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British Citizenship

Expert immigration solicitors to assist you through your British citizenship application.

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Louis Macwilliam

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Call Truth Legal today regarding your immigration law case.

British Citizenship

Expert immigration solicitors to assist you through your British citizenship application.

Rated Excellent on TrustPilot

Immigration for Individuals

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If you are at the final stage of your British citizenship process and applying for naturalisation, our expert immigration solicitors can help you complete the process.

Our team of immigration lawyers specialise in the different requirements for British citizenship depending on your personal circumstances. We can support you and your family every step of the way.

Applying for Naturalisation

If you are 18 or above and have been granted indefinite leave to remain or a right to permanent residence, you may be eligible for British citizenship through a process called naturalisation.

The requirements you must meet vary slightly depending on whether or not you are married to a British citizen.

The immigration team at Truth Legal can help you navigate this process and advise you on the best route for a successful British citizenship application.

Naturalisation – not married to a British citizen

(or not relying on being married to a British citizen)

If you are not married to a British citizen, or do not intend to rely on a marriage as part of your British citizenship application, the Home Office requires that you:

  • were in the UK five years before submitting your application;
  • have not been absent from the UK more than 450 days during those five years;
  • have not been absent from the UK for more than 90 days in the 12 months immediately prior to the submission of your application;
  • have not breached UK immigration laws during those five years;
  • are not subject to any time limit for which you may remain in the UK and have not been subject to any limit in the 12 months immediately prior to the submission of your application;
  • fulfil the Good Character requirement;
  • have sufficient proficiency of a UK language (English, Welsh, or Scottish Gaelic); and
  • intend that, subject to a successful application, your home or principal home will be based in the UK.

Many of these requirements are subject to discretion, meaning that in certain circumstances your application can be granted even if you don’t quite meet the requirements. You should seek legal advice if you intend to ask the Home Office for discretion.

Naturalisation – married to a British citizen

If you are married to a British citizen, your requirements are slightly different. Your requirements will depend on your individual situation, but the Home Office requires that you:

  • were in the UK three years before submitting your application;
  • have not been absent from the UK more than 270 days during those three years;
  • have not been absent from the UK for more than 90 days in the 12 months immediately prior to the submission of your application;
  • have not breached UK immigration laws during those three years;
  • are not subject to any time limit for which you may remain in the UK at the date of your application;
  • fulfil the Good Character requirement; and
  • have sufficient proficiency of a UK language (English, Welsh, or Scottish Gaelic).

Many of these requirements are subject to discretion, meaning that in certain circumstances your application can be granted even if you don’t quite meet the requirements. You should seek legal advice if you intend to ask the Home Office for discretion.

British citizenship FAQs

What about British Overseas Nationals (BNO), British Overseas Territories Citizen (BOTC), a British Overseas citizen (BOC), a British subject, or a British protected person?2023-02-06T14:19:34+00:00

If you are a BNO, BOTC, BOC, British Subject or British protected person, then you are not classed as a British citizen, but Naturalisation is unlikely to be the appropriate British citizenship route. You will have alternative routes to British citizen through registration.

Can I leave the UK while waiting for my application to be processed?2023-02-06T14:19:51+00:00

Yes. Once your British citizenship application has been submitted, you can travel outside of the UK while it is being considered. As a part of your application, you can submit a certified copy of your passport and keep the original in order to travel.

Your application will not affect your immigration permissions, but you will need to demonstrate entitlement to re-enter. You should travel with evidence of your relevant immigration status.

Keep in mind that you need to enrol your biometric information within 45 days of your Naturalisation application, which may be necessary in person. Failure to provide this will nullify your pending application.

You will also be be required to arrange your British citizenship ceremony within 90 days of your application being approved.

How much does a British Citizenship application cost?2023-02-06T14:20:13+00:00

The application fee for a British citizenship application is £1,330.

Once your application is successful, you will need to spend £80 to arrange your British citizenship ceremony, this will include the administration of a citizenship oath and pledge at the ceremony.

Do I need Comprehensive Sickness Insurance (CSI)?2023-06-20T13:31:11+01:00

Recent changes have made clear that a CSI problem is not as fatal to a citizenship application as was once thought.

Home Office guidance now recognises that a person “affiliated” with the NHS will be considered to have held CSI.  To be so affiliated, an EU national must have been “ordinarily resident” in the UK.

A person will be ordinarily resident in the UK if their residence is voluntary, lawful, and for a settled purpose, terms elaborated upon in separate guidance.

Please see our separate content for more details: Naturalisation and CSI: Where Are We Now?

How long will my application take to receive an outcome?2023-06-20T13:27:21+01:00

Naturalisation applications typically take around three months to receive British citizenship decisions by the Home Office. However, it can take up to six months.

Who can be a referee for my British citizenship application?2023-02-06T14:20:51+00:00

Your British citizenship application will need to be supported by two referees.

One referee should be a person in a professional standing, such as a civil servant, a member of a professional body such as a solicitor or barrister (who are not representing your application), or minister of religion. They can be of any nationality.

A second referee should a British passport holder and either a professional person over the age of 25.

What is the Good Character requirement?2023-06-20T13:28:55+01:00

The Good Character requirement does not have a clear definition. However, there are some instances in which a refusal is likely. These are:

  • prior criminal convictions, unless 3 years have passed;
  • deception or dishonesty, including deception in a current or previous immigration application which will result in the applicant being barred from another application for 10 years; and
  • failure to comply with immigration laws, including illegal entry, overstaying, and illegal working.

If you have been refused an application previously on grounds of Good Character, speak to us today.

Can I apply for Naturalisation immediately after obtaining Indefinite Leave to Remain?2023-06-20T13:30:19+01:00

This depends on whether you are married to a British citizen.

If you are married to a British citizen, you can apply for naturalisation as soon as you have obtained Indefinite Leave to Remain. However, you will need to satisfy the requirements for British citizenship above.

If you are not married to a British citizen, you must not have been subject to immigration time restrictions for at least 12 months prior to an application for naturalisation. This is likely to mean that you will only be able to apply for British citizenship 12 months after your grant of Indefinite Leave to Remain.

Further reading

Read our popular articles for more information on British citizenship.

  • Naturalisation and Comprehensive Sickness Insurance (CSI): Where Are We Now? image

    Naturalisation and Comprehensive Sickness Insurance (CSI): Where Are We Now?

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  • Does Your Child Have A Claim To British Citizenship If They Were Born In The UK? image

    Does Your Child Have A Claim To British Citizenship If They Were Born In The UK?

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  • Will Excess Absences Affect My Naturalisation Application? image

    Will Excess Absences Affect My Naturalisation Application?

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Why choose Truth Legal?

The Truth Legal Immigration team is headed by our expert Immigration solicitor, Louis MacWilliam, who has specialised in Immigration matters since 2009.

Louis has vast experience in helping Immigration clients achieve positive outcomes, and training lawyers in Immigration matters. His team of Immigration lawyers are dedicated to their clients, offering exceptional support and specialist knowledge to assist your case.

Truth Legal prides itself on its client care, providing clear and understandable information without the jargon, and practical advice tailored to your personal circumstances. We understand that Immigration matters can be stressful, and so we are here to walk you through the process and make it as smooth as possible until you are holding that visa in your hand.

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