Who can apply for British citizenship?
An individual may be eligible for British citizenship, or ‘naturalisation’, in various situations. Each has its own eligibility criteria. Some of the key routes include:
Eligibility based on indefinite leave to remain or EU ‘settled status’
A common path for obtaining British citizenship is applications based on the applicant having indefinite leave to remain (ILR) or ‘settled status’ under the EU Settlement Scheme. To be eligible for citizenship based on this, you must:
- have lived in the UK for at least five years
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have had, for at least 12 months, one of:
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indefinite leave to remain in the UK (ILR)
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‘settled status’ under the EU Settlement Scheme, or
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indefinite leave to enter the UK
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be over 18
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have been present in the UK exactly five years before the day the Home Office receives your application
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be of 'good character' (ie you observe UK laws and respect the rights and freedoms of UK citizens, eg you do not have any serious criminal convictions)
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not have broken any immigration laws
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intend to continue to live in the UK
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have passed the Life in the UK Test
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demonstrate knowledge of the English language, Welsh, or Scottish Gaelic – based on your nationality or by completing an English language qualification or a degree taught in English)
You must not have spent more than a certain amount of time outside of the UK recently. You must not have been outside the UK for:
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more than 450 days within the five years preceding your application
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more than 90 days within the last 12 months
For more information, read the government’s guidance on applying for citizenship based on indefinite leave to remain or 'settled status'.
Eligibility as the spouse of a British citizen
The eligibility requirements for spouses of British citizens are broadly the same as for those who are not. The main difference is that it is only necessary to have lived in the UK for at least three years (instead of five years), and you can apply as soon as you hold ILR or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (ie you do not need to wait 12 months after obtaining one of these statuses).
Other ways to be eligible for British citizenship
The above eligibility routes are the most common routes for adult citizenship applications. You may also be eligible if you:
- were born in the UK – depending on your parents’ circumstances
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have a British parent
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hold another type of British nationality (eg in relation to a connection with Gibraltar or Hong Kong)
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are stateless (ie not recognised as a citizen of any country)
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previously renounced your citizenship
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have a parent that holds citizenship of a British overseas territory or are of Chagossian descent
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are a Commonwealth citizen who is eligible under the Windrush scheme
For more information on these various routes and other special circumstances, read the government’s guidance on British citizenship.
How do you apply to become a British citizen?
When applying based on ILR or settled status, you can generally either apply online (by completing the appropriate application form) or by post.
An application for citizenship can usually be made either by the applicant themselves or via an agent or representative. If you use an agent or representative, you should first check that they’re registered with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) or that they are a solicitor or barrister registered with a relevant organisation (eg the Law Society of England and Wales). This helps make sure that the person you’re trusting with your application is accountable and has the requisite knowledge.
As part of the application process, you’ll need to provide your biometric information (eg fingerprints and photograph) at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) appointment. You’ll also need to provide certain documents (eg to evidence your eligibility) by uploading them online or having them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment. You’ll also need to pay an application fee.
For more information, read the government’s guidance on applying for citizenship.
What happens after you apply for British citizenship?
You’ll be notified when your application is received, usually via email. When you apply based on ILR or settled status, you will usually be informed of the outcome of your application within six months. Some applications will take longer to process – if yours is one of these, you will be informed that this is so.
The Home Office may request additional information to support your application or ask for an interview.
Citizenship ceremonies
If an application is successful, the applicant will then need to attend a citizenship ceremony. You should attend a ceremony within three months of receiving your invitation to attend.
The ceremony involves an oath of allegiance or an affirmation to demonstrate your commitment to respecting the rights, freedoms, and laws of the UK.
A ceremony fee will be included in your application fee. You may elect to pay more for a private ceremony.
How can citizenship be obtained for a child?
A parent of a child under 18 can apply for British citizenship on behalf of the child. Getting citizenship for a child generally involves registration rather than naturalisation. Registration may be required if the child was born or adopted from abroad or if they were born in the UK before their parent(s) obtained ILR. Children do not need to pass the Life in the UK Test.
Children may be automatically considered to be British citizens if their parents held certain nationalities (eg British, Irish, or other EU nationalities) and they were born in the UK at certain times. Read the government’s guidance on checking British citizenship to understand the situation for specific individuals.
