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British citizenship
British citizenship confers the right of abode in the United Kingdom. A British citizen may enter the UK without restriction, reside permanently, work or study without immigration control, and access state benefits for which they are eligible. British citizens also enjoy full political rights, including the right to vote in all elections and referenda and the right to stand for election to the House of Commons.
Given the complexity of nationality law and the strict evidential requirements, it is strongly recommended to seek specialist legal advice before making an application. Our dedicated team of immigration solicitors can guide you through the process in light of your individual circumstances.
Routes Towards British Citizenship
The principal route by which adult migrants may acquire British citizenship is naturalisation. There are two main categories under which naturalisation can be sought:
- Naturalisation after five years’ residence
- The applicant must have resided lawfully in the UK for a continuous period of at least five years.
- They must have held indefinite leave to remain (ILR), or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, for at least 12 months prior to the date of application (unless they are married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen, in which case this 12-month requirement does not apply).
- Naturalisation as the spouse or civil partner of a British citizen
- The applicant must have resided lawfully in the UK for a continuous period of at least three years.
- They must hold indefinite leave to remain (ILR) or settled status at the date of application.
Statutory Requirements for Naturalisation
Applicants must satisfy the statutory requirements set out in the British Nationality Act 1981. These include:
- Good character requirement: Applicants must not have breached UK immigration laws and must not have recent or serious criminal convictions.
- Residence requirement:
- In a five-year application: the applicant must not have been absent from the UK for more than 450 days in total during the five-year qualifying period, and not more than 90 days in the 12 months prior to the application.
- In a three-year application as the spouse or civil partner of a British citizen: the applicant must not have been absent from the UK for more than 270 days in total during the three-year qualifying period, and not more than 90 days in the 12 months prior to the application.
- Knowledge of language and life in the UK: Unless exempt, applicants must demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the English language and pass the Life in the UK Test.
Registration of Children
Children under the age of 18 may apply to become British citizens by a process known as registration, rather than naturalisation. The requirements for registration vary depending on the child’s circumstances (for example, whether they were born in the UK, whether their parents are British citizens or settled in the UK, or whether the Home Secretary exercises discretion in the child’s best interests). The rules governing registration are more flexible than those for adult naturalisation, and applications are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Requirements:
Call us on 0208 090 2488 or Submit a Form to speak with one of our Solicitors to have an assessment of your eligibility for naturalisation and British citizenship.