BRITISH CITIZENSHIP & NATURALISATION
Becoming a British citizen
British citizenship lets you live and work in the UK without any immigration restrictions and apply for a British passport.
For most people who have settled in the UK, the next step is to apply for citizenship through naturalisation. Others may qualify through registration, or may already be British by birth or descent.
What applies to you depends on your immigration status, how long you’ve lived here, your family circumstances and the part of nationality law that covers your situation.
Fusco Browne advises on naturalisation, registration, checking whether you’re already British and applications where your immigration history is complicated.
Who can apply for British citizenship?
You may qualify if you:
- have lived in the UK for the required time and hold Indefinite Leave to Remain or settled status
- are married to, or in a civil partnership with, a British citizen
- were born in the UK and can register as British, for example because a parent later became British or settled
- have a British parent
- qualify for registration under another part of British nationality law
Some people are already British and don’t need to apply. They just need evidence of their nationality, such as a British passport. Before you apply, it’s important to check which route is right for you.
Naturalisation after 5 years in the UK
This is the standard route for adults who have settled in the UK. You’ll normally need to:
- be 18 or over
- have lived in the UK for at least 5 years, and have been in the UK on the first day of that period
- have held ILR, settled status or another permanent status for at least 12 months
- stay within the limits on time spent outside the UK
- meet the English language and Life in the UK Test requirements
- be of good character
- intend to keep living in the UK
Having ILR doesn’t mean you automatically meet every other requirement, so it’s worth checking before you apply.
British citizenship through marriage
If you’re married to, or in a civil partnership with, a British citizen, you can apply after 3 years in the UK instead of 5. You’ll normally need to:
- be 18 or over
- have lived in the UK for at least 3 years
- hold ILR, settled status or another permanent status
- stay within the absence limits
- meet the English, Life in the UK Test and good character requirements
You don’t have to wait 12 months after getting ILR. Many people apply soon after moving from a spouse visa to ILR. Being married to a British citizen doesn’t make you British on its own, though. You still have to apply.
Time spent outside the UK
The Home Office looks closely at how much time you’ve spent abroad.
| Standard route | Spouse or civil partner route | |
|---|---|---|
| Time living in the UK | 5 years | 3 years |
| Maximum days outside the UK during that time | 450 days | 270 days |
| Maximum days outside the UK in the last 12 months | 90 days | 90 days |
| Wait after getting ILR | 12 months | No wait |
The Home Office can sometimes allow extra absences, but you shouldn’t assume it will. If you travel a lot, we can go through your travel history before you apply.
Do you need ILR before applying?
Most adults must be free from immigration time limits before they can naturalise. This usually means holding:
- Indefinite Leave to Remain
- Indefinite Leave to Enter
- settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
Different rules apply to Irish citizens. Pre-settled status isn’t enough on its own, so if you’re not sure where you stand, get advice before you apply.
English language and the Life in the UK Test
Most adults need to show they can speak and understand English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic at B1 level or above. You can usually show this with an approved English test, a degree taught in English, or a passport from an English-speaking country.
You’ll also need to pass the Life in the UK Test, which covers British history, government and everyday life. If you passed it for your ILR application, you don’t need to take it again.
You may be exempt from both if you’re 65 or over, or have a long-term physical or mental condition that stops you meeting them.
Good character requirement
Everyone aged 10 or over must be of good character. The Home Office looks at:
- criminal convictions in the UK and overseas
- your immigration history, including overstaying or breaking visa conditions
- deception in past applications
- tax affairs and debts
Since February 2025, people who entered the UK illegally are normally refused citizenship. Guidance updated in April 2026 says this should usually be set aside where the illegal entry was outside the person’s control, for example for children or victims of trafficking.
If your history includes overstaying, a conviction or past problems with the Home Office, get advice before you apply, even if you now have ILR. The application fee isn’t refunded if you’re refused.
Registering as a British citizen
Registration is a separate process from naturalisation. It’s mostly used for children, and for adults who qualify under particular parts of nationality law. Some registration routes are an entitlement: if you meet the rules, you must be registered. Others are at the Home Office’s discretion.
Registering a child
A child born in the UK isn’t automatically British just because they were born here. It depends on their date of birth and on whether a parent was British or settled when they were born.
A child may be able to register if:
- they were born in the UK and a parent later became British or settled
- they were born in the UK and lived here for the first 10 years of their life
- they have a British parent under a particular part of nationality law
Other children may qualify for registration at the Home Office’s discretion.
Can adults register?
Yes, in some cases. This includes people affected by older nationality laws, some holders of other types of British nationality, and people with certain family connections. The rules are different from naturalisation.
British by birth or descent
Some people are already British and don’t need to apply at all.
Born in the UK: If you were born in the UK on or after 1 January 1983, you’re usually British if a parent was British or settled when you were born. Different rules apply to people born before then.
Born abroad to a British parent: You may be British automatically, depending on your parent’s status and when you were born.
British citizens are either British “by descent” or “otherwise than by descent”. This matters if you have children born outside the UK, because a British citizen by descent usually can’t pass citizenship on automatically to a child born abroad. We can check which applies to you.
The six types of British nationality
British nationality law recognises six types:
- British citizen
- British Overseas Territories citizen
- British Overseas citizen
- British subject
- British National (Overseas)
- British protected person
Only British citizens have an automatic right to live and work in the UK. Holders of the other types may be able to register as British citizens, or may have other immigration options.
Documents you’ll need
What you need depends on your nationality, your immigration history and how you’re applying. It usually includes:
- current and previous passports
- proof of your ILR or settled status
- details of your trips outside the UK
- your English test or degree certificate
- your Life in the UK Test pass reference
- your marriage or civil partnership certificate, and your partner’s British passport, if you’re applying through marriage
- details of any previous immigration applications or criminal matters
- two referees who meet the Home Office’s rules
You may need more if you’ve changed your name or have an unusual residence history.
How to apply
- Check you qualify: confirm which route applies and that you meet the requirements.
- Review your travel and immigration history: check your absences and anything that could affect good character.
- Gather your documents: identity, immigration status, English and supporting evidence.
- Apply online: pay the fee and book your identity appointment.
- Wait for a decision: the Home Office may ask for more information.
- Attend your citizenship ceremony: you make an oath or affirmation and a pledge, and receive your certificate of naturalisation. You can then apply for a British passport.
How much does British citizenship cost?
Current Home Office fees:
- naturalisation: £1,709, plus the £130 ceremony fee (£1,839 in total)
- registering a child: £1,000
- registering an adult: £1,540, plus the £130 ceremony fee
Check the current fees on GOV.UK before you apply, as they change.
How long does it take?
The Home Office aims to decide most citizenship applications within 6 months. Some take longer, especially where extra checks are needed. Don’t book travel or make other important plans until you have your decision.
What if your application is refused?
Applications are usually refused because of residence, immigration history, missing evidence or good character.
There’s no right of appeal against a refusal of naturalisation. You can ask the Home Office to reconsider if the decision contains a mistake, or you can make a new application once the problem is fixed. We can look at your refusal and tell you which is the better option.
Frequently asked questions
On the standard route, you normally need to wait 12 months. If you’re married to, or in a civil partnership with, a British citizen, you can usually apply straight away.
Yes. You may be able to apply after 3 years in the UK if you hold ILR or settled status and meet the other requirements.
Normally no more than 450 days over 5 years on the standard route, or 270 days over 3 years on the spouse route. Both routes have a 90-day limit in the last 12 months.
Not always. It depends on when they were born and on their parents’ status at the time. Children who weren’t British at birth can often register later.
No. If you passed it for an earlier application, you can use the same pass.
It depends on the offence, the sentence and how long ago it was. A conviction doesn’t always mean refusal, but get advice before you apply.
The UK allows dual citizenship, but some countries don’t. Check the rules of your current country before you apply.
British citizenship solicitors – Fusco Browne
Our immigration solicitors advise on naturalisation, registration, citizenship through family and applications where there have been past immigration problems.
We’ll check you qualify, review your documents and help you prepare your application so it’s right first time.
If you’re thinking of applying for British citizenship, or you’re not sure of your nationality status, contact our immigration solicitors to talk through your situation.