenship fee). The charge for biometric enrollment is £19.20.
- The Home Office charges £1,012 for child registration (with an additional £80 for citizenship if the youngster turns 18 during the application process). The charge for biometric enrollment is £19.20.
What is the “90-day rule” for British citizenship?
You cannot be absent from the UK for more than 90 days in the 12 months before your application for naturalisation as a British citizen.
What are the immigration routes for obtaining good British citizenship?
- Adults may be eligible to register as British citizens if they were born before 1 January 1983 to a British mother or if they hold another kind of British nationality.
- Adults and children may be eligible to register if they were born in the United Kingdom; and neither of their parents were British or settled; and they spent the first ten years of their lives in the United Kingdom; and they have not spent more than 90 days outside the United Kingdom in any of the first ten years.
- If a non-British kid (under the age of 18) was born in the United Kingdom and one of their parents has been given Indefinite Leave to Remain/Settled status, the child may become eligible to register as a British citizen.
- In restricted circumstances, a non-British child born outside the UK to a parent who has been granted ILR may also be eligible for registration.
What documentation do I require to apply for British citizenship?
This is dependent on the grounds for the British citizenship claim. In some instances, you may be required to present proof of UK residency.
Determine if You Are Eligible to Become a British Citizen
Whether you can become a British citizen is situation-dependent. There may be more than one application route available to you, in which case you can pick which one to choose.
- You can apply for UK citizenship if you have lived in the UK for five years or more and have held Indefinite Leave to Remain or EU Settled Status for at least 12 months.
- Spouses of British citizens may apply for naturalisation after three years of residence in the UK if they have either Indefinite Leave to Remain or EEA Settled Status.
- Additionally, you may be eligible to apply for citizenship card if you have a British parent, are stateless, or hold another sort of British nationality, or have relinquished your British citizenship at any point.
- If you are a Commonwealth citizen, you may be eligible for British citizenship via the Windrush scheme if you arrived in the UK prior to 1973, if you lived in the country, and if you have not departed for more than two years.
Eligibility requirements for naturalisation as a British citizen
You must satisfy the following requirements:
- Have resided legally in the United Kingdom for at least five years
- Have held Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) for at least 12 months
- Possess evidence of language proficiency
- Have nationality from an English-speaking country
- OR a recognised English language degree
- OR you have passed an accredited English language exam
- Pass the ‘Life in the UK’ test
- Have a good character
How can I apply for citizenship in the United Kingdom?
Applicants from outside the United Kingdom can now apply online. You will be required to complete an online form and respond to any questions pertinent to your application. Before submitting the application, you can amend and download it. Our staff can advise you on the best course of action for you and your family.
What is the application form for British citizenship?
The British Citizenship application form is dependent on the sort of citizenship application you are making. The majority of applications for British citizenship are processed online. As an applicant, you should determine the sort of citizenship application that you need and then complete the online form. Payment would also be handled electronically, and you would have access to a separate page for uploading supporting documents and scheduling a biometric session.
Certain application forms are still available for completion and submission via postal mail. For instance, the Form AN is the proper form for naturalisation, whereas the Form MN1 is the proper form for minor child registration. Applicants are strongly advised not to use the postal application unless absolutely required.
What documents are necessary to apply for British citizenship?
With your application, you must provide the following documents (this is not a complete list):
- Your passport/travel document and a valid government-issued identification card (if applicable)
- Evidence of your Indefinite Leave to Remain
- Proof of your English language competency
- Your certificate of passing the Life in the UK test
- Your marriage or civil partnership certificate (if applicable)
- P60s dating back six years, or five years if married to a British citizen (if P60s do not cover the whole period)
- Applicants who are self-employed must provide self-assessment statements for each of the last six/five years.
Our experts can assist you with compiling all the necessary papers and ensure that nothing is overlooked.
Who can act as a reference for my application for British citizenship?
your application must be endorsed by 2 referees.
One referee must be a person of any nationality who has professional standing, such as a minister of religion, civil servant or a member of a professional body, for example, accountant or solicitor (but not representing you with this application). The other referee must be the holder of a British citizen passport and either a professional person or over the age of 25.
If the application is for a child, one referee should be a professional who has engaged with the child in a professional capacity, such as a teacher, health visitor, social worker or minister of religion. The other referee must holder of a British citizen passport and either a professional person or over the age of 25.
Each referee must not be:
related to you or the child
related to the other referee
your solicitor or agent representing you with this application o employed by the Home Office
Home Office will not accept a referee who has been convicted of an imprisonable offence during the last 10 years (unless that conviction can be disregarded in line with the table shown in the Good Character section of this Guide).
If you are or the child is living abroad and do not know a British citizen who is qualified to act as one of your referees, a Commonwealth citizen or citizen of the country in which you are residing may complete and sign the form, provided they have professional standing in that country, has known you for 3 years and the Consul considers their signature to be acceptable.
Why should you choose Henleaze Law to represent you in your application for British citizenship?
The British Nationality Act 1981 is complicated and difficult to navigate. Expertise in this highly specialised area of law is required for a successful application for British citizenship. Henleaze Law has highly qualified lawyers who are committed to assisting clients in obtaining citizenship. They take the time necessary to ensure that you understand the process and will assist you with any application specifics.
Henleaze Law lawyers are specialist immigration lawyers with particular skill in applications for UK Citizenship. We have a thorough understanding of immigration law and are committed to professionalism and results. Contact us if you require advice on any aspect of UK immigration law. We’re here to assist you!
