Apply for British Naturalisation
Apply for British Naturalisation
Naturalisation refers to the process of becoming a citizen of another country. Applying for British Naturalisation UK lets you live and work anywhere in the UK free from immigration controls. If you are British by descent, you may be able to simply register for British Naturalisation UK, but otherwise, you need to apply for Naturalisation.
You can make a Naturalisation application if you have lived in the UK for 12 months as a settled person. During this time you must have held ILR in the UK or Permanent Residence/EU settled status. To naturalise as a British citizen you must pass a Life in the UK test, and you must demonstrate good character. Certain countries allow you to naturalise in the UK while keeping your citizenship there — this status is called dual-citizenship. However, not all countries allow this so it is worth checking before you make an application for British naturalisation.
How can IAS help you with your Naturalisation application?
We can help you if you want to make an application for Naturalisation. Our team of immigration lawyers are vastly experienced in making a variety of successful citizenship applications. As part of our unique services, you will be paired with a lawyer who specialises is Nationality law and can support you through each step of your journey to becoming a full British citizen. One. Your lawyer will assess whether you are eligible for British Naturalisation and ensure that you are prepared for the Life in the UK test and English language requirements. They will help you source and organise all your supporting evidence, placing it in a specially-designed evidence portfolio. This portfolio will help present your full application to Home Office officials in a way which makes it easier to understand and process. Your lawyer will then write a detailed Letter of Representation to support your case. This letter directly pleads your case’s merits to the Home Office, greatly improving your chances of success. Make an enquiry or call us on 0333 414 9244 to discuss your query with a member of our team.
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Frequently Asked Questions
British Naturalisation allows you to live and work in the UK free from immigration restrictions.
You can apply for British Naturalisation if you have lived in the UK for 12 months in a settled status. To be eligible, you must also:
- Pass the Life in the UK test;
- Prove spoken and written English proficiency;
- Not have spent more than 90 days outside the UK in the last 12 months;
- Demonstrate “good character”.
It is worth noting that, depending on your home country, you may lose your citizenship there if you get your UK Naturalisation.
The requirements for British Citizenship are extensive. In order to apply for British Naturalisation, you must meet the following criteria:
- Be 18 years-of-age or over at the time of your application
- Demonstrate good character, which means you cannot have a criminal record
- Granted Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK, or have EEA Permanent Residence
- Not have broken any immigration laws, including overstaying any visa
- Be able to speak English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic
- Meet the residential qualifying period of five years (or three years as a spouse/civil partner of a British Citizen)
During the application, you must be able to demonstrate adequate knowledge of UK Life and the English Language.
If you are under 18 and do not have British Citizenship by birth, you may be able to register as a British citizen instead.
You will need to complete Form AN, ‘Application for Naturalisation as a British Citizen’, which is 30 pages long and includes guidance notes and an accompanying booklet.
Before completing your Naturalisation application, you may need to complete an IELTS Language test and the Life in the UK test. You will also need to gather your travel details for the past five years, so it’s worth gathering this information in advance of your application.
You should make a copy of your completed Naturalisation application before submitting it. Once you have submitted it, the UK Home Office will complete checks on your application, including looking into your criminal record to see if there is any reason you wouldn’t be eligible for British Naturalisation UK.
If approved, you will be invited to citizenship ceremony where you will be presented with a Certificate of Naturalisation. After this, you will be able to apply for a British Passport, which is the most popular proof of ID for British Citizens.
You can make a British Naturalisation from ILR if you have held ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain) status for at least 12 months. During this time you must have been present in the UK ‘continuously’. This means you must not have spent more than 90 days outside of the country for your time in the UK.
British Naturalisation processing times can vary. After sending your application it can take up to four weeks to receive confirmation. After that, a decision on your Naturalisation application will usually take around six months.
You may be invited to attend an interview and you will need to speak without an interpreter during this process. After you have received your Certificate of Citizenship, you can apply for your first British passport.
A British Naturalisation application can be very complex and often very stressful. At IAS, our team of specialist immigration lawyers are dedicated to relieving this stress.
We will check your eligibility for British Naturalisation and support you throughout your application process. This will include:
- checking that your documents are sufficient for your application;
- providing an accompanying in-depth Letter of Representation on the advantages of your application. This letter will also refer to relevant UK immigration laws that support your case;
- managing interactions with the Home Office during your application;
- ensuring that each part of your application form is completed using your lawyer’s expert knowledge.
We will closely assist you with every stage of your British Naturalisation UK application. We will also ensure that you are prepared for the Life in the UK test and that you meet the English Language requirements to become a British Citizen.
Contact us today on 0333 363 8577 or make an enquiry online to begin your application for British Naturalisation by speaking to one of our accomplished advice lawyers.