British Citizenship by Marriage

For Americans married to a UK citizen, pursuing British citizenship by marriage is often a common route.

British citizenship allows you to remain indefinitely in the UK without needing to maintain your immigration status, as well as allowing you to participate in UK elections and to apply for a British passport.

You will also have access to free National Health Service (NHS) healthcare and to state services and benefits.

In order to be eligible for British citizenship status, you will need to live in the UK for at least 3 years, making it a shorter process than the usual 5-year naturalisation route. In order to be eligible, you will also need to have already obtained permanent settlement status.

If you and your UK partner are not married but are in a long-term committed relationship, you may also be able to obtain British citizenship through this route.

Page Contents

• UK Citizenship by Marriage
• Eligibility Criteria
• How to Apply for British Citizenship by Marriage?
• Necessary Documentation
• British Citizenship Application Cost
• English Language Requirement
• British Citizenship Application Processing Time
• Life in the UK Test
• Citizenship Ceremony
• What if my application is refused?
• Applying for a British Passport
• Advantages of British Citizenship
• How Can Total Law Help?
• Frequently Asked Questions

When applying for British citizenship by marriage, there are a number of eligibility criteria which you will generally need to satisfy. These are as follows:

• You must be at least 18 years of age
• You must be married to (or in a civil partnership with) a British citizen
• You must have resided in the UK for at least 3 years at the point of your application
  • In addition to satisfying the residence requirement, you must also have either indefinite leave to remain, settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or indefinite leave to enter the UK
• You must have sufficient language proficiency in either English, Welsh, or Scottish Gaelic
• You must have passed the Life in the UK test
• You must satisfy the ‘good character’ requirement

Many applications are rejected due to failure to satisfy the good character requirement or failure to provide evidence of sufficient residence in the UK.

As such, it is important to verify that you satisfy the eligibility criteria before submitting your application and that you can provide sufficient evidence of your eligibility.

When applying for British citizenship by marriage, there are a number of steps which you will need to follow.

Firstly, you will need to gather the required documentation, listed in the following section of this article.

Next, you should generally submit your application online (unless applying from the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or a British Overseas Territory), via the UK government website. Alternatively, you can submit your application by post, in which case you should submit it to the Lieutenant Governor if you are applying from the Channel Islands or Isle of Man, to the Governor of the territory if you live in a British Overseas Territory, or to UK Visas and Immigration if you live elsewhere in the UK.

If you are submitting your application by post to UK Visas and Immigration, you should send it to the following address:

Department 1
UK Visas and Immigration
The Capital Building
New Hall Place
Liverpool
L3 9PP

Once you have submitted your application, you will then need to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point, where you will need to provide your biometric information, specifically your fingerprints and photograph.

Once you have completed the necessary steps, your application will now be processed. You should receive a decision within 6 months, though you will be notified if this is not possible.
If you are successfully granted British citizenship, you will then generally need to attend a citizenship ceremony. This should be attended within 3 months of receiving your Home Office invitation.

When applying for British citizenship by marriage, there are a number of documents which you will be expected to provide. These are generally as follows:

• Valid ID (e.g. passport, national identity card, Home Office travel document)
• Proof of sufficient residence in the UK (i.e. at least 3 years of continuous residence immediately prior to the date of application)
• Completed application form
• Proof of marriage to or civil partnership with a UK citizen
• Proof that you have passed the Life in the UK test
• Proof that you have sufficient English, Welsh, or Scottish Gaelic skills (more information is provided on this later in the article)

You should make sure to gather the required documentation before starting with your application.

When applying for British citizenship through marriage, you will need to pay an application cost. This is generally £1,709. Additionally, you will generally need to pay £50 for the Life in the UK test. This fee is also payable for any resits which you take.

You will also generally need to pay a fee for attending a citizenship ceremony; the fee for this is usually £130.

In many cases, applicants also choose to pay for legal assistance in order to ensure a maximally smooth application process. Contact Total Law today on +44 (0) 333 305 9375 to learn more about our own range of services and how we can help ensure that your own application journey runs as efficiently as possible.

After you have submitted your application for British citizenship by marriage, you will need to wait for your application to be processed.

Generally, you should receive a decision within 6 months. If your decision is set to take longer, you will be notified of this before the original 6-month period has passed.

Note that, if your circumstances change whilst you are waiting for a decision on your application (if you move house or are arrested, for example) you should make sure to inform UK Visas and Immigration.

You can contact them using the following email address: [email protected].

The Life in the UK test is designed to check that you have sufficient knowledge of UK culture and way of life and is one of the eligibility criteria which you will generally need to satisfy when applying for UK citizenship.

There are over 30 test centres throughout the UK at which you can take the test. You will also have to pay a booking fee of £50.

The test can be booked online, via the UK government website. In order to book, you will require an email address, a payment card, and valid ID.

When completing the test, you will have 45 minutes in which to answer 24 questions. You will need to receive a score of at least 75% in order to pass. In the event that you do not pass, you will be able to retake as many times as necessary, but will have to repay the booking fee of £50 each time.

You can prepare for the test by studying the Life in the UK handbook. Note that there are certain circumstances in which you may be exempt from taking the test when applying for British citizenship, such as if you are under 18, over 65, have passed the test before, or have a long-term physical or mental condition which prevents you from accessing the test (in which case you will require confirmation from a doctor).

If you successfully acquire British citizenship then you will generally need to attend a citizenship ceremony. This should be attended within 3 months of being notified of your successful application.

When you attend your ceremony, you will generally be able to bring 2 guests, and should make sure to bring your invitation.

During the ceremony, you will be asked to swear an oath of allegiance (or a secular affirmation) and to pledge to respect the UK’s rights, freedoms, and laws.

If you are abroad when you receive notice that you have successfully obtained British citizenship, you may be able to postpone your ceremony.

However, you should still schedule it for within 3 months of receiving British citizenship.

If your application for British citizenship is unsuccessful, there is no official right of appeal. However, you can submit a Form NR to UK Visas and Immigration asking them to reconsider your application.

This form should be returned to the following address:

Department 73
UK Visas and Immigration
The Capital
New Hall Place
Liverpool
L3 9PP

Note that you should only submit this form if you believe the rejection was based on an unsound application of UK citizenship law, policy, or procedure.

Once you have obtained British citizenship, you will be able to apply for a British passport. You can apply online, in which case it will cost £94.50 for a standard adult passport and £107.50 for an adult 54-page frequent traveller passport. Alternatively, you can apply by post, in which case it will be £107 for a standard adult passport and £120 for a frequent traveller passport.

You will need to provide your naturalisation certificate and the passport you originally used when entering the UK.

You should receive your passport within a month of applying, although wait times can vary depending on how many other applications are being processed and whether you are asked to provide any additional information or to attend an interview. You can also track your passport application online.

Adult UK passports are valid for 10 years and can be renewed upon expiry.

British citizenship offers a wide variety of advantages, meaning that many Americans married to UK citizens choose to pursue British citizenship by marriage.

Firstly, you will be able to apply for a British passport. The UK passport is amongst the strongest in the world and grants numerous travel benefits.

Next, you will be able to participate in British elections, both in terms of voting and standing as a candidate.

You will also be able to access public services, such as the NHS, for free, meaning that you will be able to receive free healthcare. You will also be eligible for public welfare benefits and for a state pension.

Additionally, as both the UK and US allow dual citizenship, you will not need to relinquish your American citizenship in order to become a British citizen.