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    How do I get British citizenship by marriage ?

    For foreign spouses who want to live in the UK with their partners, obtaining British citizenship by marriage is a necessary step.

    You will be allowed to live and work in the UK, without any restrictions once you have become a naturalised British citizen.

    It should be noted that this path to British citizenship is only open to those who are married to or in a civil union with a British national and have had Indefinite Leave to Remain for at least three years.

    To learn more about our British citizenship advice programs, contact our team of experienced immigration lawyers.

    Page Contents

    Can you get British citizenship by marriage ?

    Being married to or in a civil partnership with a British national does not automatically grant you the right to become a British citizen, according to UK nationality law.

    If you want to eventually live in the UK with your partner, you will need to go through the naturalisation process. This allows you to become a resident of the UK if you fulfill certain eligibility requirements.

    Although other applicants must spend a minimum of five years in the UK before applying for British naturalisation, Spouse Visa holders are normally qualified after three years.

    How to get British citizenship through marriage ?

    You may fill out the form AN online to apply for British citizenship by marriage.

    You must schedule an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point after submitting your paperwork and paying your application fees. Your fingerprints and photographs will be taken here, as well as the ability to scan and submit a copy of your documents.

    If you do not want to apply online, you can send your form, paperwork, and payment slip to the UKVI or, if you are in a British Overseas Territory, to the Governor of the territory.

    What are the British citizenship by marriage requirements ?

    Those who are married to or in a civil partnership with a UK national or settled individual may apply for British citizenship by marriage to permanently settle in the UK.

    You must also fulfill the following citizenship criteria to be eligible:

    • You must be 18 years old or older at the time of your submission.
    • Demonstrate your “good character,” which means you have not broken any UK laws.
    • For a minimum of three years resided in the UK.
    • Have been granted permanent residency under the Indefinite Leave to Remain program (ILR)
    • Pass an certified language test to demonstrate sufficient English skills.
    • To demonstrate your loyalty to British customs, pass the Life in the UK exam.

    Do I need to be a settled person to become a British citizen ?

    You must have lived in the UK for at least three years prior to the date of your application as a settled person to be eligible for British citizenship by marriage. Having ILR is one of the prerequisites for British naturalisation in the UK.

    You must have one of the following before applying for British citizenship:

    It should be noted that you will be asked to include evidence of your permanent resident status as part of your citizenship application.

    Get in touch with our expert immigration lawyers to learn more on British Citizenship.

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      How much does it cost to apply for British citizenship as a spouse ?

      The expense of applying for British citizenship by marriage is £1,300.

      This fee does not include a £19.20 fee for the collection of the biometric information.

      Other additional costs, such as the expense of your English exam and any certified translation for your documents that are not in English or Welsh, must also be considered when applying.

      How long does it take to acquire British citizenship by marriage ?

      Within 6 months of submitting your request to the Home Office, you will receive a response. Although, if you fail to provide sufficient supporting documents or make any mistakes while filling out your forms, the UKVI may take longer to process your British citizenship application.

      You must notify the UKVI as soon as possible if your condition changes during your application (for instance, if you divorce your partner).

      What are the residency requirements for British citizenship through marriage ?

      You must have resided in the UK for three years before applying for British citizenship as the spouse of a British national.

      You must also fulfill the citizenship requirements. There are certain things that should not have been done by you such as:

      • During the three-year qualifying period prior to your application, you spent more than 270 days outside the UK.
      • Before submitting your forms, you must have spent more than 90 days abroad in the previous 12 months.
      • At any point during your stay in the UK, you have broken any UK immigration rule.

      Do I need to be of “good character” to qualify for British citizenship ?

      To meet the “good character” criterion, you must have followed UK law and fulfilled your responsibilities as a resident since the day you arrived.

      Your British citizenship application would be denied if you have a serious or current criminal record, including any prison term of more than four years. Those who have been convicted of an immigration offense within the last ten years prior to their filing, or who entered the country illegally for the first time, are also ineligible.

      If at least 15 years have elapsed after the completion of your term, any imprisonment between 12 months and four years will have an effect on your citizenship application.

      British Citizenship by Marriage Application Advice

      If you are married to a British citizen and are eager to live in the UK with them, our immigration lawyers would gladly assist you in obtaining British citizenship. Your dedicated immigration lawyer will examine your situation and explore all of your options for naturalisation as a British citizen based on your circumstances.

      To get more advice on your British citizenship by marriage application you may get in touch with our team of experts and professionals.

      British Citizenship by Marriage Application Assistance

      To make sure your application for British citizenship by marriage has no problems you may hire one of our immigration experts. Your Rubens immigration lawyer will assess your eligibility, making sure that all of the necessary documents are present. We will also write a Letter of Representation and complete your application forms to the highest standard to assist your case.

      To get more advice on your British citizenship by marriage application you may get in touch with our team of experts and professionals.

      Get in touch with our expert immigration lawyers to learn more on British Citizenship.

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        What is the sound mind requirement ?

        To be qualified for British citizenship, you must be of sound mind, regardless of your current immigration status. This means you must be able to comprehend what it takes to become a British citizen and be mindful of the steps you must take.

        Exceptional cases exist, such as granting British naturalisation is in the applicant’s best interests, the Home Office can exempt certain applicants from this requirement.

        If you are applying for citizenship on behalf of your partner who is not of sound mind, a letter outlining your position as that person’s legal representative as well as proper documents describing his or her mental illness should be provided.

        What happens after I get my British citizenship certificate ?

        You must apply your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) to the Home Office within 5 working days of receiving your British citizenship certificate.

        A note describing why you are returning your permit should be attached. You may be charged up to £1000 if you do not return your BRP within this time period.

        You will not be able to enter the UK using your BRP once you have become a British national. Until you obtain your passport, you can use your certificate of citizenship.

        You may obtain a certificate of entitlement if you do not want to apply for a British passport.

        Do I need to attend a citizenship ceremony if my application is successful ?

        Those who are 18 years or older and have gained British citizenship by marriage or other means must undergo a citizenship ceremony at the completion of their application process.

        Within three months of receiving an invitation from the Home Office, you must book your ceremony. Your local council will organise the event, and you will be permitted to bring two guests.

        A group ceremony costs £80, while private ceremonies will cost more depending on the local council’s regulations.

        If you live outside the UK, you can ask the embassy or consulate in your home country if your ceremony can be held there.

        Can I apply for a British passport if I am married to a UK national ?

        You will be able to apply for your first adult passport after receiving your British citizenship certificate. If you are 16 years old or older, you can still use your British child passport before it expires.

        For a period of ten years an adult passport is valid and can be used to prove that you are a British citizen. It can also be used as a form of identification while traveling abroad.

        You will be able to leave and return at any time without needing to apply for a visa, if you naturalise in the UK and receive your passport.

        An online application will cost £75.50, while a paper application will cost £85. If you are sending your forms from another country, the fees will be different.

        If I acquire UK citizenship through marriage, will my children be British nationals ?

        Children who are born in the UK and have at least one parent who is a British citizen or settled person will automatically gain British nationality.

        Although, you can still seek legal advice to see whether your children are qualified for British citizenship in some other way.

        Can I apply for British citizenship by marriage if my partner has died ?

        Unfortunately, if your British spouse died before you submitted your forms, you would not be able to qualify for citizenship.

        You could be eligible for British nationalisation by other immigration routes if you have Indefinite Leave to Remain, EU settled status, or permanent resident status.

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        Frequently Asked Questions

        There are the criteria one must meet in order to make one’s application. One should:-

        • be 18 years-of-age or older at the time of your application
        • have good character, which means one cannot have a criminal record
        • have been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK or have EEA permanent residence
        • have not broken any immigration laws, including overstaying any visa
        • be able to speak English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic
        • meet the residential qualifying period of three years
        • be married to a British Citizen

        In the course of  the application, one must be able to show ample knowledge

        of the UK by passing the ‘Life in the UK’ test and meeting the English Language requirements.

        You will need to gather all of your supporting documents in advance of your Naturalisation application as your Naturalisation application can only be completed by post. So, you will need to complete Form AN, Application for Naturalisation as a British Citizen, that is 30 pages long and includes guidance notes and an accompanying booklet.

        You may need to complete a language test and the Life in the UK test before completing your Naturalisation application. You will also need to gather your travel details for the past five years, so it’s worth gathering this information in advance of your application.

        You should make a copy of your completed Naturalisation application before submitting it by post. Once you have submitted it, the UK Home Office will complete checks on your application, that includes looking into your criminal record to see if there is any reason you wouldn’t be eligible for British Naturalisation. If accepted, you will be invited to a Citizenship ceremony where you will be presented with a Certificate of Naturalisation. Then, you will be able to apply for a British passport, which is the most popular proof of ID for British citizens.

        Time can vary for British Naturalisation process. It can take up to four weeks to receive confirmation after the date of sending an application. After that, it will usually take around 6 months to make a decision on your Naturalisation application. You may be invited to attend an interview where you will need to speak without an interpreter during this process. Then you can apply for your first British passport after you have received your certificate of citizenship.

        You must apply at the consulate of the destination you plan to visit first,in case you are going to visit multiple Schengen countries.

        You are advised to submit your Schengen Visa application at least 15 days before the start date of your trip. Though, you cannot submit your application form any earlier than three months prior to the time you intend to enter the Schengen Area.

        There are the criteria one must meet in order to make one’s application. One should:-

        • be 18 years-of-age or older at the time of your application
        • have good character, which means one cannot have a criminal record
        • have been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK or have EEA permanent residence
        • have not broken any immigration laws, including overstaying any visa
        • be able to speak English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic
        • meet the residential qualifying period of three years
        • be married to a British Citizen

        In the course of  the application, one must be able to show ample knowledge

        of the UK by passing the ‘Life in the UK’ test and meeting the English Language requirements.

        You will need to gather all of your supporting documents in advance of your Naturalisation application as your Naturalisation application can only be completed by post. So, you will need to complete Form AN, Application for Naturalisation as a British Citizen, that is 30 pages long and includes guidance notes and an accompanying booklet.

        You may need to complete a language test and the Life in the UK test before completing your Naturalisation application. You will also need to gather your travel details for the past five years, so it’s worth gathering this information in advance of your application.

        You should make a copy of your completed Naturalisation application before submitting it by post. Once you have submitted it, the UK Home Office will complete checks on your application, that includes looking into your criminal record to see if there is any reason you wouldn’t be eligible for British Naturalisation. If accepted, you will be invited to a Citizenship ceremony where you will be presented with a Certificate of Naturalisation. Then, you will be able to apply for a British passport, which is the most popular proof of ID for British citizens.

        Time can vary for British Naturalisation process. It can take up to four weeks to receive confirmation after the date of sending an application. After that, it will usually take around 6 months to make a decision on your Naturalisation application. You may be invited to attend an interview where you will need to speak without an interpreter during this process. Then you can apply for your first British passport after you have received your certificate of citizenship.

        You must apply at the consulate of the destination you plan to visit first,in case you are going to visit multiple Schengen countries.

        You are advised to submit your Schengen Visa application at least 15 days before the start date of your trip. Though, you cannot submit your application form any earlier than three months prior to the time you intend to enter the Schengen Area.