British Citizenship: Application Guidance from Specialist Advisers

In order to become a British citizen through the process of Naturalisation, there are a number of eligibility criteria that must be satisfied:

• You must be over the age of 18;
• You must have had Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK for at least 12 months;
• You must have passed the Life in the UK Test. This is to demonstrate that you have adequate knowledge of British history, culture and customs in order to become naturalised as a British citizen.
• You must not be in contravention of any UK immigration rules.
• Unless you are exempt from them, you must have satisfied the B1 CEFR English language requirements;
• You must have been a continuous resident of the UK for at least 5 years, with no longer than 450 days of absence in this period.

You must also pass the Life in the UK Test in order to secure UK citizenship.

The test takes the form of 24 questions that are predominantly based on information found in the Life in the United Kingdom handbook. The test places considerable emphasis on the culture, customs and history of the UK.

The handbook is provided by the Home Office, and should be studied in preparation for the test. In order for the test to be passed, the minimum mark that can be received is 75%. Passing the Life in the UK Test is an essential requirement for all those who wish to naturalise as a British national.

The Life in the UK Test can be booked online. It must be booked a minimum of three days in advance. There are upwards of 30 test centres in the UK, however you will only be able to choose one from the five that are closest to where you live.
When you sit the test, you will be given 45 minutes to answer the 24 questions. You must bring the same ID that you used when booking the test. In addition, it is mandatory that you bring proof of address. This must display both your name and postcode and must be dated within three months of the date your test is due to take place.

If you fail to bring valid documentation with you on the day of your test, you will be unable to sit it. You will also be ineligible for a refund. If the test is passed, you will receive a pass notification letter from the Home Office.

Demonstrating that you have a sufficient level of proficiency in both written and spoken English is a key part of any ILR or citizenship application. In order to do this, you must pass an accredited English language qualification at a minimum level of B1. The test itself must be taken at a verified test centre.

The Home Office only accepts certain types of English language qualification- they must be certified by ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages). With this in mind, more general qualifications such as GCSEs and NVQs will not be accepted.
There are certain circumstances under which you will be exempt from the English language requirements. These are:

• If you are aged 65 or over
• If you suffer a long-term physical or mental health condition
• If you are a holder of a degree that was studied for in English

For applicants who studied overseas, you will need to provide evidence that your degree was taught in English and that it is equivalent to a valid UK qualification.

It is important to note that some test qualifications only last for 2 years.

In circumstances where a certificate has expired but was accepted as part of an ILR, Settled Status or permanent residence application, the Home Office should accept it.

It is also necessary that you demonstrate the ‘good character’ requirement in order to acquire British Citizenship. ‘Good character’ refers to whether or not a prospective citizen will be a positive and upstanding member of society. Your criminal history will be looked at in order to determine whether you meet the requirement– you must not hold either a recent or severe criminal record.

The Home Office will look at both criminal offences that have taken place overseas, and issues and/or violations linked to immigration. However, positive contributions to society will also be looked at when assessing your case.

You must supply two verified referees for your citizenship application.

According to Home Office guidelines, referees must:

• Have known the (adult) applicant for at least 3 years, and:
• Must be a British passport holder and either a:
  • professional person; or
  • aged over 25.

In addition, at least one referee must be a professional person.

A professional person is classed as a person who works in a reputable occupation, such as a doctor, an accountant, a barrister or a Post Office official.

The referees must also not:

• Be related to the applicant or the other referee
• The applicant’s representative
• Be employed by the Home Office
• Have been convicted of an imprisonable offence in the last 10 years for which the sentence is not spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974

Referees will have to fill in the Referee Declaration on the citizenship application to confirm that the applicant is who they say they are, the information on the application is accurate, and that the supplied photograph of the applicant is a true likeness.

British nationality is not an automatic right afforded to all children born in the UK. In order to be eligible for British citizenship by birth, at least one parent of a child born in the UK must be either a British national or hold settled status.

For those children born in the UK whose parents are both non-British, they will automatically be classed as dependants. Thus, they will be subject to the same immigration controls as their parents. In these situations, an individual can become a British national at a later time via a different route, however this will be conditional on satisfying the eligibility criteria for whichever route is pursued.

In order to be eligible for British citizenship by descent, an individual must have been born outside of the UK to a minimum of one British parent. This essentially means that British nationhood cannot be automatically bestowed on any child born outside of the UK.

For those born after the 1st of January 1983, it may be possible to naturalise as a British citizen by descent if you have a parent that was born in a former British colony. Additionally, you may also be able to if you have a British-born grandfather who served in the military.

If you wish to become a British citizen, you will need to complete and submit form AN- Application for Naturalisation as a British citizen.

The form can be found on the official gov.uk website. The application can either be submitted online or via a paper form if you live in the Channel Islands, Isle of Man or a British Overseas Territory, or elsewhere in the world.

You will be asked to fill in the application with your personal details and details of your circumstances. You should fill in the application as truthfully and accurately as possible.

You will also be required to attend a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point in order to give your biometrics information. You will also be asked to upload your supporting documents online when submitting your form or when attending your in-person appointment.

If applying by post, you should send your application to:

• The Lieutenant Governor if you are in the Channel Islands or Isle of Man
• The Governor of the territory if you are in a British Overseas Territory
• UK Visas and Immigration at the following address if you live elsewhere:
  • Department 1
    UK Visas and Immigration
    The Capital Building
    New Hall Place
    Liverpool
    L3 9PP

In order to successfully naturalise as a British citizen, there are a number of documents that you must provide to the Home Office as part of your British citizenship application. These are:

• Proof of your knowledge of the English language and of life in the UK: If you have passed the Life in the UK test, you will receive a certificate that provides evidence of this. If the Life in the UK Test was sat when you applied for ILR, you do not need to re-sit the exam. Similarly, you will receive a certificate if you have an English language qualification at B1 CEFR or higher. The qualification must be on the Home Office’s list of recognised tests and must have been taken at a recognised test centre. The certificates received for passing these tests can be used as evidence in your citizenship application.
• Confirmation that you were lawfully resident in the UK during the qualifying period.
• Proof of previous immigration status. This includes all visas held prior to becoming settled in the UK.
• Any travel details pertaining to a period of absence outside of the UK.
• Your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) card, or other proof that you possess Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or settled status.
• Proof of your identity and permanent residence status. This can take the form of your passport, birth certificate or any other travel documentation.
• Confirmation that you are not a Person Subject to Immigration Control (PSIC) and that your leave to remain does not have time restrictions.
• Evidence that you have been exercising your Treaty Rights in the last 3 or 5 years, depending on your circumstances. Treaty Rights are centred on an EU citizen’s involvement in the economic activity of the country in which you reside. Evidence can take the form of bank letters, confirmation of employment or confirmation of studies from your educational institution.

For more on the documents required as part of a British Citizenship application, you can refer to our British Citizenship application document checklist.

Tracking your British citizenship application is a straightforward process, and the steps you take will depend on how you submitted your application. Once you’ve applied, the Home Office will send a confirmation email or letter acknowledging receipt. This usually includes your Unique Application Number (UAN), which you’ll need for any future updates or enquiries. Keep this reference safe, as it allows you to identify your case when speaking to the Home Office or your adviser.

If you applied online through the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) portal, you can often check the progress by logging in to the same account you used to submit your application. While detailed tracking is limited, you may see status updates such as “submitted,” “in progress,” or “further information required.” Make sure you monitor your email regularly, as the Home Office may request additional documents or invite you to an appointment such as biometrics.

For applicants working with a adviser, your legal representative can also track the status of your case. Advisers can contact the Home Office on your behalf, follow up on delays, and ensure that any requests for evidence are responded to promptly. This can help reduce processing issues and keep your application on track.

If your application goes beyond the standard processing time, you can use the Home Office online contact form to request an update. You’ll need your personal details and application reference. Although response times vary, this method allows you to flag delays formally and check whether your application is awaiting additional steps such as background checks or biometrics verification.

Once form AN submitted and the fee has been paid, the Home Office will begin to process your request. The form and associated documentation do not take longer than six months to process, so you will receive a verdict within this timeframe. The timeframe is the same regardless of the route- holders of Settled Status or permanent residence do not receive a decision quicker than those with ILR.

There is currently no means of fast-tracking the citizenship process, however you may receive a decision quicker than the expected waiting time.

Conversely, complex cases may take longer than the standard six-month time period. Your request will be delayed if you fail to include all of the necessary documentation.

If your UK citizenship application has been rejected, you will unfortunately not have the statutory right to appeal the decision.

However, you may be able to request a reconsideration from the Home Office. You should only do this if you believe that an error or an oversight has occurred in the processing of your application.

Instances where this may apply include the following:

• The application was not assessed according to the right criteria
• All of the required documentation was not taken into account
• The application was refused on the basis of a lack of response to enquiries, even though responses were provided
• Sufficient time was not given for enquiry responses

Requests for a reconsideration must be made in writing to the Home Office.

Alternatively, if you are aware of why the application was refused, you may submit a new application for citizenship at any time. However, you will have to pay the application fee again regardless of the outcome of the new application.

Citizenship application refusals can be difficult to handle, especially if you’re not aware of why your application was rejected in the first place. London Immigration Lawyers can help parse through your application refusal and give you expert support and knowledge on how to submit a fresh application or request a reconsideration in order to secure your UK citizenship once and for all.

Call us on 0204 502 8582 or contact us online to find out how we can help with your application.

In light of there being no legal need for other nationalities to be renounced, an individual is permitted to obtain dual nationality in the UK. Holders are able to be both a citizen of the UK and a citizen of a different country. Multiple citizenships are also permitted under UK law. With this in mind, it is possible to gain British nationality even if dual nationalities are already held.

Dual nationality does not need to be separately applied for. If you already hold British citizenship, you are able to apply to become a national of any country that permits you to become a dual citizen. It is important to note that different nations have different rules in relation to dual nationality.

It is therefore vitally important to find out whether the nation for which you wish to apply for citizenship will allow you to maintain your British nationality as well. This information can be found out by contacting their embassy or consulate.
Before submitting your request for dual nationality, there are a number of important things to be borne in mind. For instance, once your additional form of citizenship is granted, you will be unable to receive any form of diplomatic assistance whilst in a different nation in which you hold permanent residence.

In addition, if you are applying to become a national of a country that does not permit dual citizenship, you will need to give up your status as a British citizen. Further to this, for nationals of countries who do not permit dual citizenship, applying for British nationality may lead to previously held status being lost.

Application for a British citizenship is often the final step in a tedious immigration journey for most people. It is very likely a rejection may jeopardise your future plans regarding settling in the UK. For applicants claiming British citizenship on the basis of a British parent or grandparent, it can also take a toll on their emotional health and family life.

Partnering with one of our British citizenship advisers can improve your chances of receiving a positive decision. An expert British citizenship adviser will not only help you with your citizenship application and required documentation, they can also play a crucial role even at the planning stage, long before you actually submit your application.

For example, most people are not aware that apparently minor issues like long vacations abroad in the last 12 months before filing their application may impact their claim. Your UK naturalization lawyer can point out such nuances early to avoid such technical issues affecting your chances of receiving a positive decision later in the application process. From start to finish, your personal citizenship attorney will be on hand to provide full support.