Naturalisation as a British citizen is the final step in the journey for most people who have made their life in the UK. It gives you a British passport, the right to vote in all elections, the right to stand for public office, and the freedom to leave and return to the UK without immigration restrictions, regardless of how long you are away.
The process involves meeting a residence requirement, holding ILR or settled status for the required period, passing the Life in the UK test, meeting an English language requirement, and satisfying the good character test. Each of these needs to be evidenced carefully. The application fee is non-refundable, so it is worth getting the preparation right before you submit.
You can contact us through the Reeds Solicitors contact page on our website, by calling 0333 240 7373, or by emailing [email protected].
How Reeds Solicitors Can Help
A naturalisation application involves substantial compiling of a significant amount of documentation covering your residence history, travel record, language proficiency, and personal background. The good character requirement, in particular, can be complex when there are issues in someone’s past, even minor or historical ones.
At Reeds Solicitors, we go through every aspect of your eligibility carefully before anything is submitted. We make sure the evidence is complete and well-presented, and we advise fully on how to handle anything in your history that might otherwise cause a problem.
Our clients can expect:
- Eligibility assessment
We start with a full assessment of your eligibility, confirming your qualifying residence period, checking your absence record against the applicable limits, and reviewing your immigration history. We identify any potential issues with the good character requirement and advise on how to address them before the application is submitted.
- Absence and residence review
Residence and absence calculations are a frequent source of error in naturalisation applications. We review your full travel history for the qualifying period, compare it against the applicable absence limits, and advise on any periods outside the UK that may need to be explained. We also check that your ILR or settled status has been held for the required period.
- Evidence bundle preparation
We help you compile the complete evidence bundle: identity documents, passports covering the qualifying period, proof of ILR or settled status, residence evidence for each year of the qualifying period, your English language certificate, your Life in the UK test pass certificate, and the details of your two referees. We check each document carefully before submission.
- Good character assessment and advice
The good character assessment is one of the most misunderstood parts of a naturalisation application. We advise in detail on how your personal history is likely to be assessed, including any convictions, cautions, immigration issues, or financial matters. Where there are issues, we advise on how to approach them and whether the time is right to apply.
- Application management
We complete and review all application forms, advise on biometric enrolment, and manage communications with the Home Office on your behalf. We track the application and keep you informed at every stage.
- British passport application
Once your naturalisation certificate is issued, you can apply for a British passport. We advise on the process and, where needed, assist with the passport application.
Getting Legal Help
Naturalisation is the moment your life in the UK becomes permanent in the fullest sense. Our immigration team at Reeds Solicitors prepares naturalisation applications thoroughly and helps clients navigate the process with confidence.
You can contact us through the Reeds Solicitors contact page on our website, by calling 0333 240 7373, or by emailing [email protected].
Contact:
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Naturalisation as a British Citizen
Most applicants need to show that they have lived lawfully in the UK for at least five years before the date of the application. You must also have held ILR or settled status for at least 12 months at the time of applying. This means that for most people, naturalisation is available around six years after arriving in the UK.
If you are married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen, the qualifying period is shorter. You need three years of lawful residence in the UK and must hold ILR or settled status, but there is no need to wait a further 12 months after receiving it.
In both cases, you must have been physically present in the UK exactly five years (or three years for spouses) before the date the Home Office receives your application. You must not have spent more than 450 days outside the UK during the five-year qualifying period, or 270 days during the three-year period for spouses and civil partners. You also must not have been absent for more than 90 days in the final 12 months before applying.
You need to show that you have sufficient knowledge of English, Welsh, or Scottish Gaelic. For most applicants, this means demonstrating English language ability at B1 level on the CEFR (Common European Framework). This can be evidenced by an approved language test, a degree taught in English, or by being a national of a majority English-speaking country.
The government announced in March 2026 that the English language requirement for settlement will rise to B2 level. Importantly, this change applies to ILR applications made from March 2027 and is not yet in force. Naturalisation requires a separate assessment of English language proficiency, and the current naturalisation requirement remains B1. We will advise on the position at the time of your application. We will advise on the current position at the time of your application.
Exemptions apply to applicants aged 65 or over and to those with certain long-term physical or mental health conditions. If you think an exemption may apply to you, we will advise on how to evidence it.
You need to pass the Life in the UK test before submitting your naturalisation application. The test covers British history, culture, traditions, and values. It consists of 24 questions and you need to score at least 75%, meaning 18 or more correct answers, to pass. The same exemptions that apply to the English language requirement apply to this test.
The good character requirement is one of the most carefully assessed parts of a naturalisation application. The Home Office will consider your criminal history in the UK and overseas, your immigration record, any financial issues such as unpaid taxes or bankruptcy, and your honesty in previous dealings with the Home Office. You are required to declare all criminal convictions, including those that are spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, and all cautions, warnings, and fixed penalty notices where asked. Non-disclosure is treated very seriously and can lead to refusal and a lengthy ban on reapplying.
As of 8 April 2026, the naturalisation application fee is £1,709. A citizenship ceremony fee of £130 is added on top, bringing the total to £1,839. The application is made online through the gov.uk website. After submission, you will need to attend a biometric appointment and provide supporting documents. Most applications are decided within around six months, though this can vary.
If your application is approved, you will be invited to attend a citizenship ceremony, where you take an oath of allegiance to the Crown and receive your naturalisation certificate. You can then apply for a British passport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Naturalisation is the legal process by which a person who was not born British becomes a British citizen. It is the most common route to British citizenship for adults who have lived in the UK for a qualifying period. Once naturalised, you have the same rights as a British citizen by birth, including the right to a British passport, the right to vote in all elections, and the right to live and work in the UK permanently without any immigration restrictions.
Most applicants need five years of lawful residence in the UK, plus 12 months of holding ILR or settled status. If you are married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen, the qualifying period is three years, and you can apply as soon as you hold ILR or settled status, with no 12-month wait.
On the standard five-year route, you must not have been absent from the UK for more than 450 days in total during the five years, or more than 90 days in the final 12 months. On the three-year route for spouses and civil partners of British citizens, the total limit is 270 days over the three years, with the same 90-day limit in the final 12 months.
The current requirement for naturalisation is B1 level on the CEFR. This can be shown through an approved language test, a degree taught in English, or nationality from a majority English-speaking country. The government has announced a change to B2 for settlement (ILR) applications, effective from March 2027. The naturalisation requirement remains B1 at present. We will advise on the position at the time of your application.
Yes, in most cases. The test covers British history, culture, traditions, and values, and consists of 24 questions. You need to score at least 75 per cent, which means 18 or more correct answers, to pass. Exemptions apply for those aged 65 or over and for those with certain long-term physical or mental health conditions.
The British Nationality Act 1981 requires naturalisation applicants to be of ‘good character’, but does not define the term. The Home Office applies detailed internal guidance when assessing this. Caseworkers will look at criminal convictions in the UK and overseas, your immigration history, any issues with tax or finances, and your honesty in previous dealings with the Home Office. You are required to disclose all convictions, including spent ones, and all cautions and warnings where asked. Issues in your past do not automatically mean a refusal, but they need to be handled carefully.
From 8th April 2026, the naturalisation application fee is £1,709. The citizenship ceremony fee of £130 is added on top, making a total of £1,839. The fee is generally non-refundable, even if the application is refused.
Most naturalisation applications are decided within around six months. This can vary depending on the volume of applications being processed and whether further checks are needed. We advise on realistic timescales at the time of your application.
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