Naturalisation Application Guidance
Naturalisation refers to the process a foreign national undergoes to consciously elect to become a citizen of another country. In the case of British citizenship, a UK resident who holds overseas nationality may apply to the Home Office to ‘naturalise’ and obtain citizenship.
Total Law can help you with a citizenship application. Call +44 (0) 333 305 9375 or message us online to speak to a specialist now and learn more on if naturalisation is a pathway to British citizenship for you.
What is Naturalisation in the UK?
There are several routes to British citizenship, and many of them are through the entitlement of status by an individual. Naturalisation, however, refers to the application process for a foreign national who is choosing to apply for British citizenship as a result of their residency and otherwise eligibility in the UK.
It should be noted that an application, naturalisation may be accepted or declined by the Home Office (or other relevant immigration authorities where the application is being made in another territory).
Naturalisation is a matter of law as set out in the British Nationality Act 1981. The British Home Secretary may exercise their discretion to naturalise individuals who don’t fit all of the legal eligibility criteria; but this is done very rarely and only as a matter of great exception.
Page Contents
- What is Naturalisation in the UK?
- Why apply for British Citizenship through Naturalisation?
- Legal Eligibility Requirements for British Naturalisation
- Requirement for Referees
- Supporting Documents Required for Foreign Citizens to apply for Naturalisation
- Steps to Apply for British Citizenship through Naturalisation
- Apply for British passport (if desired)
- Becoming a British citizen through Naturalisation: Costs and Processing Times
- How Can Total Law Help?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why apply for British Citizenship through Naturalisation?
British citizens are able to live and work in the UK free of all immigration controls, and may apply for a British passport. This allows for the permanent settlement of an individual without having to abide by any visa or travel restrictions. It also facilitates the full use of state funds (benefits) and NHS free-at-point-of-entry access.
If an individual has lived in the UK for a long time and settled there, obtaining British citizenship essentially allows them to live restriction-free in the country. However, they must be intending to stay in the UK permanently; as they may lose their existing citizenship when they become a British national (except in the case of dual-nationality).
Unsure if you’re entitled to dual nationality? Call +44 (0) 333 305 9375 and talk through your circumstances with a Total Law solicitor.
Legal Eligibility Requirements for British Naturalisation
There are set eligibility requirements that must be met by an applicant for naturalisation to British citizenship. The applicant must:
- Be aged 18 or over; AND
- Be of ‘sound mind’
Then, further requirements depend on whether or not the applicant is married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen. If the applicant is married to or in a civil partnership with someone who is already a British citizen, they must:
- Have lived in the UK for at least three years
- Have been physically present in the UK, Isle of Man or Channel Islands on the day three years before the application is submitted
- Be free of any immigration time restrictions at the time of application
- Not be in breach of any immigration laws in the three-year period prior to application
- Must not have spent 270 or more days outside of the UK in the three-year period prior to application
- Have passed a Life In The UK test
- Be able to demonstrate coherent English language communication
- Be able to demonstrate they are of ‘good character’ (ie have a clean criminal record)
If the applicant is not married to or in a civil partnership with someone who is already a British citizen, they must:
- Have lived in the UK for at least five years
- Have been physically present in the UK, Isle of Man or Channel Islands on the day five years before the application is submitted
- Be free of any immigration time restrictions at the time of application and for the 12-month period prior to application
- Not be in breach of any immigration laws in the five-year period prior to application
- Must not have spent 450 or more days outside of the UK in the five-year period prior to application
- Must not have spent more than 90 days outside of the UK in the 12-month period prior to application
- Intend to continue to live in the UK (or continue working for a Crown Service)
- Have passed a Life In The UK test
- Be able to demonstrate coherent English language communication
- Be able to demonstrate they are of ‘good character’ (ie have a clean criminal record)
Some discretion may be exercised in the case of absences from the UK if there is a valid reason for the time away. Speak to a Total Law immigration specialist to discuss specific situations on +44 (0) 333 305 9375.
Requirement for Referees
All applicants must include details of two referees who can be contacted by immigration authorities as part of the British Citizenship through naturalisation process. These referees must meet their own eligibility criteria.
One referee may be of:
- Any nationality; AND
- A professional person (such as a minister of religion, civil servant, a member of a professional body
The other may be:
- A British citizen; AND
- Holder of a British passport; AND EITHER
- Aged 25 or over; OR
- A professional person
Both referees must:
- Have known the applicant for a minimum of three years
- Not be related to the applicant
- Not be related to the other referee
- Not be a solicitor or agent representing the applicant
- Not be employed by the Home Office
- Be free of any convictions for imprisonable offences over the last decade
Checks will be carried out on all referees. If anything is found to be knowingly disingenuous or false, both applicant and referee may be prosecuted with a criminal offence.
Supporting Documents Required for Foreign Citizens to apply for Naturalisation
A number of documents should be submitted alongside the British Citizenship application form in order to demonstrate the eligibility of the applicant for naturalisation. Additional documents or further information may be requested during the application process, but as standard the required documents are:
- A passport; OR
- National identity card; OR
- Home Office travel document; OR
- Home Office entitlement card;OR
- Home Office ARC letter; OR
- Birth certificate; OR
- Photo driving licence; AND
- A bank, building society or credit card statement issued to the applicant within the last six months
If the applicant has changed their name or gender, they must also include any of the following that are relevant or appropriate:
- A Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC)
- A letter from a doctor or medical consultant confirming that the change of gender is likely to be permanent
- A change of name deed poll
- Marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate
Then, the applicant must also supply:
- Proof of presence in the UK for the three- or five-year period prior to the application (either their passport or proof of income/employment in the UK)
- (Unless over 65 or disabled and unable to do so) A certificate proving a pass mark for the Life In The UK test
- (Unless over 65 or disabled and unable to do so, or from an English-speaking country) A certificate proving a competent level of English language communication
Unsure of what to include with your British citizenship by naturalisation application? Let a Total Law expert talk you through it. Call +44 (0) 333 305 9375 to chat.
Steps to Apply for British Citizenship through Naturalisation
Applying for British Citizenship through naturalisation is a fairly straightforward process, but does require some organisation in advance. The steps to apply to become a British citizen are as follows:
Collate supporting documents
As all evidential documents must be submitted along with the application to become a British citizen, these should be collated ahead of any application being made to avoid delay.
Take Life In The UK Test
The Life in the UK test must be taken and passed at an approved test centre. Full information on test centres, as well as the test’s content and practice rounds can be found on the GOV.UK website. The test costs £50 , payable in advance to the test centre. Students must obtain a mark of 75% or higher to pass. A certificate is granted upon completion, which can then be submitted alongside the British citizenship application and its other supporting documents.
Take English language test (if required)
If required, an English language test must be taken and passed in accordance with SELT (Secure English Language Testing) guidelines. These tests are in line with CEFR qualification levels. Depending on which test you intend to take, it may be supplied by Pearson, Trinity College London, the IELTS SELT Consortium or LanguageCert. A certificate will be issued upon completion for submission along with the British citizenship application.
Complete online naturalisation form
The online form should be completed wholly and accurately on the GOV.UK website, with copies of the supporting documents attached.
Submit details of two referees
Details of two eligible referees (at least one of which should be a British citizen) should be submitted along with the application form. These referees will be contacted during the processing period of the application.
Pay British citizenship application fee
The naturalisation application fee is to be paid online by credit or debit card at the end of the application form.
Enrol biometric details
If the existing immigration status of the applicant has not already required biometric information, this must be submitted after the digital application form has been received. This is usually the taking of fingerprints and a facial photo, at a verified UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) centre. If information has already been taken, it may be reused.
If information has not already been taken, it must be submitted at a UKVI centre within 45 days of the application being submitted. Once the application form has been received, UKVI will email the applicant with details of what is required from them and how best to submit it.
Children aged under 16 must be accompanied at their biometric enrolment appointment. Children aged under 5 will not be required to submit fingerprints but will need a photo taken.
Await decision
Once all information has been received, immigration authorities will process the application, vet the referees and audit all information.
Attend Citizenship Ceremony
If the application to become a British citizen through the process of naturalisation is granted, a place at a Citizenship Ceremony will be offered. This must be attended within 90 days of the application being accepted. The Home Office will detail the information of the ceremony in writing to the applicant (by email or post), and if not attended, the application will be void.
At the Citizenship Ceremony, the applicant will swear an Oath of Allegiance to the Monarch and pledge their loyalty to the UK. Following this, they will be presented with a certificate of naturalisation as a British citizen.
Apply for British passport (if desired)
Once the applicant has become a British citizen, they may choose to apply for a UK passport.
Becoming a British citizen through Naturalisation: Costs and Processing Times
On average it takes six months to process an application for British citizenship.
To apply for British citizenship, the fee is £1,605.
The arrangement of a citizenship ceremony (including the administration of a citizenship oath and pledge at the ceremony) costs £130.
Where the oath, or oath and pledge, are not administered at a citizenship ceremony or by a justice of the peace, the fee is £5.
Speak to a specialist immigration solicitor to understand how much your naturalisation journey may cost you. Call +44 (0) 333 305 9375 for more information.
How Can Total Law Help?
Total Law specialise in immigration law and help individuals obtain the travel permissions, visas and citizenships they’d like to live the life they want around the world. Take your first step to become a British citizen – through naturalisation or otherwise – now by speaking to a dedicated solicitor on +44 (0) 333 305 9375 or making an enquiry online today.
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Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Naturalisation is one path to become a British citizen under the British Nationality Act.
The Naturalisation Certificate number can be found on the bottom of the certificate to the left hand side of the issue date.
If Commonwealth citizens are not otherwise eligible for British citizenship, they may choose to apply taking the naturalisation path under the British Nationality Act.
Being born in the UK does not automatically entitle an individual to become a British citizen, even if they have a British parent. They may, therefore, need to submit a naturalisation application when eligible. Speak to Total Law on +44 (0) 333 305 9375 to discuss individual circumstances.
Providing the foreign nationals’ original citizenship allows for them to retain their nationality, British citizens may be able to maintain dual citizenship status after their Citizenship Ceremony.
British law views civil partnerships as legally binding and so those in a civil partnership with a British citizen are entitled to the same citizenship pathways as those married to one.
