British Citizenship Guidelines
By birth you can be a British citizen or if you are 18 years old or above, you may apply for naturalisation. To become a British national there are some requirements that should be satisfied making you an eligible candidate. You should have remained in the UK on Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or EU Settled Status for a minimum of three years without ever having broken any UK law that includes immigration breaches too. These should be proven with evidence.
You are permitted to live, work and study in the UK, without any immigration restrictions permanently, with the permanent residence status request being approved. You need not worry about losing your status and can travel and spend time abroad as you wish.
Page Contents
- UK Citizenship Requirements
- How to acquire British nationality
- Required supporting documents
- Applying for Citizenship after IRL
- How to apply for UK nationality
- Citizenship application form
- Life in the UK & English Test
- UK Nationality by Marriage
- UK Nationality by Birth
- UK Nationality by Descent
- Dual Nationality
- Frequently Asked Questions
- How can I get help from Rubens Immigration
What are the immigration routes for British Citizenship registration ?
There are various routes which you can apply for the British Citizenship registration which depends on your circumstances, such as:
- British Citizenship by Birth or by Descent: If you were born after 1st Jan 1983, in the UK, then you will automatically be recognized as a British citizen. Although, if at least one of your parents is a British citizen or settled person, then despite being born in another country, you will be eligible.
- British Citizenship by Marriage: If you are married to a British citizen or settled person, then you can apply for British nationality considering you must have spent a minimum of 3 years in the UK as a settled person or by holding a ILR.
- 5-year route: You can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after having resided in the UK for 5 years. After holding the ILR you should have stayed in the UK for 12 months then you will be permitted to apply for British nationality as well. To EU and EEA citizens on the EU Settled Scheme the same applies.
- Citizenship for “stateless” individuals: You may be eligible for a British citizenship, if you are “stateless”, not recognized as a citizen of any country. The application process and eligibility that should be followed, depends on the country you were born.
- Nationality for those who renounced it: You are permitted to resume your status as a British citizen, if you had once given it up.
What documents do I need to register for British Citizenship ?
To apply and submit your request for the British citizenship, you need to meet all the standard residency requirements that need to be proven with the help of correct and sufficient documents and evidence. On the basis of the submitted materials the Home Office will analyse and evaluate your case.
To get the British citizenship, the following documents need to be sent to the Home Office:
- Proof of your identity and permanent residence status like your birth certificate, passport and so on
- Proof that show you hold Indefinite Leave to Remain or EU Settled Status such as your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), or residence card
- Proof of your right to remain in the UK and previous immigration status with any visas that you had before settling in the UK
- Proof of being proficient in English language and being well aware of life in the UK. For this you will need to take the ESOL language test and the Life in the UK Test. You will not need to take the Life in the UK test, if you had already taken it for obtaining the IRL
- Proof of not being involved in any criminal activities or breaching ay immigration laws during your stay in the UK
- To be eligible for the British citizenship you should not have lived outside the UK for more than 450 days whistl your five years residence period. This should be proven by the travel details of your absence period
- Proof that show you have the right to remain in the UK and that you are free from the UK immigration time restrictions
- Proof that you satisfy the good character requirement
- Depending on your immigration status, proof that you have implemented a treaty right in the past 3 to 5 years. For this, letters to attest your present employment, bank statements or letters from your educational institute can be provided.
Get in touch with our expert immigration lawyers to learn more on British Citizenship.
What are the differences between British Citizenship and ILR ?
The right to live, work and study in the UK, with no immigration restrictions is given by both the British citizenship and the ILR. Though they are different in status and are different.
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
Once you have completed your 5 years continuous residence in the UK, then you are eligible to apply for the ILR. With this, you will be an official British settled person and so be permitted to live in the UK permanently with privileges such as access public funds, bring your family, leave and re-enter the UK without applying for a visa and so on.
You will be eligible for the naturalisation only after holding ILR. Although, it should be well noted that if you live outside the UK for more than two years, then you will lose your ILR status.
British Citizenship
Full rights and responsibilities will be granted to you once you obtain the British citizenship. You will be able to vote in the parliamentary and even apply for a British passport. You can even leave the UK for an unbounded time period as you will not be losing your status over it.
I was granted Indefinite Leave to Remain. When can I apply for British Citizenship ?
After you have obtained the Indefinite Leave to Remain and resided with it in the UK for a minimum of 12 months, then by rule you become eligible to become a British citizen. To those who hold Indefinite Leave to Enter the UK, and to EU and EEA citizens who have had settled status for a certain time, the same requirements apply.
Although, instantly after being granted the Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK, you can apply for Naturalisation, if you are married to a British citizen.
You should not spend more than 90 days outside the UK, during the 12 month qualifying time period. You will be required to submit your travel details regarding your absence while submitting your application.
If you have been away from the UK for more than two years then you will lose your ILR. This results in you not qualifying for the British citizenship unless a certain eligible time has been spent in the UK by you.
You will lose your right to settle in the UK, if you are an EU citizen with a settled status in case you spend more than five years abroad. You may regain your status for which a new application should be submitted.
British Citizenship Application Advice
British citizenship application process might be difficult to understand and go through. Rubens Immigration is dedicated to make such an application process easier for the applicants, increasing their chance of success. We have well experienced professional lawyers who will assess your circumstance and guide you accordingly. You can hire one of our experts and any other enquiry could be dealt with online as well.
British Citizenship Application Assistance
At Rubens Immigration, we have qualified immigration lawyers who will assist you throughout your British nationality application process. Your lawyer will help you to fulfill all the eligibility criteria and will also fill in and submit your application as well. A full document check of the portfolio will be done by your lawyer, along with a Letter of Representation to support your application.
Get in touch with our expert immigration lawyers to learn more on British Citizenship.
How do I apply for British Citizenship ?
To apply for British Citizenship, you need to fill in the application from the UKVI. The application should be completed with all the required evidence and documents and submitted.
At your nearest UKVCAS centre, your biometric details such as your fingerprints, photographs should be collected.
You may be contacted by the Home Office to inform you that your information can be provided at a local post office.
The submission of the form and its required supporting documents can be done from within or outside the UK.
What is the British Citizenship application form ?
A Form AN, Application should be filled in and completed for Naturalisation as a British national. As mentioned in the form detailed information regarding your case should be provided in each section to prove your eligibility, which includes your biographical data, proof of residency, details of your employment status and any dependents who are gonna apply.
Evidence that shows your relationship is genuine should be provided, if you are registering as the spouse of a British national.The details of your two referees, whose signature is required for in your application to confirm that the information provided by your is valid should be included as well.
Who can be a referee for my British Citizenship application ?
Two referees are required to certify your application. They can be of your choice and are responsible to validate the information provided by you, seeing to that they are correct. YOur request will be refused, failing to get validated in the absence of the referee’s signature.
Both of your referees should not be related to you nor each other and must have known you for a minimum of three years. Within the last ten years before your application, they should not have been involved in any criminal activities as well.
One of your referees should have a professional standing like a doctor, a minister of religion and so on, but they cannot be a UKVI employee nor a solicitor or agent representing you in your case. The referee need not be a British citizen. Although, your other referee needs to be a UK national with a British passport, who is at least 25 years of age or an accredited professional.
How long does the British Citizenship application process take ?
The British nationality applications are dealt by the UKVI and take around six months. After the standard fee has been paid the Home Office will start processing your case.
This application cannot be sped up by applying for services such as the Premium Same Day Service. Although, you may receive a decision from the Home Office quite earlier than expected, if you have provided sufficient and comprehensive documents supporting your application. The complex cases or if you have failed to submit all the required documents then the process will comparatively take longer time that might exceed the average six-month period as well.
You will be invited to attend your Citizenship Ceremony to receive your Naturalisation certificate, once your application gets approved. Then you may apply for a British passport as well.
What is the Life in the UK Test ?
The Life in the UK Test is also known as the British Citizenship Test. In this test, 24 questions relating to the British culture, histories and customs that are to be known by all the Britishers are asked. Thus, on the basis of information included in the Life in the UK Handbook provided by the Home Office, the questions are designed. The exam is a compulsion for those who intend on settling in the UK and a minimum of 75% mark should be obtained.
You will not require to take this test, if you have already obtained the pass certificate while applying for the Indefinite Leave to Remain. Those who are between 18 to 65 years of age, suffering from some disease or disability that prevents them from fulfilling this requirement will also be exempt from this British nationality requirements.
The test must be taken three days in advance and can be booked online as well. You will be allowed to choose one of the five centres that are closest to your residence.
For the exam, you will be required to bring proof of your address and the ID with which you had booked the test. You will not be able to take the test, if you fail on bringing these required documents nor will you be getting a refund.
You will receive a notification letter once you pass the test that needs to be sent to the UKVI along with your permanent residence form. In case of failing the test, you may take a retest which can be taken as many times as required.
Do I need to pass an accredited English Test ?
English language requirement should be satisfied for you to be a British citizen. An acknowledged English test qualification at least at B1 level should be obtained from a certified test centre. The UKVI accepts the credentials that are certified by the ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages). The requirement is not met by other qualifications such as GCSEs and NVQs (National Vocational Qualifications).
Some test qualifications last for only 2 years. Only if the certificate was accepted for another UK immigration application or when you settled on ILR, permanent residence status or under EU Settled Status, the Home Office will admit an expired certificate.
English Language requirement exemptions
If you fall under the following categories then you will be exempted from taking the English test:
You are 65 years old or older
You have a long-term physical or mental condition
You hold a recognised degree that was taught or researched in English
To certify that your degree is equivalent to a UK qualification if you have studied abroad, you will be required to provide an Academic Qualification Level Statement (AQUALS) and also prove that it was taught in English.
Get in touch with our expert immigration lawyers to learn more on British Citizenship.
What is the British Citizenship Ceremony ?
The British Citizenship Ceremony is a ceremony that is conducted in order to make each new British citizen welcomed into the British community. All applicants who are above 18 years who have been granted the British naturalisation are required to take part in this ceremony as mentioned in the British Nationality Act.
Once your British naturalisation has been accepted by the Home Office, within 3 months you must book for the ceremony. These functions are not open for the public so it is limited to you being allowed to bring only one guest, in the attendance of the Mayor or Deputy Mayor of your council.
You will be required to bring the letter of invitation from the Home Office and the written confirmation from the Register Office, when you attend the ceremony. There will be a ritual where you will be asked to take an Oath of Allegiance and pledge of loyalty to the United Kingdom, then you will be granted your British nationality certificate and an information pack that has information regarding your new rights and responsibilities as a British citizen.
You can ask for permission to the embassy or consulate in your country to conduct the ceremony there itself, if you are currently outside the UK. If you intend on returning to the UK within the 3 months of getting the invitation for the ceremony then you may postpone your function and have it there itself.
How can I acquire British Citizenship by Marriage ?
You can submit the application for British citizenship after residing in the UK for three years continuously and lawfully as a settled person, if you are married to a UK citizen.
There are some requirements that needs to be fulfilled for you to submit your Form AN, Application for Naturalisation as a British Citizen such as:
- Married to a British citizen. You will need to follow another immigration route if your partner is a UK settled person not having a British passport, to get your permanent residence status
- For a minimum of three years before your application have had held ILR, an EEA permanent residence card or EU Settled Status
- Age of 18 years and above
- Passed the good character test and no any criminal records in the UK nor abroad
- Passed an ESOL exam that supports your proficiency in English language or proof that shows you belong to an English-speaking country
- Passed the Life in the UK Test which is a compulsory requirement
- Proof of at least three years residency in the UK
What are the requirements for British Citizenship by birth ?
Having at least one of your parents be a British citizen or a UK settled person, makes you eligible to British Citizenship by birth. All children born in the country will not receive this privilege.
If the children are born in the UK but your parents are non-British citizens then by default they will be recognised as dependants, subjected to the same visa rules as their parents. Although in later time, you may be able to register for British citizenship.
What are the Mandatory British Citizenship by descent requirements ?
The children born outside the UK but having at least one parent as a British citizen are eligible for the British Citizenship by descent. This persists as any child who is born abroad will not automatically be passed the British nationality.
You may be able to register for UK nationality by descent if you were born after 1 Jan 1983 and have a British born grandfather who was in Crown service or one of your parents born in a former British colony.
Can a refugee acquire for British Citizenship ?
The path to nationality and permanent residence in the UK for the refugees consists of three stages, as mentioned by the 2009 Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act. They are:
- Temporary residence status: This permits 5 years stay in the UK, obtained as a result of the asylum status.
- Probationary Citizenship: This permits 1 to 3 years stay that is granted by passing an Action Review. Under this the applicant is required to have continued need for protection, passed the Life in the UK test and have no criminal record.
- Full Citizenship or Permanent Residence status.
How can I track my British Citizenship application status ?
The British Citizenship application on average takes about three to six months to process. Although the time period varies on the basis of the complexity of the case, the submission of supporting documents and the amount of applications to be processed by the Home Office.
You can travel as your case is being processed as there will not be the need to submit your original passport with your naturalisation form.
The application status cannot be tracked online. Though, via email or phone you may enquire about your application status to the UKVI at any time.
Can you renounce British Citizenship or nationality ?
You can renounce your British citizenship or status after having given it up. To become a citizen of another country that does not allow dual nationality you may require to give up your UK nationality status. But, if the country for whose nationality you are applying allows dual nationality then you need not renounce your status in the UK.
To demonstrate that you are no longer a British citizen, once your request is accepted, you will receive a “declaration of renunciation”. Other members of your family will not be affected by this and it will be only you who will lose your UK national status.
You should be 18 years old or above to renounce your status as a British national. The “sound mind” requirement, which means that you must legally be considered as capable of taking decisions, should be met as well.
Resumption of British Citizenship
There might be instances where you had given up your status but wish to retain it again as you have changed your mind. For such cases you will need to apply for resumption. Although, this is possible only under the circumstance “renunciation was necessary to enable the applicant to retain or acquire some other nationality”, as stated by the British Nationality Act 1981. You will be required to prove that you still have strong and sensible connections with the UK, when applying for resumption. The Home Office will look into your good character to ensure you satisfy its requirements before granting you to reclaim your status, despite the fact that you were once a British national in the past.
Is Dual Citizenship allowed in the UK ?
Dual nationality is granted in the UK. This allows you to be a British national and also a citizen of another country. Multiple citizenships is also permitted by UK law. Thus, despite having the citizenship of multiple countries you may still apply for UK citizenship.
You can apply for foreign citizenship in any country that permits dual nationality, if you are a British citizen. There is no need to register for dual citizenship. The dual nationality relating rules are different according to the country. So, it is crucial to know whether your status in the UK can be maintained with your country’s consulate or embassy.
Several affecting factors should be taken into consideration while you send your request such as with dual nationality you will not be allowed to get diplomatic help in another country whose citizenship you hold, from the British government.
To attain the nationality of the country that does not allow dual nationality you will require to give up on the UK status. If your original country does not support dual nationality then once you obtain naturalisation in the UK you will lose your previous nationality. It is highly recommended for you to notify your country if needed of the original citizenship.
