How long to get uk nationality

If the decisions were unlawful, unreasonable or procedurally improper, our immigration barristers can apply for Judicial Review and provide representation at Judicial Review hearings. Making a false statement in order to become a British citizen may be a criminal offence, and the Secretary of State may deprive you of your citizenship status if satisfied that it was obtained by means of fraud, false representation, or concealment of a material fact.

We can provide expert advice on your entitlement to British citizenship. To discuss your application for Naturalisation as a British Citizen with one of our specialist nationality barristers, contact our British citizenship team on or complete our enquiry form.

Sign up and receive our latest expert briefings, case-law alerts and immigration guides. The requirements to become a British citizen are set out in British Nationality Law; the relevant law is mainly in the British Nationality Act Some children and adult applicants may be entitled to register The final stage of becoming a British citizen is for you to attend a Home Office British Citizenship ceremony where you will be presented with a certificate of British citizenship.

If you are not living in the It is also often relevant to nationality Personal Immigration. Business Immigration. About Us. Why Choose Us? Can I apply for British Citizenship by Naturalisation? Apply for UK Citizenship: Married to a British citizen If you are married to a British citizen, the Home Office must be satisfied that: You were in the UK on the day three years before the date of your application; You have not been absent from the UK for more than days during the intervening three year period; You have not been in the UK in breach of the immigration laws at any time during that three year period; You have not been absent from the UK for more than 90 days during the 12 month period immediately preceding the date of your application; You are not subject to any time limit on the period for which you may remain in the UK at the date of your application; You are of good character; You have sufficient knowledge of the English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic language.

What is the good character requirement for British Citizenship? Is there any flexibility in the criteria for British Citizenship by Naturalisation? This includes: The permitted absence requirements e.

The Secretary of State has no discretion to waive, or to treat applicants as meeting, the following requirements: To have been in the UK at the start of the three or five year qualifying period although there is some discretion in relation to members of the armed forces ; To be free of any restriction on the period you may stay in the UK i. Who can be a referee for a British Citizenship by Naturalisation application? How much does it cost to apply for Naturalisation as a British Citizen?

How long does it take to get British Citizenship? What happens after I have applied for Naturalisation as a British Citizen? It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Cookies on GOV. UK We use some essential cookies to make this website work. Accept additional cookies Reject additional cookies View cookies. Hide this message. Home Citizenship and living in the UK British citizenship. Check if you can become a British citizen. Related content Citizenship ceremonies.

Brexit Check what you need to do. Explore the topic British citizenship Live permanently in the UK. Is this page useful? Maybe Yes this page is useful No this page is not useful. Thank you for your feedback. In other circumstances, becoming a British citizen may automatically result in a loss of any previous nationality. Before you submit your request, it is advisable to also check if you need to notify your country of original citizenship of your intention to naturalise in the UK. It is possible that your application for British citizenship may be refused or rejected.

You may have the right to appeal the decision. In your refusal letter, you will be given more information about what you can do next.

It is important to note that you do not have an automatic right to appeal a citizenship decision. This means that expert legal advice may be necessary to advise you on the best route based on your circumstances. You may be able to submit a Request for Reconsideration to the Home Office to ask that they review their decision in light of an error they made based on law, policy, or procedure. There are some situations where the Home Office are more likely to consider the request, including the following circumstances:.

Premium application service that ensures your visa application is submitted to meet your deadline. With our untimed Advice Session, our professional immigration lawyers will review your case and provide you with comprehensive advice, completely tailored to your needs and your situation.

With our Application Package, your dedicated caseworker will advise you on your application process and eligibility. Your legal advisor will then complete and submit your forms to the Home Office on your behalf. Our Fast-Track Application Package is a premium service for those who need to submit their application in time with their deadlines.

Your case will become a top priority for our lawyers and you will benefit from our highest-quality services. We offer immigration advice sessions as face to face appointments at all of our UK offices, or via the phone.

Learn more. Naturalisation is the process of becoming a citizen of another country. For people coming to the UK, naturalisation is a process that will allow them to live and work in the UK free from immigration controls.

Unless you are British by descent, you will have to apply for British Naturalisation to become a British citizen.

There are various requirements you must meet to be eligible to apply for Naturalisation. You must:. If you are a national of a country in the European Economic Area EEA or Switzerland, or you are the family member of such a person, and you have exercised EEA free-movement rights in the UK for a continuous five year period you will automatically have Permanent Residence status.

However, you must hold this status for 12 months before applying for Naturalisation. Read our guide on completing the application form for British Citizenship. You can apply for British nationality if you have held settled status for three years or more. This is most commonly in the form of Indefinite Leave to Remain.

However, you will still need to have held ILR for at least a year. If you have switched visas during your stay in the UK, your application for Indefinite Leave to Remain will have different requirements. There are many requirements you will need to meet in order to apply for British Citizenship. Most importantly, you must hold settled status in the UK. Here are a few things you should consider before starting your Naturalisation application for British Citizenship:.

Immigration Time Restrictions — when applying for British Citizenship you must be free from immigration time restrictions on the day you make your request which often means having gained settled status before you apply.

Good Character Requirement — any applicant aged ten or over must be of good character to qualify for British Citizenship. Essentially this means that you must show respect for the rights and freedom of the UK, have observed its laws and fulfilled your duties and obligations as a resident. The Home Office will carry out criminal and financial checks. Sound Mind Requirement— applicants must satisfy the full capacity requirement when applying for British Citizenship although in some cases this may be overlooked.

This means that you are able to make your own decisions and understand the step you are taking when you apply for British Citizenship. Dual Nationality — you do not need to renounce your existing citizenship as many countries will let you have Dual Nationality when you apply for British Citizenship. If you are a national of a country who does not allow this, your country of origin may regard you as having lost your existing nationality or refuse to recognise your new nationality.

If you are currently a British Citizen you will not normally lose this status if you become the citizen of another country unless the new country requires you to give up your British nationality. For more on the requirements for British Citizenship. Your British Citizenship fee must be paid in full to make your application valid. You will not get a refund if your request is refused or withdrawn. This fee will be refunded if your naturalisation request is refused or withdrawn.

If you submit your form online, you will be asked to pay by credit or debit card. Differently, if you use the paper form, you must use the payment slip to pay either by card or cheque. When naturalising as a British citizen, you will also need to pay to attend your British Citizenship ceremony. You will pledge to respect the rights, freedom and laws of the UK along with many other new citizens.

You may instead be able to register as a British Citizen although there are various complicated categories here including if you are a British Overseas or Overseas Territory Citizen, you have previously given up your citizenship, you are a person who is stateless or a child under This includes children in the country on a dependent child visa or children born in the UK to non-British parents.

In certain cases, you may also be able to claim British citizenship through grandparents. Cases of this nature are complex and judged individually. British parents of children born outside of the UK will need to apply for British citizenship for child born abroad as their child will not be recognised as a British citizen at birth. Although only applicants who are aged at least 18 can apply for British Naturalisation, you can register your children for citizenship in the UK.

In fact, your family can be included in your application, provided that they already hold Indefinite Leave to Remain. If your children are aged 13 or older, they qualify for Naturalisation only if they have been living in the UK for at least two years prior to their application. Children who were born in the UK before you obtained ILR or EU Settled Status, may acquire an entitlement to be registered for citizenship as soon as you obtain your settlement status.

On the other hand, any child born in the UK from non-British parents who are already settled in the country automatically acquires citizenship at birth. Once you have obtained British Citizenship you will be free from UK immigration control and you will be able to apply for a British passport.

This is the most acceptable evidence of British Citizenship although, alternatively, you may be able to apply for a Nationality Status Document if you do not have the right documentation to apply for a passport. British Nationality Law and applications for British Citizenship can be extremely complex and using the services of an immigration expert is highly recommended.

Click here to find out more about how to apply for a British passport. Usually, as an EEA national you will be eligible to become a British Citizen once you have been living in the UK for a period of five years or more from the date of your request. You can apply for Permanent Residence PR or settled status in the UK if you have been in the UK for a period of five years without having been outside of the UK for more than 90 days within any 12 month period.

You will then be able to apply to become a British Citizen 12 months after you have been granted Permanent Residency, provided you meet the eligibility requirements, which include the English language requirement, as well as not having been outside the UK for more than days during your five-year stay.

Settled Status will be granted to those who have been in the UK for at least five years. Once you have held this for one year you will be eligible to apply for British Citizenship. Previous offences and convictions are likely to affect your eligibility for citizenship, although this does depend upon the type of conviction or offence.

For more information, it is best to speak with a knowledgeable immigration expert. Our teams of lawyers will be able to advise as to when a conviction will become spent and when it is possible to apply for citizenship. We will also be able to advise you on if your conviction will affect you when applying for permanent residence, settled status and British nationality. Based on the British Nationality Act, to apply for naturalisation you need to have spent no more than 90 days outside the UK during the 12 month period immediately before the date of your application for naturalisation.

IAS advise and assist many people with their British Citizenship case. At IAS, we can help you with your case. Call or make an enquiry to get expert advice. Our Flagship London Immigration Lawyer office is open for business as usual.

We are the UK's leading immigration specialists. We've had over applications approved. We are now open 7 days a week from 7. Your Name. Your Email Address. Your Telephone Number. Your Message. I am happy to receive promotional emails from the IAS. British Citizenship Guidelines. Thank you kate". What are the British Citizenship requirements? Based on the British Nationality Act, those who wish to apply for Naturalisation must meet the following eligibility requirements : Be over the age of Have spent at least 5 years of continuous residence in the UK, with no longer than days outside the UK.

Pass the Life in the UK Test , to show that you are aware of the basics of the British customs, traditions and culture. Not have been in breach of any UK immigration rules. Demonstrate that they meet the Good Character requirement. How can I become a British citizen by Naturalisation?

What are the immigration routes for British Citizenship registration? British Citizenship by Birth or by Descent. You may automatically be recognized as a British national if you were born in the UK after 1 st January However, you may also be eligible if you were born abroad from at least one parent who is a British citizen or settled person.