How to Get UK Citizenship

Becoming a UK citizen might seem daunting, but it’s achievable. Whether you’re a permanent resident, have British ancestry, or are married to a UK citizen, there are several pathways to citizenship. As a British citizen, you’ll gain extensive rights and privileges, including unrestricted living and working rights throughout the UK. You’ll be free from immigration controls and visa renewals, eligible for public sector positions reserved for British citizens, and able to vote in all elections.

In this blog, we’ll explore the different routes to UK citizenship, their specific requirements, and application processes. Let’s begin with the first pathway.

By Naturalisation 

      To qualify for UK citizenship, you must meet the following criteria:

1. You must have lived in the UK for 5 years and have had one of the following for 12 months:

• Indefinite leave to remain in the UK
• ‘Settled status’ (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain under the EU Settlement Scheme’)
• Indefinite leave to enter the UK 

2.  You must be over 18 years old.

3. You must prove you were in the UK exactly 5 years before the day the Home Office receives your application.

4. You must prove your knowledge of English by:

– Having an English qualification at B1, B2, C1 or C2 level

– Having a degree taught or researched in English

You’re exempted from proving your knowledge of English if you belong to any of this category:

• If you are a national of Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, The British overseas territories, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Ireland (for citizenship only), Malta, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, USA, you do not need to prove your English 
• If you’re applying to settle using certain work visas 
• If you are aged 65 or over
• Suppose you cannot prove your English because of a long-term physical or mental condition. In that case, you must provide original copies of a completed exemption form from a doctor confirming your physical or psychological condition. 

5. You must pass the Life in the UK test.

• The Life in the UK Test is part of your application for British citizenship or settlement in the UK. It costs £50, and you can take it in any of the 30 centres in the UK. You must first book for your Life in the UK Test online at least 3 days in advance, then choose your preferred center when booking.
• The test is based on the official handbook of the Life in the UK Test and it last for 45 minutes with 24 questions in all.

6. You must have the intention to continue living in the UK

7. You must be of good character. 

8. You must not have spent more than 450 days outside the UK during the 5 years before your application

9. You must not have spent more than 90 days outside the UK in the last 12 months

10. You must not live illegally in the UK, meaning, you must be free from immigration laws.

Application process:

You can apply for UK citizenship by naturalisation, online, or through an agent or a representative.  Before applying, you need to check whether your country of nationality allows dual citizenship. Some countries do not allow dual citizenship, and you may therefore lose or have to give up your existing nationality to become a UK citizen. When applying yourself, you must:

1. Check if you meet all the requirements 
2. Provide details of two referees who can prove your identity 
3. Submit your application online and pay the required fee of £1,630 
4. After submitting your application, you will be contacted on how to enroll your biometrics.  You will be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photo). You can upload copies of your documents into the online service or have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment. You also have the option of applying by post.

5. The next step after your application is to wait for a decision, which will be sent to you within 6 months.

6. Once you’ve received a decision, the next step is to attend a citizenship ceremony where you will make an oath of allegiance and a pledge, promising to respect the rights, freedoms, and laws of the UK and receive your naturalisation certificate.
7. Finally, you need to return any Biometric residence permit you hold within five working days of getting your certificate.

By Marriage 

If you are married to or you are the civil partner of a British citizen,  you will need to provide your spouse’s or civil partner’s current passport or naturalisation/registration certificate showing that they are a British citizen, as well as the marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate during your application, meeting the following requirements:

1. You are aged 18 years or over.

2. You must be of sound mind

3. You must be married to or be the civil partner of a British citizen on the date of your application.

4. You must have lived in the UK for a minimum of 3 years before you apply.

5. You must have been physically present in the UK, on the day 3 years before your application is received by the Home Office.

6. You must be free from immigration time restrictions on the date of your application.

7. You must not have had more than 270 days outside the UK in the 3-year period before making the application. 

8. You must not have had more than 90 days outside the UK in the 12-month period before making the application (but see the section on Absences from the UK)

9. You must have passed the Life in the UK test

10. You can communicate in English (or Welsh or Scottish Gaelic) to an acceptable level.

11. You must be of good character.

By Descent

If born outside the UK to a British parent, you can acquire UK citizenship by descent. This route can be further divided into three categories:

• You were born between 1983 and June 2006
• You were born on or after 1 July 2006
• You were born before 1983

1. If you were born on or after 1 July 2006, then you’re automatically a British citizen if your mother or father was a British citizen when you were born and if your British parent could pass on their citizenship to you. This means you can apply for a child’s passport if you’re under 16, an adult passport if you’re over 16, and a letter confirming your citizenship (your ‘immigration status’)

In situations where you’re not automatically a citizen, you may be eligible to apply for citizenship in one of these situations:

1. If you’ve lived in the UK with your parents, you can apply if:

• You’re under 18 
• Your mother or father was a British citizen when you were born
• You’ve lived in the UK with your parents for the 3 years before the date you apply
• You and your parents have not spent more than 270 days outside the UK during those 3 years
• Were in the UK exactly 3 years before the day the Home Office receives your application
• If your parents are divorced or legally separated, only one parent needs to live in the UK with you. Both parents must consent to your application.

Other criteria include: 

2. if your British parent lived in the UK before you were born
3. If you were adopted outside the UK
4. If your father was a British citizen when you were born, and your mother was married to someone else at the time
5. If you were born in the UK and, your father had indefinite leave to remain in the UK when you were born, and your mother was married to someone else at the time

Application process:

The application fee for this route costs £1,214, if you’re under 18 and cannot afford to pay the fee, you may be able to apply for a fee waiver. Before your application, you need to thoroughly check if you can apply. Once you’re sure you can apply for citizenship, then you can proceed. 

• If you have the ability to apply yourself, you can fill out the form online.

• You’ll also be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photo).

• While applying, you can upload copies of your documents to the online service or have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment, or you can apply by post.