Applying for British citizenship

Once you hold Indefinite Leave to Remain or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, British citizenship through naturalisation becomes the final step in making the UK your permanent home. Unlike ILR, British citizenship cannot be lost by spending time outside the UK, allows you to vote in all elections, and opens the door to a full British passport. This guide explains when you can apply, what the application costs, how long it takes, and what the UK allows in terms of dual nationality.

When can you apply? The 12-month ILR rule and the exceptions

The standard rule is that you must hold Indefinite Leave to Remain for at least 12 months before applying for British citizenship. This applies whether you received ILR through a Skilled Worker visa, the Global Talent route, or another qualifying visa. The same 12-month requirement applies if you hold settled status granted through the EU Settlement Scheme.

Immediate eligibility if married to a British citizen

If you are married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen, you do not need to wait 12 months after receiving ILR. You can apply for citizenship immediately upon receiving your Indefinite Leave to Remain or settled status. However, you must still meet all the other requirements, including proving three years of continuous residence rather than the standard five years, and demonstrating good character. Your relationship must have been genuine and subsisting at the time of application.

Other key requirements before you apply

In addition to holding ILR, you must have lived in the UK for at least five years before the date of your citizenship application. This period reduces to three years if you are applying as the spouse or civil partner of a British citizen. Strict absence limits apply. For standard applicants, you cannot have spent more than 450 days outside the UK during the five-year period, and no more than 90 days in the 12 months immediately before applying. For spousal applications, the limits are 270 days over three years and 90 days in the final 12 months.

• You must have physically been present in the UK on the day five years before your application date, not just arrived within that year.
• You need to pass the Life in the UK Test unless you are 65 or over or have a qualifying disability.
• You must prove English language ability at B1 level or above unless exempt. If you already passed the test for ILR, the same certificate may be accepted.
• You will need two referees: one must be a professional person, and the other must normally be a British citizen aged 25 or over.

Fees and processing times in 2026

Application fees

As of April 2026, the naturalisation application fee for adults is 1,709 pounds. This figure includes the 130-pound citizenship ceremony administration charge, which is now paid upfront as part of the application fee. The fee is non-refundable once the Home Office begins processing your application, even if your application is refused. Unlike many visa applications, there is no priority or fast-track service for citizenship applications, so every applicant pays the same fee and waits in the same queue.

On top of the Home Office fee, budget for the Life in the UK Test at 50 pounds and an approved English language test at around 150 pounds if you need one. You may also need to pay for certified translations of documents not in English, biometric enrolment services if you choose optional enhanced appointments at UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services centres, and legal advice if your case involves any complexity.

How long does it take?

The Home Office aims to decide most British citizenship applications within six months from the date they receive your application. This is a service standard, not a legal guarantee. Straightforward applications with complete documentation, clear travel records, and no character concerns may be decided in as little as three to four months. More complex cases involving additional security checks, complicated residence histories, or requests for further evidence can take longer than six months. If the Home Office expects your case to exceed the six-month target, they should notify you before that period expires.

Once your application is approved, you will receive an invitation to attend a citizenship ceremony. You must book and attend your ceremony within three months of the invitation. The ceremony is conducted by your local council and usually takes place in a group setting. At the ceremony, you will swear an oath of allegiance to the Crown and pledge to respect the rights, freedoms, and laws of the UK. Only after you receive your certificate of British citizenship at the ceremony are you officially a British citizen. You can then apply for your first British passport.

The good character requirement

Every applicant aged ten or over must meet the good character requirement. This is a legal test under the British Nationality Act 1981, but the Act itself does not define what good character means. Instead, the Home Office applies detailed policy guidance that covers criminal history, immigration breaches, financial conduct, honesty, and association with notoriety or extremism. Meeting this requirement is mandatory; if the Home Office concludes you do not meet it, your application will be refused regardless of how long you have lived in the UK or how well you meet the other criteria.

The Home Office will examine your criminal record, both in the UK and abroad. Applicants with custodial sentences of 12 months or more will normally be refused. Those with shorter custodial sentences, non-custodial sentences, or out-of-court disposals may still be refused if, on the balance of probabilities, the Home Office decides they are not of good character. They will also check HMRC records for unpaid taxes, council tax arrears, and bankruptcy. Previous immigration breaches such as overstaying or illegal entry can affect your application. From February 2025, new guidance states that applicants who entered the UK illegally will normally be refused citizenship regardless of how long ago the entry occurred.

Dual citizenship: what the UK allows

The United Kingdom permits dual citizenship. This means you can become a British citizen without giving up your current nationality, provided your home country also allows dual nationality. The UK does not require you to renounce any existing citizenship when you naturalise, and holding multiple nationalities will not affect your rights as a British citizen. There is no upper limit on the number of citizenships you can hold in the eyes of UK law.

However, not all countries recognise dual nationality. Some countries, including India, China, Japan, and Singapore, do not allow their citizens to hold another nationality and may require you to renounce your original citizenship if you naturalise elsewhere. Other countries, such as Pakistan, the Philippines, and Turkey, allow dual nationality with the UK but may have notification or registration requirements. Many European countries, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and most EU member states now permit dual nationality without restriction. South Africa allows dual nationality but requires you to apply for retention of citizenship before acquiring a foreign nationality.

If you do hold dual nationality, remember that you cannot receive consular assistance from the British government while you are in the other country where you also hold citizenship. When entering the UK, you should use your British passport. When entering the other country where you hold nationality, you should use that passport. Dual nationals may also be subject to obligations such as taxation or military service in both countries, so it is important to understand the laws of each country you are a citizen of.

After you receive citizenship

Once you become a British citizen, your Biometric Residence Permit will become invalid. You must return your BRP to the Home Office within five working days of receiving your certificate of British citizenship. Failing to do so can result in a fine of up to 1,000 pounds. You can then apply for a British passport online or by post. A first adult passport currently costs 88.50 pounds online or 100 pounds by paper application. Processing usually takes around three to six weeks, though expedited services are available for an additional fee.

British citizenship gives you the unconditional right to live, work, and study in the UK for life, with no need to renew any status or prove your ongoing connection to the country. You can vote in all elections, stand for public office, access public funds including benefits and pensions, and sponsor family members for visas. You can leave the UK for any length of time without losing your citizenship. Unlike ILR, British citizenship is hereditary in most cases, meaning that children born to you after you naturalise will usually be British citizens automatically.