For many people, becoming a British citizen is the realisation of a long term dream and something that has been worked towards.

The introduction of the citizenship ceremony was intended to celebrate the significance of becoming a British citizen and welcome the new citizen into their community.

Naturalisation as a British citizen however, is not an entitlement and a decision can only be made if you meet certain requirements. These requirements differ depending on whether or not you are married to or the civil partner of a British citizen at the time of application.

The general legal requirements you must meet prior to applying include:

• You must be aged 18 or over and are not of unsound mind
• You must be of good character
• You can communicate in the English language (or Welsh or Scottish Gaelic)
• You should intend to live in the UK or in Crown Service abroad (working directly for an UK Government organisation), or be employed by an international organisation of which the UK is a member, or be employed by a company or association established in the United Kingdom.

The Residential Qualifying Period for naturalisation as a British citizen for those not the civil partner of or married to a British citizen at the time of applying are:

• You must have been living in the UK exactly 5 years before the date the application is received by the Home Office (for example if your application is received on 20/12/2007 you should have been physically present in the United Kingdom on 21/12/2002); and
• During the five-year period you must not have been outside the United Kingdom for more than 450 days*; and
• During the last 12 months of the five-year period you must not have been outside the UK for more than 90 days*; and
• During the last 12 months of the five-year period you were not subject to immigration control (your stay in the United Kingdom you must have held permanent residence/ indefinite leave to remain (ILR)); and
• You must not have been living in the United Kingdom in breach of the UK immigration rules at any time during the five-year period up to the date that the application is received by the Home Office.

The Residential Qualifying Period for naturalisation as a British citizen for those married to or the civil partner of a British citizen at the time of applying are:

• You must have been living in the UK exactly 3 years before the date the application is received by the Home Office (for example if your application is received on 20/12/2007 you should have been physically present in the United Kingdom on 21/12/2004); and
• During the three-year period you must not have been outside the United Kingdom for more than 270 days*; and
• During the last 12 months of the five-year period you must not have been outside the UK for more than 90 days*; and
• You are not subject to immigration control (your stay in the United Kingdom you must have permanent residence/ indefinite leave to remain (ILR)) on the day you submit your application to the Home Office; and
• You must not have been living in the United Kingdom in breach of the UK immigration rules at any time during the three-year period up to the date that the application is received by the Home Office.

* Please note there is discretion to disregard absences that are over the requirement. Persons applying for naturalisation as a British citizen will be required to complete the “Life in the UK Test”.

The processing time for an application for naturalisation as a British citizen is currently approximately 5 months. If you would like assistance with a naturalisation application made on the basis of having Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK.

Contact Ambler Collins for a free assessment of your eligibility to apply. Contact us at info@amblercollins.com or phone +44 (0)20 7371 0213

> Back to UK Immigration main page

>Back to AmblerCollins Home Page