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British Citizenship

You can make a British citizenship application to become a British national if you meet all the eligibility requirements of the British Nationality Act 1981.

What is British Citizenship?

British citizenship is a type of UK nationality that gives you permission to live permanently in the UK and allows you to work without any restrictions. Once you become a British citizen you can apply for a UK passport.

How to apply for British Citizenship?

You can either make a British citizenship application yourself or get legal services from British nationality lawyers to maximise your chances of success.

British Citizenship Application Process

  • You can either apply online or by post for British citizenship by naturalisation;
  • Upload scanned copies of all the supporting documents;
  • Book your biometric appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point;
  • Wait for the decision, UK citizenship applications usually takes 3-6 months.

If your application for British citizenship is successful and you are 18 or over then you will need to attend the UK citizenship ceremony

What are the Requirements to become a British Citizen?

There are 4 main requirements to become eligible to apply for British citizenship as listed below:

  • Residency requirements
  • Good Character requirement
  • English Language requirement
  • Life in the UK Test

Residency Requirements

If you are applying for British citizenship by naturalisation, you should have lived in the UK for at least 5 years before the date of your British application. If you are applying for British citizenship by marriage then you may be able to apply after three years of lawful residence in the country.

You should also not have:

  • spent more than 450 days outside the UK during those 5 years (or 270 days, if you are following the UK citizenship by marriage route)
  • spent more than 90 days outside the UK in the last 12 months
  • broken any UK immigration laws (for example living illegally in the UK)

“Good Character” Requirement

The applicants aged 10 or over must meet the ‘good character’ requirement for British citizenship.

There is no clear definition of ‘Good Character’ under British Nationality Act (BNA) 1981 but Home Office generally assesses and considers criminality, international crimes, terrorism, deception, and dishonesty related things.

English Language Test Requirement

You may need to meet the English language requirement for the British citizenship application if you are from a non-English-speaking country. You may be exempt from taking or passing the English language test. You can prove your knowledge of the English language with an academic qualification, or by passing an approved English language test.

B1 English test for UK Citizenship

For British citizenship application, you must pass at least level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale.

“Life in the UK Test” for British Citizenship

You need to pass the Life in the UK test to be eligible to apply for British citizenship. The Life in the UK test is a mandatory requirement to prove that the applicant has adequate knowledge of British life, culture, and history.

UK Naturalisation Timeline

UK citizenship applications usually take 3-6 months after a biometrics appointment. However, it may take longer than usual depending on the complexity of the matter.

British Citizenship Application Fee

The fee for a British citizenship application is £1,250 if you have indefinite leave to remain or ‘settled status’ in the UK. You will be asked to provide your biometric information (fingerprints and photo) and there’s no fee for this.

 

Please note the fee will change from the 4th October 2023 up by 20% from £1,250 to £1,500.

Please note VAT is a government tax that we are required to charge, and will usually be added at 20% to the disbursements except where the disbursements are outside the scope of VAT.

British Citizenship by Naturalisation

British citizenship by Naturalisation is a legal process by which a person who is not born in the UK can acquire a British citizen if meet the requirements.Once naturalised, you will have all the rights and privileges of a British citizen, including the right to vote, work, and live in the UK without any immigration restrictions.

What are the Requirements for UK Citizenship by Naturalisation?

To apply for British citizenship by Naturalisation, an applicant must meet the following requirements:

 

1. Be at least 18 years old
2. Have held indefinite leave to remain (ILR) in the UK for at least one
3. Have not spent more than 450 days outside the UK during the five-year qualifying period (or 270 days for those married to a British citizen)
4. Have not been absent from the UK for more than 90 days in the 12 months before the application
5. Be of good character, with no criminal record or serious immigration violations
6. Pass the Life in the UK test to demonstrate knowledge of British culture, history, and government
7. Prove an ability to speak and understand English to a sufficient standard.

 

You must meet all other eligibility requirements depending on your circumstances.

We will speak to you about legal advice and eligibility assessment.

English Language Requirement for Citizenship

To apply for British Citizenship by Naturalisation, an applicant needs to show that they have sufficient knowledge of the English language. The specific English language requirements are as follows:

  1. Applicants must prove their knowledge of English is at level B1 or above of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
  2. Applicants can demonstrate their English language skills by providing one of the following:
    • Passing an approved English language test
    • Holding an academic qualification taught in English
    • Holding a degree-level qualification that was taught or researched in English.
  3. Applicants from majority English-speaking countries, including the US, Canada, and Australia, are exempt from the language requirement.

Life in the UK test for British Citizenship

The Life in the UK test is one of the key requirements for individuals seeking British Citizenship by Naturalisation. It is a computer-based test that assesses the knowledge of the applicant on British history, society, and customs. The test consists of 24 questions, and a passing score of 75% is required to pass. The test covers various topics such as British values and traditions, history and events that have shaped the UK, the economy, government, and law. Applicants must pass the test before they can submit their British Citizenship application. It is important to note that the Life in the UK test should not be confused with the English language requirement, as applicants need to meet both sets of requirements before applying for British Citizenship by Naturalisation.

What documents are required for British Citizenship?

To apply for British citizenship by Naturalisation, you will need to provide the following documents:

  • You need to provide your passport or travel document to prove your identity.
  • You will need to provide evidence that you have been living in the UK for at least five years. This could include utility bills, bank statements, or council tax bills.
  • You will need to provide evidence to prove your knowledge of English.
  • You will need to provide the Life in the UK test certificate.

Above is a general list of supporting documents. You might need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances.

British Citizenship by Naturalisation Fee

The fee for a British citizenship application is £1,250 if you have indefinite leave to remain or ‘settled status’ in the UK. You will be asked to provide your biometric information (fingerprints and photo) and there’s no fee for this.

 

Please note the fee will change from the 4th October 2023 up by 20% from £1,250 to £1,500.

Please note VAT is a government tax that we are required to charge, and will usually be added at 20% to the disbursements except where the disbursements are outside the scope of VAT.

Naturalisation Processing Time

Home Office usually take 6 months to process a British citizenship application once you attend your biometrics appointment at the visa application centre. However, it may take longer depending on the complexity of the matter.

Citizenship Ceremonies

Applicants will be invited to attend a citizenship ceremony if their application is accepted and they are over 18. They are allowed to bring two guests and they must bring their invitation to the ceremony for verification purposes.

 

People who are residing outside of the UK can request to have their ceremony at the consulate or embassy of the country they are living in. If they are living in another country for only a few months, they can request to postpone the ceremony, until they return to the UK.

Rose Law Solicitors will:

  • provide legal advice regarding your UK Citizenship application;
  • do eligibility assessment for British nationality entitlement;
  • explain the entire British citizenship application process.
  • give you a complete list of required documents in support of your application.
  • check all the supporting documents to ensure that they are sufficient and in the correct format;
  • fill out the complete application form and prepare detailed representations/cover letter for the Home Office UKVI in reference to the Immigration Rules;
  • book an appointment for you to enrol your biometrics;
  • upload all the supporting documents;
  • liaise with the Home Office UKVI throughout the process until we receive the decision;
  • keep you updated with every stage of your application.

Our fees from:

Our fees for UK citizenship/naturalisation are from £1200.

Kindly note that VAT is not applicable as we are not a vat registered company.

Please note VAT is a government tax that we are required to charge, and will usually be added at 20% to the disbursements except where the disbursements are outside the scope of VAT.

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