ILR to Citizenship
You can apply to naturalise as a British citizen if you’ve lived in the UK for at least 5 years and have held indefinite leave to remain (ILR) or settled status for at least 12 months.
For more information about British citizenship applications or for assistance with preparing your ILR or citizenship application, reach out to us today at 0204 502 8582 or on our website to speak with one of our expert immigration advisors.
Apply for Citizenship if You Have Indefinite Leave to Remain Status
If you have indefinite leave to remain, you may be eligible to apply for British citizenship by naturalisation.
The naturalisation process grants foreign nationals who have continuously lived in the UK for a specified duration the opportunity to acquire British citizenship. While ILR grants you the right to remain in the UK without time limits or immigration restrictions, you’ll only enjoy limited rights and benefits.
Obtaining British citizenship grants you the right to acquire a British passport, vote in elections, and receive all public benefits available to British citizens.
To qualify for British citizenship, you must have held ILR for at least 12 months, unless you’re a spouse or civil partner of a British national. In that case, you can apply for British nationality immediately after receiving your ILR or settled status. You must also meet other requirements, including good character, English proficiency, and passing the Life in the UK test.
Page Contents
- Apply for Citizenship if You Have Indefinite Leave to Remain Status
- Eligibility and Requirements for ILR to Citizenship
- When Can I Apply for Citizenship after ILR?
- Application Process from ILR to Citizenship
- Costs and Fees Involved in the Citizenship Application
- British Citizenship Acquisition for Children
- What Happens After You’ve Applied for Citizenship
- After You Get Your Citizenship Certificate
- Applying for a British Passport after Obtaining Citizenship
- Longer Qualifying Periods for ILR and Citizenship
- How We Can Help with Your ILR to Citizenship Application
- Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility and Requirements for ILR to Citizenship
Overview
ILR holders must meet certain eligibility criteria to qualify for British citizenship. You must:
- Have held indefinite leave to remain or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme for 12 months, unless you’re the spouse or civil partner of a British citizen
- Be 18 years or older
- Prove you’ve lived in the UK for at least 5 years (or 3 years if you’re the spouse/partner of a British citizen) before the date of your application.
- Be proficient in English, Welsh, or Scottish Gaelic.
- Have passed the Life in the UK test
- Be of good character
- Intend to continue living in the UK
Irish citizens have automatic permanent residence rights in the UK and can apply for British nationality after 5 years of continuous residence.
Residency Requirement
To meet the residency requirement, you must have continuously lived in the UK for at least 5 years, and you must have been present in the UK for exactly 5 years before your application was received. For a spouse/partner of a British national, the residency requirement is reduced to 3 years.
You must also have held legal status throughout the residency period and must not have been in breach of any UK immigration rules.
You must not have spent:
- More than 450 days outside the UK during the 5 years of qualifying residency, or more than 270 days outside the UK in the last 3 years if you’re a partner/spouse of a British citizen.
- More than 90 days outside the UK in the last 12 months
You must provide details of the time spent abroad when you apply for British citizenship. The Home Office will use the details provided along with their own records to determine if you meet the residency requirement.
Time spent in the UK outside immigration control, e.g. as a diplomat, member of a diplomat’s household or staff, or as a member of a foreign armed forces, does not count as qualifying residency for British citizenship.
Knowledge of English and Life in the UK
You must meet the knowledge of language and life in the UK (KoLL) requirement to qualify for UK citizenship.
You must demonstrate proficiency in the English language by passing an approved English Language test or by providing evidence that you have an academic qualification taught in English that’s equivalent to the UK standard. You may be exempt from the English language requirement if you’re:
- Nationals of a majority English-speaking country like Australia, Canada, or the U.S.
- You used a B1 level English qualification to obtain your ILR
- You are 65 years or older.
However, the Life in the UK test is mandatory for all naturalisation applicants with the exception of applicants who are not up to 18 years, applicants who are over 65 years, and applicants who have a long-term physical or mental health condition that qualifies them for an exemption. The test examines your knowledge of UK traditions, values, and laws, and your commitment to respecting them. You must score at least 75% to pass.
Good Character Requirement
To qualify for UK naturalisation, you must demonstrate that you observe UK laws and show respect for the rights and freedoms of its citizens. You must:
- Disclose your criminal history record and have no unspent criminal convictions. A recent criminal conviction can hinder your application
- Have no history of immigration violations
- Have no involvement with terrorism and international crime
- Have a clean tax record with no defaults on tax payments or national social security contributions.
It is at the Home Office’s discretion to decide whether you meet the good character requirement based on the available evidence. And if any deception or dishonesty is found on previous immigration applications, your naturalisation application may be refused.
Referee Requirement
Two referees must endorse your citizenship application. One of the referees must be a professional, such as a civil servant or a member of a professional body. The other must be a British citizen and either over 25 years old or a professional.
Both referees must have known you for at least 3 years, must have a clean criminal background, and must not be related to you or each other. Your adviser or legal representative cannot be your referee, nor can a Home Office staff member.
When Can I Apply for Citizenship after ILR?
The timeline for a citizenship application depends on the route through which you obtained your indefinite leave to remain.
If you got your ILR through continuous residence in the UK under an eligible work visa or as a dependent of a work visa, you must have held ILR for at least 12 months before the date of your citizenship application. You must also have been physically present in the UK exactly 5 years before your application date.
However, under the current immigration rules, you must have been in the UK for at least 5 years to qualify for ILR. And then held ILR for 1 year to qualify for citizenship, which brings the total minimum residence requirement for naturalisation to 6 years.
The timeline for ILR to citizenship will increase once the proposed changes to the ILR residence requirement take effect in April 2026. Under the new “earned settlement” rule, migrant workers and their dependents have to live in the UK for 10 years to qualify for ILR and wait another 1 year to qualify for citizenship, bringing the total minimum residence requirement to 11 years.
If you were granted ILR based on your marriage/civil partnership with a British national, you can apply for citizenship immediately after obtaining your ILR. However, you must prove that you were physically present in the UK exactly 3 years before your citizenship application.
Children under 18 can apply for UK citizenship immediately after one parent gets indefinite leave to remain.
Application Process from ILR to Citizenship
You can apply for British citizenship by naturalisation online. You’ll complete the online application, upload supporting evidence, and pay your citizenship application fee directly on the Home Office’s website.
Here’s a breakdown of the British citizenship application.
- Prepare your documents: Ensure you have all the required documents to prove your eligibility for naturalisation before starting your application. This includes:
- Your current passport
- Marriage certificate or civil partnership registration (if applying as the spouse/partner of a British citizen)
- Evidence of lawful residence in the UK. This can include rental agreements and utility bills.
- Proof of English language proficiency
- Life in the UK Test pass certificate
- Certified English translations of all documents that are not in English or Welsh.
- Submit your online application: Sign in to the citizenship application portal on the UK Government’s official website and complete the online application. Ensure you fill out all required sections accurately and truthfully, then upload your supporting documents, pay the application fee, and submit your application.
- Book a biometric appointment: After submitting your application form, you will be directed to book an appointment with the UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS). You’ll submit your biometric information (photo and fingerprints) during this appointment and your supporting documents, if you did not upload them online.
- Wait for a decision: The Home Office typically processes citizenship applications within 6 months, but delays are not uncommon. They may also contact you if there’s a need for further clarification or additional documentation. You can remain in the UK with your ILR while waiting for a decision.
Costs and Fees Involved in the Citizenship Application
The UK citizenship application process involves substantial expenses. This typically includes fees for English language test, Life in the UK Test, citizenship application, and citizenship ceremony and the cost of hiring an immigration consultant/advisor to help with your application.
Here’s a breakdown of the current costs involved in the citizenship application process:
- English language test – £150 – £250, depending on provider
- Life in the UK Test- £50
- Citizenship application – £1,709
- Citizenship ceremony- £130
- Legal fees vary depending on the immigration law firm
The fees for English language and Life in the UK tests are paid directly to the test providers/centres and only cover one sitting. If you fail the test, you will have to pay to retake it.
The citizenship application and ceremony fees are paid together to the Home Office. You can either pay online before submitting your online application or you can pay during your biometric appointment. If your application is unsuccessful, the application fee will not be refunded. The Home Office will only refund the citizenship ceremony fee.
British Citizenship Acquisition for Children
Children born in the UK to non-UK nationals are not automatically British citizens. They can only get automatic British nationality if they were born in the UK and one parent held indefinite leave to remain at the time of their birth.
If your child was born outside of the UK or born in the UK before you became ILR holder, you can apply to “register” their British citizenship once you obtain ILR. You must complete a separate application for each child.
British citizenship registration for children costs £1,000 for each child. However, if your child turns 18 before completing the naturalisation process, you must also pay the £130 citizenship ceremony fee.
Once they become British citizens, you can apply for a child’s passport if they’re under 16. If your child is over 16, they can apply for an adult British passport.
What Happens After You’ve Applied for Citizenship
Overview
After applying for citizenship, you can continue living in the UK with ILR while waiting for a decision. Citizenship applications are typically processed within 6 months; however, it can take longer. You’ll be notified if yours will take longer than 6 months. The Home Office will also contact you if there’s a need for additional information.
If your circumstances change after you’ve applied for naturalisation, such as if you move to a new location, get married, or get divorced, you must contact UKVI to update your information. You may also be required to attend an interview.
Attending a Citizenship Ceremony
If your application is successful and you’re granted British citizenship, you’ll be notified and invited to attend a citizenship ceremony.
You must attend a citizenship ceremony within 3 months of receiving an invitation from the Home Office. You’ll have to book your citizenship ceremony with your local authority.
You must bring your invitation letter to the ceremony, and you’ll usually be allowed to bring 2 guests. During the ceremony, you’ll have to swear an oath of allegiance and pledge to respect UK laws and the rights and freedoms of British society.
You’ll be presented with your British citizenship certificate and a welcome pack at the end of the ceremony.
After You Get Your Citizenship Certificate
After you get your citizenship certificate, you must return your biometric residence permit (BRP) to the Home Office even if it has expired. You must send back your BRP within 5 working days of receiving your British citizenship certificate. You can be fined up to £1,000 for failing to do so.
You’re to cut the BRP into 4 pieces, put it in a windowless envelope, and include a note stating that you’re returning your residence permit because you have become a British citizen. The note should include your name, date of birth, and the card number. Then post the envelope to:
Naturalisation BRP Returns
PO Box 195
Bristol
BS20 1BT
Applying for a British Passport after Obtaining Citizenship
You cannot enter the UK using a British citizenship certificate. You can apply for a British passport after receiving your certificate of British naturalisation.
You’ll need to provide your naturalisation certificate and your non-British passport when applying for a British passport. The personal information (name and gender) on your other passport must match the information you want on your UK passport.
The standard passport application costs £102 if you apply online or £115.50 if you’re applying using a paper form. And you’ll usually get your passport within 3 weeks unless the Passport Office requires further information or wants to interview you.
You can apply for a certificate of entitlement if you do not want a British passport. The entitlement certificate will be attached to your foreign passport as proof of your right of abode in the UK. It costs £589.
Longer Qualifying Periods for ILR and Citizenship
The Long-Residence route allows foreign nationals who have resided in the UK for at least 10 years to apply for indefinite leave to remain and eventually, British citizenship. It provides a pathway for UK residents with complex immigration histories to acquire settled status.
Long-Residence ILR applicants can use time spent in the UK under different long-stay visa routes, provided that they have maintained lawful and unbroken residence in the UK throughout the qualifying period.
Time spent in the UK while exempt from immigration control, such as a diplomat or member of a foreign armed forces, or as an EU/EEA national exercising freedom of movement before Brexit, also qualifies as lawful residence for ILR under this route. However, you must have held your current permission to stay for at least 12 months before the date of your ILR application.
Time spent in the UK on short-stay visa routes such as a visit visa, a seasonal worker visa, or a short-term study visa, and time spent on the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands do not count as qualifying residency.
Sadly, this route may not be available for much longer. The proposed changes to UK immigration laws include closing the 10-year ILR route, as 10 years will become the minimum residence requirement for ILR across the board (except for those exempt). The change in residency rule is set to take effect in April 2026.
How We Can Help with Your ILR to Citizenship Application
Acquiring British citizenship is the logical next step for most people after obtaining their ILR. It gives you the right to live and work in the UK without immigration control and grants you access to all public amenities and benefits available to British citizens.
However, British citizenship isn’t an automatic right. You must provide evidence to prove you meet all the requirements to naturalise as a British citizen, or your application will be rejected. So, it’s vital to prepare your application to the highest standard and provide all required evidence to prevent the loss of time and money that comes with a rejection.
Getting assistance from an immigration lawyer increases your chances of a successful citizenship application. Our London immigration lawyers are experts in UK immigration laws and have helped thousands of clients obtain British citizenship. We will guide you through the naturalisation process and help compile your supporting documents and prepare your application.
Contact us today at 0204 502 8582 or request a free callback on our website to speak with one of our expert immigration lawyers.
Legal Disclaimer
The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, the law may change, and the information may not reflect the most current legal developments. No warranty is given regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information, and we do not accept liability in such cases. We recommend consulting with a qualified lawyer at London Immigration Lawyers before making any decisions based on the content provided.
Last modified on June 4th, 2026 at 8:59 am
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Frequently Asked Questions
You can only apply for British citizenship straight after ILR if you obtained your ILR through the spouse visa path, that is, if you’re married or in a civil partnership with a British citizen.
Getting British citizenship after ILR is worth it. It gives you more rights, security, and access to benefits than ILR. As a British citizen, you can own a British passport, vote in elections, run for office, access consular protection while abroad, pass your citizenship to your children, and spend extended time abroad without losing your residency status.
ILR allows you to stay in the UK permanently and has no expiry date. However, your ILR will automatically lapse if you spend more than two consecutive years outside the UK. You will have to apply for a Returning Resident visa to re-enter the UK. Your ILR can also be revoked if you commit a serious crime.
