British nationality will grant you full rights and responsibilities, including the ability to vote in parliamentary and local elections and to obtain a British passport. Most importantly, you will be able to leave the UK for unlimited periods of time without worrying about losing your status.

If you are at least 18 years old and have been granted indefinite leave to remain, you may be eligible to apply for British Citizenship by Naturalisation.

 

Can I apply for British Citizenship by Naturalisation?

In order to be naturalised as a British citizen, you will need to meet certain statutory criteria with regard to your immigration status, length of residence in the UK, future intentions, knowledge of the English language and life in the UK, and good character.  The requirements for British Citizenship by Naturalisation vary slightly depending on whether you are married to a British citizen or not.

 

Apply for UK Citizenship: Not married to a British citizen

If you are not married to a British citizen (or do not wish to rely on your marriage to a British citizen) the Home Office must be satisfied that:

 

• You were in the UK on the day five years before the date of your application;

• You have not been absent from the UK for more than 450 days during the intervening five year period;

• You have not been in the UK in breach of the immigration laws at any time during that five 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 limit on the period for which you may remain in the UK and have not been subject to any such time limit at any time during the 12 month period immediately preceding the date of your application;

• You are of good character;

• You have sufficient knowledge of the English language, 

• Your intentions are that if your application is successful, your home (or principal home) will be in the UK.

 

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 270 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 language. 

The exact requirements you will need to satisfy will vary depending on your circumstances.  You may want to speak to an immigration lawyer at Visas 24/7 for expert advice.

 

Residence requirements: section 6(1)

The residence requirements which someone applying under section 6(1) of the British Nationality Act 1981 must meet are that the applicant was:

 

• in the UK, at the beginning of the period of 5 years ending with the date of the application

• not absent from the UK for more than:

• 450 days in that 5-year period

• 90 days in the period of 12 months ending with the date of application

• not, on the date of application, subject under the immigration laws to any restriction on the period of stay in the UK

• not, at any other time in the 12-month period ending with the date of application, subject under the immigration laws to any restriction on their period of stay in the UK

• not at any time in the period of 5 years ending with the date of application in the UK in breach of the immigration laws - however, a person can be treated as meeting this requirement without further enquiries if they hold indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK

 

There is discretion to waive the residence requirements except that the applicant must be free from time restrictions under immigration law at the time of their application

 

Residence requirements: 6(2)

The residence requirements which someone applying under section 6(2) of the British Nationality Act 1981 must meet are that the applicant was:

 

• in the UK, at the beginning of the period of 3 years ending with the date of application

• not absent from the UK for more than:

• 270 days in that 3-year period

• 90 days in the period of 12 months ending with the date of application

• not, on the date of the application, subject under the immigration laws to any restriction on their period of stay in the UK

• not, at any time in the period of 3 years ending with the date of application, in breach of immigration laws - however, a person can be treated as meeting this requirement without further enquiries if they hold indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK

There is discretion to waive the residence for applications under section 6(2) of the British Nationality Act 1981, with the exception of the requirement that the applicant must be free from time restrictions under immigration law at the time of their application.

 

English Language requirement exemptions

You do not need to sit an English test if you:

• Are aged 65 or over

• Suffer from a long-term physical or mental condition

• Have a degree that was taught or researched in English

If you studied abroad, you would need to provide an Academic Qualification Level Statement to certify that your degree is equivalent to a UK qualification and that it was taught in English.

 

Attending a citizenship ceremony

You’ll need to attend a citizenship ceremony if your application is successful.

 

How to appeal a British citizenship decision

It is important to note that you do not have an automatic right to appeal a citizenship decision. This means that expert legal advice is advised to guide you on the best route based on your circumstances.

 

How Visas 24/7 can help apply for British Citizenship

Our immigration lawyers at Visas 24/7 have immense experience assisting with all types of nationality matters. Whether you are looking to apply for naturalisation on your own or on the basis of your marriage to a British citizen, our immigration lawyers can guide you through the complexities of the UK Citizenship process and British nationality law.

We pride ourselves on being approachable and proactive in understanding and meeting our client’s needs. We are highly driven and dedicated to providing clear and reliable immigration and nationality advice as part of a professional and responsive service.

Applying for British nationality may be stressful and time-consuming. At Visas 24/7, we are committed to professionally assisting all our clients. Your case will be processed by an experienced lawyer, who will assess your situation and advise you on how to proceed. 

Call us on 0203 405 6381 or make an enquiry online to find out if you qualify to become a British national.

 

British Citizenship Application Assistance

At Visas 24/7, our immigration lawyers can help you through each step of your British nationality case. After assessing your eligibility, your dedicated lawyer will complete your application form to a professional standard. This includes performing a full document check to ensure that your evidence is adequate and meets the requirements. We also include a comprehensive cover letter of Representation to support your application. We liaise with the Home Office until a decision is made, therefore fully representing the application from start to finish.