British Citizenship Routes For Australians

Australian citizens who want to obtain British citizenship can do so by marriage, birth, and more. However, you must meet the requirements and eligibility criteria for the British citizenship route you choose.

For more information about routes to British citizenship, the UK citizenship requirements and the British Nationality Act or other services we offer, our immigration lawyers at Total Law can help. Call us today on +44 (0)333 305 9375 or message us online for quick assistance.

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    Obtaining British Citizenship As an Australian

    Australian nationals and commonwealth citizens are allowed to enter the UK for short-term, typically for 6 months. If you want to become a UK citizen, you can take any of the available British citizenship routes. You can become a British citizen by marriage, birth, descent, naturalisation, and more.

    To be regarded as a British national, you must prove to the British government that you have received Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) (also known as permanent residence) and you have always complied with the UK immigration rules. After earning the status as a permanent resident in the UK, you will be free to live, work and study without immigration restrictions.

    As an Australian citizen who wants to obtain British citizenship, you must meet all the eligibility requirements, pay the required fees and apply appropriately. Do not worry, our immigration lawyers at Total Law are always ready to help you.

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    The Routes To British Citizenship For Australians

    Australian citizens who want to obtain British citizenship can get it by the following routes:

    British Citizenship by Naturalisation

    Australian citizens who were not born in the UK can obtain British citizenship by Naturalisation. This route allows those who were not born in the British territory to apply for British citizenship. To qualify for this visa, you must prove that you have obtained ILR after staying in the UK for up to 5 years and have lived in the country for 1 year after obtaining the ILR.

    Also, ensure that you fulfil the minimum stay requirements for naturalisation, that is, you must not have stayed for up to 450 days abroad. Additionally, you must not have stayed for more than 90 days away from the UK within the last 1 year before applying for naturalisation.

    To apply for naturalisation, you must complete the Home Office application form designed for those seeking British citizenship by naturalisation. You may receive a decision on your application from 3 to 6 months.

    British Citizenship by Birth

    This route to citizenship confers British citizenship to a child born in the UK. Note that before a child born in the UK obtains citizenship by birth, one of the parents must be a British citizen or settled in the UK at the time of the child’s birth.

    If a child is born in the UK to non-British parents, the child will be regarded as a dependent and must comply with the UK immigration rules as their parents do. Note that you didn’t obtain British citizenship by birth if you were born to a settled or British father before July 1, 2006, who was not married to your mother and your mother was neither a British citizen nor settled in the UK.

    As an Australian citizen or resident, if you didn’t become a British citizen automatically, you can apply to the UK Home Office to register as a citizen of the UK. For this to be possible, you must meet certain requirements and pay the required fees.

    British Citizenship by Descent

    Through this British citizenship route, Australian citizens have the right to UK citizenship even if they were born outside the UK because they have British parents. Therefore, Australian citizens can obtain British citizenship by descent through registration or birth outside the UK to a British parent at the time of their birth. If you obtain British citizenship by descent you cannot pass your citizenship to your child born outside the UK, unless you are crown-designated or in EU service.

    British Citizenship by Marriage

    If you’re an Australian citizen married to a UK citizen, you can apply for British citizenship by marriage. You will not be granted citizenship because you are married to a UK-settled person or citizen. You must live in the UK for up to 3 years continuously on a settled status before you apply for citizenship.

    Note that to qualify for British citizenship by marriage, you must either be in a civil partnership or married to a UK citizen or settled person. To apply for citizenship by marriage as an Australian citizen, you must be at least 18 years old, and prove that you have lived in the UK for 3 years before your application date among other requirements.

    Requirements And Eligibility For Each British Citizenship Route

    Australian citizens applying for British citizenship must meet the eligibility requirements for the citizenship route they choose. Below are the eligibility requirements for British citizenship routes:

    Eligibility Requirements for British Citizenship by Naturalisation

    • Be of good character and don’t break the British nationality law
    • Be 18 years or older
    • Do not spend more than 450 days outside the UK during the qualifying 5 years of residence or more than 90 days outside the UK in the last 1 year before applying
    • Have stayed in the UK for a total of 5 years
    • Be proficient in English and have knowledge of life in the UK
    • Hold your ILR for at least 1 year before applying
    • Intend to remain in the UK permanently
    • Have a sound mind

    Eligibility Requirements for British Citizenship by Birth

    • One of the child’s parents was a British citizen or settled person at the time of the child’s birth
    • The child is below 18 years old
    • The child has lived in the UK for up to 10 years (where applicable)
    • The child was born in the UK before January 1, 1983

    Eligibility Requirements for British Citizenship by Descent

    • You were born before 1983
    • You were born between 1983 and June 2006
    • You were born on or after July 1, 2006

    The eligibility requirements for British citizenship by descent are more complex than those of other British citizenship routes and its eligibility requirements have changed over time. If you need more clarifications about the eligibility requirements for the British citizenship route, contact our team at Total Law on +44 (0)333 305 9375 or complete our online contact form for immediate assistance.

    Eligibility Requirements for British Citizenship by Marriage

    • Be a settled person in the UK, that is, you must hold ILR
    • Be 18 years old or older
    • Be in a civil partnership or be married to your UK citizen or a settled person in the UK
    • Have resided in the UK for a minimum of 3 years before you applied. Note that you must not spend more than 270 days outside the UK within those 3 years. Also, you must not spend more than 90 days outside the UK within the last 1 year before your application
    • Have good character
    • Have a sound mind
    • Be proficient in English, Scottish Gaelic or Welsh
    • Have knowledge of life in the UK

    For guidance on the best way to obtain British citizenship, speak with our immigration lawyers. Contact Us

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      The British Life In The UK Test

      This test is also called the British citizenship test. It comes with 24 questions based on the British culture, customs, and histories that should be known by British citizens. These questions are largely coined from the information in the Life in the UK Handbook the Home Office provides. Therefore you must study the handbook to pass the test.

      The British life in the UK test is compulsory for Australian citizens who want to remain in the UK permanently. To pass this test, you must score a minimum of 75%. If you have already obtained a pass certificate while fulfilling the requirements for ILR you will not be required to take the British life in the UK test.

      Those who have a mental impairment (having difficulty in learning another language), a long-term disability or illness and individuals aged below 18 or above 65 are also exempted from taking the test. You can book this test online with one of your nearest 5 centres at least within the last 3 days before the test.

      Get your proof of address and the same ID you used to book the test. If you cannot provide the required documentation, you will not be allowed to write the test and you will not be refunded. If you pass the test, you will receive a notification letter about it which you must send to take UK Visas Immigration (UKVI) along with your permanent residence form. However, if you fail the test, you can keep on taking it until you pass it.

      Citizenship Application Fees

      Australian citizens applying for British citizenship must make some financial commitment. You must pay:

      • £1,605 application fee for adults
      • £1,214 application fee for children
      • £130for the citizenship ceremony
      • £150 for English test (for adults only)
      • £50 for Life in the UK test (for adults only)

      You may be required to pay additional fees depending on your situation. Note that these fees typically change from time to time. Therefore, it’s best to seek guidance from our team of immigration lawyers at Total Law to help you analyse the fees you must pay. For guidance, call us today on +44 (0)333 305 9375 or message us online.

      British Citizenship Application Process & Steps

      As an Australian citizen, if you want to apply for British citizenship, you must do so by applying online or in person depending on your situation. The in-person application method is designed for applicants who are currently in the Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or a British overseas territory. You must complete your paper application form, scan and arrange your supporting documents and send them in person or by post.

      To apply online, you must complete your online application form and include the appropriate information without falsification. You will be shown all the documents you must provide to support your application. You must submit your citizenship application payment receipt while completing your application form.

      Submit all your required supporting documents on the UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) website once you are done applying online. You must then book an appointment with the UKVCAS to submit your digital signature, fingerprints and photographs. A decision will be made on your application after a few months. Thereafter, you must attend your citizenship ceremony.

      Enlist our experienced legal experts, for a hassle-free British citizenship application. Contact Us

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        Processing Time Of The British Citizenship Application

        It typically takes the UK Home Office about 6 months (depending on workload) to process your British citizenship application.

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        How To Get The British Passport

        Australian citizens and other foreign nationals who want to obtain British passports can do so in the following ways:

        Appointment

        If you’re applying for British passport after indefinite leave to remain, you may not want to wait any longer and therefore schedule an appointment to get your passport urgently. You can do this via the 1-day Premium and 1-week Fast Track services.

        Online

        This is the easiest way to apply for a British passport because the application wizard will direct you on the steps to take to obtain the passport.

        Post

        To apply by post, you must send your supporting documents together with your application directly to the UKVI. Ensure you include your correct postage on the envelope.

        Post Office Check and Send Service

        Through this method, your local post office will deliver your documents to the HM Passport Office via Special Delivery. This method of obtaining a British passport will cost you an additional service fee.

        How Can Total Law Help?

        You must meet the eligibility criteria for the British citizenship route you have chosen. Besides that, you must apply following the right steps, failing to do so may cause a refusal of application and loss of money in the process.

        Our IAA-certified immigration lawyers at Total Law can help you navigate the process of obtaining your British citizenship in the British Empire. They will help you organise all the required supporting documents you’d need to attend your appointment when applying for citizenship.

        All you need to do is call us today at Total Law on +44 (0)333 305 9375 or message us online for immediate assistance.

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                  Frequently Asked Questions

                  You’d need to provide the following documents to apply for British citizenship:

                  • Proof of identity
                  • Evidence of good character
                  • Proof of meeting the minimum stay requirement
                  • Biometric residence permit
                  • Proof of English proficiency
                  • Details of your days of absence from the UK during your qualifying period
                  • Proof you passed your Life in the UK test

                  The processes involved in getting British citizenship can be complex. It’s best to seek expert guidance from our team of immigration lawyers at Total Law as they will help you get British citizenship seamlessly. Call us today on +44 (0)333 305 9375 or contact us online for a quick response.

                  No, you cannot get a British passport without being a British citizen. The reason is that you must be of British nationality to hold or apply for a British passport.

                  This content was developed by a team of researchers, writers, SEO specialists, editors, and lawyers who provide valuable information to those with immigration queries.

                  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 Total Law before making any decisions based on the content provided.