British Citizenship: What are the requirements?

A guide for adult naturalisation under the British Nationality Act 1981

Contents:

• Overview of the requirements
• Application process
• Required documents
• Fees and Costs
• Processing time
• What happens if the application is refused?
• FAQs
• What we offer
• Our fees
• Our contact details
• Legal updates

• Overview of the requirements

When applying for British nationality as an adult, the requirements can be best explained as:

• Has lived in the UK legally for 5 years (the residency requirement)

During this time, an applicant cannot have been absent from the UK for a combined total of more than 450 days and no more than 90 days in the 12 months prior to the date of application.

If your absences exceed this threshold, it may still be possible to apply for naturalisation if the Home Office is satisfied you meet the other requirements, and if your absences can be explained such as, a result of a natural disaster or a pandemic.

If you are married to a British national, this requirement is reduced from 5 years to 3 years, during which you cannot have been absent for more than 270 days in that 3-year period, and no more than 90 days in the 12 months prior to the date of application.

• Has held Indefinite leave to remain, settled status, or indefinite leave to enter the UK for at least12 months

For example, if you were granted indefinite leave to remain on 12/01/2025, the earliest that you could apply for citizenship would be 12/01/2026.

• Is over the age of 18

The rules for children slightly differ than those for an adult. This guide provides an overview for adult applications.

If you are thinking about making an application for your child, please get in touch.

• Must have been physically present in the UK exactly 5 years ago before the date of the application

For example, if you submitted your application for naturalisation on 12/01/2025, you must have been physically present in the UK on 12/01/2020 (exactly 5 years ago).

If there was a reason why you were not in the UK, it may still be possible for you to make an application.

• Has proved their knowledge of English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelica and has passed the Life in the UK test

The current English language requirement is that you must provide evidence that you can speak English to at least level B1 in speaking and listening. It is possible to meet this requirement in several ways, including through an approved English language test; degree taught in English; or if you a citizen of a country in which English is an approved official language (this list is determined by the Home Office).

The Life in the UK test, also known as the “Citizenship test” is a 45-minute test in which you will be asked 24 questions about British traditions and customs.

You will need to provide evidence of both your knowledge of English and life in the UK. If you provided evidence of this during your application for indefinite leave to remain, you may be able to rely on the same qualifications for citizenship.

If you suffer from any medical, mental or learning difficulties, which may impact your ability to pass these exams, such as your ability to retain information, you may be able to qualify for a medical exemption for this requirement.

If you are over the age of 65, you are exempt from this requirement.

• Is of good character

Having good character is a key requirement of British citizenship as it reflects the values the UK expects from those seeking to become citizens. The good character requirement applies to all applicants aged 10 and above.

There is no fixed definition of good character however, the Home Office has released policy guidance regarding the factors that they consider. This includes, but it is not limited to, an individual’s criminal history, financial soundness (such as bankruptcy or unpaid taxes), international crimes, terrorism, and other non-conducive activities such as notoriety, deception, dishonesty, and deprivation.

The Home Office good character policy has recently been updated and now, anyone who applied for British citizenship on or after 10 February 2025 will “normally” be refused if they ever entered the UK illegally. It also includes those who entered having made a dangerous journey i.e. travelling by a small boat or concealed in a vehicle. This has affected many refugee applicants in particular.

When deciding whether an applicant meets the good character requirement, the Home Office uses a standard called the “balance of probabilities”. This is a legal test that is used to determine whether it is more likely than not that you have good character. For example, if you have a past criminal conviction but have shown good behaviour since then, the Home Office may determine that it is more likely that you are now of good character. On the other hand, if you continue to break the law, it may be considered more likely that you do not meet the requirement. The Home Office will consider certain factors such as current behaviour, how much time has passed since any convictions and the nature of each crime or offence.

It is assessed by the Home Office on a case-by-case basis and is intended to determine whether an applicant’s past behaviour aligns with the responsibilities and values expected of British citizens. Failure to meet the good character requirement can result in the refusal of a citizenship application, even if all other criteria are met. It is therefore important that all applicants are transparent in their disclosures and may wish to seek legal advice if they have concerns about their history.

Failure to disclose any information, can lead to the Home Office issuing an application ban for a period, typically up to 10 years, in which they advise that any new application for citizenship is likely to be refused until a certain date has passed.

• Application process

Step 1: Complete your online application form. The form is called Form AN – Become a British citizen by naturalisation (form AN) – GOV.UK

Step 2: Submit and pay for the application. Please see below regarding the fees for this.

Step 3: Book your biometric appointment. You will usually have two months from the date of submission of your application to attend your biometric appointment. The application system will tell you the deadline. Failure to attend your appointment within this time, may result in your application being rejected.

Step 4: Upload all supporting documents onto your application portal.

Step 5: Attend your biometric appointment. Once you have attended your appointment, it is not possible to submit any new documents. If you are unable to submit your documents online, you will be able to take them with you to the appointment, and the staff at the centre can upload them for you, however there is an additional fee for this.

Step 6: Wait for the decision. The current processing time is that you should receive a decision within 6 months from when you attend your biometric appointment.

Step 7: If successful, you will need to book and attend your citizenship ceremony. It is during this ceremony that you will be officially “sworn in” as a British citizen. You will also receive your certificate of nationality, which is what you will need to apply for a British passport. You must attend this ceremony within 3 months of the decision.

The decision letter will tell you how to arrange this and is typically organised through your local council.

If refused, you may be able to apply to have the decision be reconsidered. Or you may be able to apply again at a later date.

• Required documents: What documents do I need for British citizenship?

For any application you will normally need:

• Valid passport(s) covering your 5-year qualifying period.
• ILR/settled status evidence (e.g. BRP card, share code, eVisa).
• English language certificate (e.g. SELT certificate; degree, exemption waiver).
• Life in the UK Test pass notification.
• 2 Referee forms and 2 passport-style photos
• Marriage or civil partnership certificate (if applicable)
• If you have any children their ID and immigration status in the UK
• Any Home Office correspondence about your status.
• Evidence of residence, tenancy agreement/ title deed
• If you have obtained any qualifications/ certificates

This is not a complete list, and depending on each individual case, the documents will differ. However, this is provided in order to give an indication.

• Fees and Costs

The current Home Office fee for an adult’s application for naturalisation is £1,735, which is broken down as follows:

• Application fee: £1,605
• Citizenship ceremony: £130

These fees are paid at the same time in one payment, when you submit your application.

If your application is refused, you will only be refunded the fee for the citizenship ceremony.

• Processing time

The current processing time is that it should take at least 6 months for the Home Office to make a decision on your application. However, in certain cases it can take the Home Office longer, such as whether you have an extensive criminal history which needs further consideration.  

• What happens if the application is refused?

If your application is refused, depending on the reason for refusal, and if there is “citizenship application ban”, you may have the following options:

• Make a new application

Unless informed by the Home Office that you are unable to make a new application, it is always open to you to try again.

It is advisable that any issue that was raised as a reason for refusal is corrected in your next application. For instance, if you were refused on the basis of too many absences, you should wait until your absences meet the residence requirement.

You should also make sure that you continue to meet the other requirements, in order to prevent a refusal for a different reason.

• Apply for reconsideration

It may also be possible for you to apply for the application to be reconsidered if you believe that the refusal was wrong, based on either law, policy or procedure.

Examples of scenarios where the Home Office may reopen an application include:

• they have not used the correct requirements or criteria to decide the application
• they refused your application for a lack of a response to enquiries when a response had been received but not linked with the application
• they decided your application without allowing sufficient time for a response or completion of enquiries
• they refused your application on character grounds due to a criminal conviction which was either later quashed on appeal or involved a case of mistaken identity (you were not the person convicted of the offence)
• they have failed to take account of relevant documents or information in their possession

Examples of scenarios where the Home Office will not reopen an application include:

• long residence, where the statutory requirements are not met
• convenience of holding a British passport for business or other reasons, but the requirements were not met
• cultural reasons or reasons connected with ancestry
• past service in the armed forces

The current fee for reconsideration is £482 and is paid at the time that you submit your application. However, if the Home Office agree that they made an error and change the original decision, this fee will be refunded back to you in full.

• FAQs

Do I need two referees?

• Yes, each applicant must provide two referees, who can confirm that they are of good character and that they have known them personally for at least 3 years. At least one referee needs to be a British citizen and either a person of professional standing or over the age of 25 and the other referee can be of any nationality but must be a person of professional standing

Can I pay for priority service to receive a decision quicker?

• Unfortunately, naturalisation is not an application which qualifies for any priority service. It is therefore important to plan its submission carefully.

Can I travel whilst I have a pending naturalisation application?

• Unlike with other applications, you are able to travel whilst your application is pending, however it is important to remember that if successful, you must attend your citizenship ceremony within 3 months of the date of decision. This can only be attended in the UK. You must make sure that you travel back to the UK to complete the process.

My application was approved – am I British?

• No – whilst your application may have been successful, you are only officially British once you attend your citizenship ceremony. At the ceremony, you’ll promise to respect the rights, freedoms and laws of the UK. At the end of the ceremony, you’ll be presented with your certificate of British citizenship and at that point, you will be a British citizen.

 How do I get a British passport?

• Once you have your certificate of British citizenship, you can apply for your first British passport. You’ll need to fill out an application form and provide some photos of yourself, plus any supporting documents that may be required.

If I become British, will I have to give up my other nationality?

• Under UK nationality law, there is no limit on how many nationalities you are able to hold. However, they may be restrictions from your other countries, you should therefore check what the rules are for each nationality that you hold.

• What we offer

At Descartes Solicitors, we have almost 20 years of experience in dealing with nationality, including complex applications. We have a proven track record of success and offer assistance and assurance throughout the whole application process. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Advising as to the prospects of success of your application
• Assessing your eligibility for the application
• Drafting the application form
• Reviewing and advising as to documentation
• Drafting legal representations
• Submitting your documents
• Responding to any Home Office enquiries
• Advising as to next steps once the decision has been received

Our team speaks a variety of languages, including English, Turkish, Arabic and Kurdish.

If you speak any other language, an interpreter can be arranged for a fee.

We’re ready to help you in any way we can.

• Our Fees

We work on a fixed-fee basis, which means that the price that we quote you at the start of the work is the price that it will remain.

Should additional work be required, we do not raise our prices halfway through – and we’ll be there for you until you receive a decision from the Home Office.

Typically, our fees range from £1500 to £2500, plus VAT per applicant. However, this depends on complexity and is subject to change.

In addition, should you be applying with family members such as a spouse/ child, we also offer bundle deals.

• CONTACT DETAILS

You can contact us on:

• Phone: 020 8995 3556
• Email: info@descartessolicitors.co.uk
• Website: https://www.descartessolicitors.co.uk/

• Legal updates

The requirements for naturalisation are always subject to change, and the details as contained in this article are relevant at the time of writing. However, there have been some notable changes lately that you may find interesting:

UK Government: restoring control over the immigration system: white paper – new government proposals which would include “earned” citizenship and lengthening the qualifying period from 5 year to 10 years (in most cases).

UK Government: good character caseworker guidance – current guidance about the good character requirement for naturalisation, and what factors will be considered (e.g. criminal record, illegal or dangerous entry to the UK, financial soundness, etc).

F4 v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2025] EWCA Civ 291 – case where a woman deprived of British citizenship was not allowed an extension of time.

Secretary of State for the Home Department v Kolicaj [2025] EWCA Civ 10 – case where the deprivation of British citizenship process was found to be procedurally unfair, if the person is not allowed to make representations against the decision.

R (on the application of Roehrig) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Rev1) [2024] EWCA Civ 240 – case where certain children of EU citizens are not entitled to British citizenship.

Walile (deprivation: self-incrimination: anonymity) [2022] UKUT 17 (IAC) – people who commit a criminal offence while waiting for a pending naturalisation application must inform the Home Office.

Our experienced immigration advisors can have a consultation with you to discover if you are eligible for the above routes. Contact us today for more information on  0208 995 3556 or info@descartessolicitors.co.uk.