Form AN Guide 2026: Apply for UK Citizenship

by Whytecroft Ford Immigration Team | 25 Feb 2026

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Form AN is the official application form used to apply for British Citizenship by Naturalisation. Naturalisation is a legal process to become a citizen, where applicants demonstrate their eligibility according to the legal requirements under the British Nationality Act 1981. Form AN requires detailed information regarding an applicant’s life in the UK, alongside fulfilling several statutory criteria. This post provides an overview of the requirements for Form AN and the application process.

What is Form AN?

Form AN is the standard Home Office application form for adults aged 18 or over who have lived in the UK lawfully for their qualifying period and wish to become British citizens.

This citizenship application form is designed to assess your eligibility against core statutory criteria under the British Nationality Act 1981. The information required for Form AN is extensive; it includes your identity, immigration status, family and relationship details, international travel history, good character, future intentions, employment in the UK, referee details, and your complete UK immigration history.

Who can use Form AN to apply for British citizenship?

Any individual over the age of 18 who is currently living in the UK, meets the requirements for naturalisation and wishes to become a British citizen can apply using Form AN.

While there are alternative legal pathways to obtain UK citizenship, such as through Registration or Descent, these specific routes operate under different legal provisions and require different application forms.

Form AN Naturalisation Requirements

To successfully apply for naturalisation using Form AN, several statutory requirements must be met under the BNA 1981. You must demonstrate that you:

Have lived in the UK lawfully for 5 years (or 3 years if you are the spouse or civil partner of a British citizen), without excess absences. For instance, no more than 450 days of absence are normally accepted over a 5-year qualifying period.
Have been physically present in the UK on the exact first day of your qualifying period.
Are free from immigration time restrictions on the date of application and have held this status for at least 12 months (unless applying as the spouse or civil partner of a British citizen).
Intend to live in the UK permanently in the future (this requirement does not apply to spouses or civil partners of British citizens).
Have passed the mandatory Life in the UK test.
Have demonstrated English proficiency to the required level
Are of good character and of sound mind, demonstrating compliance with UK laws.

Read more about the application process at British Citizenship by Naturalisation.

Get clear Form AN advice from an experienced immigration adviser, reach out to our friendly professional team on 0208 757 5751 or use our Contact Form to discuss your citizenship application and receive clear, professional guidance.

What information is required for Form AN?

Applying for naturalisation is a highly detailed legal procedure. Applicants must ensure their information is accurate, as an oversight or error may lead to the application process being delayed for more than six months.

Form AN requires exhaustive information across the following categories:

Personal Information and Identity

The initial sections establish your identity and current immigration status. You must provide your full name, contact information, and a 5-year address history. You must declare your current immigration status, providing passport details and confirming the exact date you were granted Indefinite Leave to Remain or EU Settled Status.

Family and Relationship Details

Form AN requires extensive background information regarding your immediate family. This includes the names, birthdates, and nationalities of your parents, your current partner, and any children. You must also declare if you have been previously married or in a civil partnership.

Trips Outside the UK (Absences)

Demonstrating continuous residence is a strict requirement. You must provide the exact date and port of your first arrival in the UK. Furthermore, you must comprehensively list all trips taken outside the UK during your qualifying period, specifying the departure and return dates, destinations, and the total number of full days absent.

Good Character and History

This assessment is exhaustive and requires transparency regarding your past conduct. You must declare any criminal convictions, driving penalties, police cautions, civil court judgments, or immigration breaches. You must also confirm if you have any adverse legal history, for example, have been declared bankrupt.

Future Intentions and Employment

You must declare your intention to make the UK your main home if your application is successful. Additionally, the form requires a declaration of your current employment status and whether you or your partner work for the UK government in Crown service.

Referee Details

You must provide the details of two referees who can support your application. Both must have known you for at least three years. One referee must be a person of professional standing, and the other must hold a valid British passport. You will need to provide their contact details, specific professions, and passport numbers.

Immigration History

Form AN requires a complete record of your interactions with UK Visas and Immigration. You must detail any previous UK immigration applications you have made, whether inside the UK or abroad, including reference numbers, application dates, and whether your fingerprints were taken.

Documents, Declarations, and Payment

The final section generates a generic document checklist based on your answers. Standard requirements include your passport, proof of settled status, English language evidence, and signed referee declarations. Note: The form automatically identifies certain exemptions, such as waiving language evidence for nationals of majority English-speaking countries. Before submitting, you must sign a final declaration confirming the accuracy of your information, consent to background checks, and pay the application fee.

Form AN Document Checklist

The specific documentary evidence required for a naturalisation application is strictly dictated by your individual circumstances, including your chosen qualifying period, employment status, and immigration history. However, to successfully satisfy the statutory criteria under the British Nationality Act 1981, Form AN will generally require the following core documentation:

Proof of Identity and Nationality: Your current valid passport. In the absence of a valid passport, you must provide alternative official documentation, such as a certified birth certificate or a government-issued national identity card.
Proof of Settled Status: Formal evidence demonstrating your freedom from immigration time restrictions. This typically includes your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), your digital proof of EU Settled Status, or the official Home Office letter confirming your grant of Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
Civic Knowledge (Life in the UK): Your official Life in the UK test pass certificate or the unique reference number generated upon your successful completion of the examination.
English Language Proficiency: Documentary proof that you meet the statutory language requirement (minimum CEFR Level B1). This is typically demonstrated via an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) pass certificate, or a formal academic degree taught in English (accompanied by ECCTIS certification if the degree was obtained overseas).
Evidence of Lawful Residence: Comprehensive documentation covering the entirety of your 3-year or 5-year qualifying period to prove continuous, lawful residence. Standard evidence includes P60 end-of-year tax certificates, consecutive payslips, official bank statements, or formally drafted letters from a registered employer.
Referee Declarations: Two fully completed and signed referee declarations endorsing your identity and character. One referee must be a person of recognised professional standing, and the other must hold a valid British passport and be over the age of 25.
Status-Specific Evidence: Additional documentation contingent upon your specific legal route, such as a legally recognised marriage or civil partnership certificate, alongside your partner’s British passport, if you are applying on the basis of marriage to a British citizen.

How to Apply For Naturalisation With Form AN

Before applying, ascertain that you meet all the eligibility criteria for British citizenship. Once you are confident in your eligibility, the standard process is to submit the application form AN online on the gov.uk website.

After completing the application form, you will pay the required fee. You will be directed to book an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) centre to provide your biometric information (fingerprints and a photograph). You may upload your scanned supporting documents before you attend the appointment.

While most applications are processed online, paper submissions are required for certain jurisdictions. If you live in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or a British Overseas Territory, you must submit a paper application by post to the Lieutenant Governor or Governor of the territory. If you live elsewhere but must use a paper form, it should be sent to: Department 1, UK Visas and Immigration, The Capital Building, New Hall Place, Liverpool, L3 9PP.

How Much is the Fee for Form AN?

The current Home Office fee for naturalisation is £1,605. However, every approved adult applicant must also pay a mandatory £130 citizenship ceremony fee. When submitting Form AN online, these fees are grouped together, resulting in a total upfront payment of £1,735.

As these fees are non-refundable, instructing an experienced immigration adviser to comprehensively prepare your naturalisation application ensures you have the greatest chance of receiving citizenship the first time.

How long does it take for Form AN to be approved?

Processing begins once you have gathered your evidence, passed the required tests, and submitted your application and biometrics. You should receive confirmation that the Home Office has received your application within four weeks. Following this, the standard British Citizenship application processing time is usually up to six months.

What happens after the decision?

Once a positive decision is made and you have been granted British Citizenship, you will be invited to a naturalisation ceremony. Attendance is a mandatory requirement to complete your application. During the ceremony, you and other new citizens will accept your new citizenship and officially naturalise.

How Whytecroft Ford Can Assist You

Accurately navigating Form AN and the British Nationality Act 1981 is essential for a well-prepared citizenship application. For clear, professional guidance before you submit your application, speak with an experienced British citizenship adviser. Call our team on 0208 757 5751 or use our Contact Form to reach out to our friendly professional team.