British Citizenship by Naturalisation: Requirements, Cost and How to Apply
A complete, up-to-date guide to who qualifies, the residence, good character, English and Life in the UK requirements, the cost, and how our team supports your naturalisation application from start to your citizenship ceremony.
Naturalisation is the grant of British citizenship to a settled adult who meets the conditions in the British Nationality Act 1981. It removes any time limit on a person's stay, gives the right to hold a British passport. Most applicants qualify after five years in the UK, or after three years where they are married to or the civil partner of a British citizen, provided they meet the residence, good character, English language and Life in the UK requirements. This guide provides an overview of the requirements, the cost and the process to naturalise as a British citizen.
- Two routes. The standard route under section 6(1) needs five years' residence. The spouse route under section 6(2) needs three years and being married to a British citizen.
- Settled status first. The applicant must already hold Indefinite Leave to Remain, settled status or another form of permanent status before applying.
- Absence limits apply. No more than 450 days out of the UK over five years, or 270 over three years, and no more than 90 in the final 12 months.
- Good character. The applicant must be of good character, which covers criminal, financial, immigration and conduct history, assessed on the balance of probabilities.
- Cost. The fee to naturalise is £1,839, which includes the £130 citizenship ceremony fee (as of July 2026).
What is naturalisation?
Naturalisation is the process by which an adult who is not British becomes a British citizen by a grant from the Home Office. It is set out in section 6 of the British Nationality Act 1981, and it is the main way a person who has settled in the UK as an adult acquires citizenship. Naturalisation applies to adults; a child usually becomes British by registration rather than naturalisation, which is a separate route under sections 1 and 3 of the Act.
Citizenship and naturalisation are often used interchangeably, but they describe different things. British citizenship is the legal status a person holds. Naturalisation is one of the routes by which that status is acquired. Every person who naturalises becomes a British citizen, but not every British citizen has naturalised, because a person who is British by birth, by descent, or by registration as a child holds the same status without having made a naturalisation application.
A grant of citizenship is discretionary. This means the Home Office must be satisfied that every statutory requirement is met, and it may refuse where the requirements are not made out. British citizenship acquired by naturalisation is citizenship otherwise than by descent, which can be passed to a child born abroad in defined circumstances.
Who can apply to naturalise?
A person can apply to naturalise where they are aged 18 or over, are of sound mind, already hold a settled status, such as Indefinite Leave to Remain, and meet the residence, good character, English language, Life in the UK and, on the standard route, future intentions requirements. The exact conditions depend on which of the two routes applies.
The standard route: section 6(1) BNA 1981
The standard route is for a settled adult who is not married to a British citizen, and it requires five years of qualifying residence. This is the section 6(1) route, named after the provision of the British Nationality Act 1981 that governs it. The applicant must have held Indefinite Leave to Remain or another form of permanent status, described in the Act as being free from immigration time restrictions, for at least the final 12 months of the five-year period.
The spouse route: section 6(2) BNA 1981
The spouse route is for a settled adult who is married to, or the civil partner of, a British citizen, and it requires three years of qualifying residence. This is the section 6(2) route. On this route there is no separate 12-month holding period after settlement, so an applicant who has just been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain can apply as soon as they hold it, provided the three-year residence and the other requirements are met. The section 6(2) route also removes the future intentions requirement that applies on the standard route.
| Condition | Section 6(1), standard | Section 6(2), spouse of a British citizen |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying residence | 5 years | 3 years |
| Settled status held for 12 months before applying | Required | Not required, apply once ILR is held |
| Absence limit over the period | 450 days | 270 days |
| Absence limit in the final 12 months | 90 days | 90 days |
| Future intentions requirement | Applies | Does not apply |
| Good character, English (B1), Life in the UK | Applies | Applies |
What are the requirements to naturalise?
An applicant must meet all of the requirements in the British Nationality Act 1981 for their route. For naturalisation, these are:
- be aged 18 or over and of sound mind
- hold Indefinite Leave to Remain or settled status, held for at least 12 months, unless married to a British citizen
- have lived in the UK for the qualifying period, five years, or three years for the spouse of a British citizen
- be within the absence limits, 450 or 270 days over the period and 90 in the final 12 months
- meet the good character requirement
- meet the English language requirement at B1, unless exempt
- have passed the Life in the UK Test, unless exempt
- intend to make the UK your principal home, on the standard route
The residence and physical presence requirements
The residence requirement is the condition that the applicant has lived in the UK lawfully for the qualifying period without exceeding the permitted absences. It is set out in Schedule 1 to the British Nationality Act 1981, which fixes the qualifying period at five years on the section 6(1) route and three years on the section 6(2) route. The applicant must also have been physically present in the UK on the first day of that period, counting back from the date the application is received.
The applicant must have been in the UK lawfully throughout the period, and must not have been in breach of the immigration laws at any point in it. Time spent in the UK without valid leave does not count toward the qualifying period. A person in Crown service or the armed forces overseas may meet the presence requirement differently, as their service abroad can be treated as presence in the UK.
How many days can I spend outside the UK?
The absence limits are 450 days over the five-year period, 270 days over the three-year period, and 90 days in the 12 months before applying. These are set in Schedule 1 to the British Nationality Act 1981, and both the overall count and the final-year count are checked.
| Route | Qualifying period | Absence limit | Final 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section 6(1), standard | 5 years | 450 days | 90 days |
| Section 6(2), spouse of a British citizen | 3 years | 270 days | 90 days |
An applicant should count their absence days carefully across both the whole qualifying period and the final 12 months, since staying within both limits keeps the residence requirement clearly met. Where the total is close to a limit, it is worth confirming the exact travel dates before applying.
An applicant on the section 6(1) route applies in July 2026 with the five-year period running from July 2021. Over those five years they spent 120 days abroad in year one, 60 in year two, 40 in year three, 30 in year four and 70 in the final year. Their total is 320 days, within the 450 day limit, and the 70 days in the final year is within the 90 day limit for the last 12 months.
Had the same applicant spent 140 days abroad in the final year, they would breach the 90 day rule even though their five-year total stayed under 450. The final-year cap is assessed separately from the overall cap, so both are checked.
The good character requirement
The good character requirement is the condition that the applicant has shown themselves to be a person of good character. It is set out in Schedule 1 to the British Nationality Act 1981 and applies to every applicant aged 10 or over. The Home Office assesses it against its nationality good character guidance, which covers criminal history, financial soundness, immigration conduct, deception and wider behaviour.
The standard: the balance of probabilities
Good character is assessed on the balance of probabilities, meaning the Home Office decides whether, on the evidence, it is more likely than not that the applicant is of good character. The guidance weighs several factors together: the number of incidents, the period over which they happened, their seriousness and any escalation, the time since they occurred, the applicant's age at the time, and any exceptional or mitigating circumstances. No single factor is decisive; the picture is taken as a whole.
Positive evidence is taken into account, but the Home Office does not seek it out. Where an applicant has a record of voluntary work, community contribution or professional standing that helps show good character, that evidence is best included with the application.
Criminal convictions
A criminal record is central to the good character assessment. A serious sentence, a pattern of offending or a recent conviction can lead to refusal, while a minor or older matter usually carries less weight. Both how serious the offence was and how long ago it happened are taken into account, so the outcome depends on the individual history.
The rules on convictions are detailed and are revised from time to time, so an applicant with any caution or conviction, however minor or old, should take advice on how it is likely to be treated before applying.
Cautions, fixed penalties and driving offences
The good character assessment reaches beyond convictions to other dealings with the law. Cautions, warnings, community sentences, hospital orders and fines are all relevant, and are disclosed on the application. A fixed penalty notice, including a motoring one, is not a criminal conviction, but it is disclosed where there are several, where one is unpaid, or where it led to court proceedings.
Driving and motoring offences are declared, including speeding and similar matters dealt with by a fixed penalty. A single minor penalty is unlikely to affect an application on its own, but a pattern of penalties forms part of the overall picture.
Spent and overseas convictions
All convictions are declared, including spent ones. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, which allows some convictions to be treated as spent for other purposes, does not apply to nationality decisions, so a conviction that is spent for employment purposes is still disclosed for naturalisation. Convictions from outside the UK are treated as if they had happened in the UK, unless the conduct in question would not be an offence under UK law.
Financial soundness
Financial conduct is part of good character, and several situations are treated as adverse under the guidance. An outstanding debt to the NHS is a common example, such as where a person owes the NHS more than £500.
Immigration conduct
Immigration history forms part of the good character assessment. Breaches such as overstaying, working in breach of a visa condition, or entering the UK without the required permission can count against an application for a period, and recent changes have tightened how some of these are treated. An applicant with any past immigration issue should take advice on how it is treated before applying.
Deception and dishonesty
Deception is one of the most common reasons an application is refused. It covers dishonesty in the current application, in any previous immigration application, and in dealings with other government departments. Where deception is found, the application is normally refused for a period, and dishonesty discovered after a grant can lead to the citizenship being taken away. An applicant should make sure every answer and document is accurate and consistent with what has been told to the Home Office before.
Notoriety and other conduct
The guidance also covers behaviour that falls short of a criminal offence. Persistent anti-social behaviour, publicly flouting the law, or conduct that has brought a person notoriety in their community or in the media can all be weighed in the assessment.
The English language requirement
The applicant must show English at level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, or a higher level, unless an exemption applies. This is the same knowledge of language and life standard used at settlement, so an applicant who met it for Indefinite Leave to Remain does not usually need to meet it again. The table below sets out the main ways the requirement is met or does not apply.
| Met or exempt by | Detail |
|---|---|
| Approved B1 test | A speaking and listening test from an approved provider |
| Qualifying degree | A degree taught or researched in English |
| Nationality | A national of a majority English speaking country |
| Age exemption | Aged 65 or over |
| Health exemption | A long-term physical or mental condition preventing the requirement being met |
Where an exemption is claimed, it is evidenced rather than assumed, so the relevant documents are provided with the application.
The Life in the UK Test
The applicant must have passed the Life in the UK Test before applying, unless they are exempt. The test covers British traditions, history and public life, is taken at an approved test centre, and costs £50 for each attempt (as of July 2026). The same age and health exemptions that apply to the English language requirement apply to the Life in the UK Test.
A pass is valid indefinitely, so an applicant who passed the test for their settlement application does not need to sit it again for naturalisation. The unique pass reference is entered on the Form AN application.
The future intentions requirement
The future intentions requirement applies on the standard route and asks the applicant to show that they intend to make the UK their principal home. It is set out in Schedule 1 to the British Nationality Act 1981 and applies to section 6(1) applicants only. Where an applicant intends to live or work abroad after naturalising, the requirement can still be met where their close family and main home remain in the UK.
The requirement does not apply to applicants on the section 6(2) spouse route. A person married to a British citizen is not asked to satisfy the future intentions test.
Can a family apply for citizenship together?
A family can often make their nationality applications together. Where both spouses or civil partners qualify, each can apply to naturalise at the same time, and a parent or parents naturalising can apply alongside their child or children, who become British by registration rather than naturalisation. These applications are made from within the UK and can be submitted together.
Applying together has practical benefits: a single submission, and documents that support more than one application. Each applicant must still be eligible for citizenship in their own right, under the relevant sections of the British Nationality Act 1981, so a joint application does not change the requirements each person has to meet.
Already a British national? BN(O), BOTC, BOC and Irish citizens
Some people already hold a form of British nationality that is not full British citizenship, and their route can differ. British Overseas Territories citizens, British Nationals (Overseas), British Overseas citizens, British subjects and British protected persons may in some cases register as British citizens rather than naturalise, which can be simpler and cheaper. Naturalisation remains available to them where they hold settled status and meet the ordinary requirements, so the right route depends on the exact status held.
Irish citizens are in a distinct position. Under the Common Travel Area arrangements an Irish citizen is generally treated as settled from the date of arrival, so they can count their residence toward the qualifying period and apply to naturalise once they meet the residence, good character and knowledge requirements. British Nationals (Overseas) from Hong Kong who came to the UK on the BN(O) route usually naturalise in the ordinary way once they have held settled status for the required period.
Commonwealth citizens of the Windrush generation are in a special position. A person who settled in the UK before 1973, or their child, may be able to naturalise or register as a British citizen free of charge under the Windrush Scheme, which can also treat the residence and knowledge requirements more flexibly. Anyone who may fall within the Windrush generation should check the scheme before paying a fee.
Can EU, EEA and Swiss nationals naturalise?
An EU, EEA or Swiss national who holds settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme can naturalise in the same way as any other settled person. Settled status, granted under Appendix EU, is the permanent status that satisfies the requirement to be free from immigration time restrictions. Time spent living in the UK before settled status was granted can count toward the five-year or three-year qualifying period, so an applicant does not usually start the clock again from the date settled status was issued.
Should I apply for citizenship or keep ILR?
Indefinite Leave to Remain and British citizenship are different statuses, and naturalisation is the step from one to the other. Indefinite Leave to Remain, also called settlement, removes the time limit on a person's stay but keeps them a foreign national, and it can lapse after a long absence from the UK, generally two years or more. British citizenship makes a person a citizen, cannot lapse through absence, and carries the right to a British passport and to vote and stand in all elections.
Naturalisation is not compulsory, and Indefinite Leave to Remain is enough for many people to live and work in the UK indefinitely. Citizenship is the right step where a person wants a British passport, security against changes to their immigration status, or the full political rights of a citizen. Most applicants must hold Indefinite Leave to Remain or settled status before they can naturalise, so settlement comes first.
What documents do I need to naturalise?
The application is evidenced by documents that prove identity, settled status, residence, the knowledge requirements and, on the spouse route, the marriage. The core documents are:
- Passport and travel history: a current passport and details of time spent outside the UK during the qualifying period
- Proof of settled status: Indefinite Leave to Remain, settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or another permanent status
- Evidence of UK residence: official documents and letters that demonstrate residence in the UK across the qualifying period
- Life in the UK Test pass: the unique reference number for the pass
- English language evidence: a B1 test certificate, a qualifying degree, or evidence of an exemption
- Evidence of the relationship: the marriage or civil partnership certificate, on the spouse route
- Evidence of the partner's British citizenship: their passport or certificate of naturalisation, on the spouse route
- Two referees: the details of two referees who meet the Home Office criteria, along with the referee declarations
The documents required will depend on your circumstances, so always seek professional advice.
Who can be a referee?
A naturalisation application needs two referees who confirm they know the applicant and endorse the application. Both referees must have known the applicant for at least three years.
One referee must be a person of professional standing, such as a solicitor, teacher or accountant, and the other must be either a professional person or a British citizen aged 25 or over.
Neither referee can be related to the applicant, related to the other referee, the applicant's solicitor or agent, or someone with an unspent conviction. The referees provide their passport details, and their declarations form part of the application, so they are chosen with the same care as the rest of the evidence.
How do I apply on Form AN?
An adult naturalising as a British citizen applies on Form AN, the application for naturalisation, submitted online through the Home Office. The main stages are:
- Complete Form AN: apply on the GOV.UK website and pay the fee
- Upload documents: carefully upload the supporting documents to UKVCAS
- Enrol biometrics: fingerprints and a facial photo at a UKVCAS service point
- Home Office decision: usually within six months of biometric enrolment
- Citizenship ceremony: attend to make the oath and pledge, become British and receive the certificate of naturalisation
How much does it cost to naturalise?
The fee to naturalise is £1,839 as of July 2026. This is made up of the £1,709 Home Office application fee and the £130 citizenship ceremony fee. There is no charge for enrolling biometric information as part of the application. Because Home Office fees change, the current figure is published on the fees guide.
How long does naturalisation take?
Most naturalisation applications are decided within six months of the biometric enrolment. This is a Home Office service standard rather than a legal deadline, and straightforward applications are often decided more quickly, while complex cases can take longer. Processing delays can occur due to Home Office case loads. Along with the grant, the applicant is invited to a citizenship ceremony, and must attend within three months to become British.
A paid priority service is available for applicants who need a faster decision. It costs £500 in addition to the application fee (as of July 2026). The standard is 30 working days, measured from the biometric appointment rather than from submission. The service is chosen at the point of application, because an application already submitted cannot be moved onto it.
Can I travel while my application is pending?
An applicant can usually travel while a naturalisation application is being decided, provided they still hold valid Indefinite Leave to Remain or settled status. The Home Office does not hold on to the applicant's passport whilst the citizenship application is under process. It is sensible to avoid travel around the biometric appointment and the ceremony, since both need to be attended in person, and a long absence can raise questions about continuing residence.
What happens at the citizenship ceremony?
The citizenship ceremony is the final step, at which the applicant makes an oath or affirmation of allegiance and a pledge, and becomes a British citizen. It is required by section 42 of, and Schedule 5 to, the British Nationality Act 1981. Ceremonies are arranged by the local council, and the certificate of naturalisation is presented at the ceremony.
Applicants must attend their citizenship ceremony within three months of the invitation. An applicant who cannot attend in time should contact the council to rearrange, as the grant can otherwise lapse.
How do I get a British passport after naturalising?
A person becomes British at the ceremony, not on the date of approval, so a British passport can be applied for once the ceremony has taken place. The first British passport is a separate application to His Majesty's Passport Office, with its own fee, and it uses the certificate of naturalisation as proof of citizenship. Holding a British passport is not required to be a citizen, but it is the usual next step for travel.
Can I hold dual citizenship?
The UK allows dual citizenship, so a person naturalising as British does not have to give up their existing nationality as far as UK law is concerned. Whether a person keeps their original citizenship depends on the law of that other country. Some states do not permit dual nationality and withdraw citizenship automatically when a person naturalises elsewhere, while others allow it only if permission is obtained in advance. An applicant should check the position under the law of their country of origin, and take any step needed to keep that nationality, before applying.
Can I give up British citizenship?
A British citizen can give up their citizenship by making a declaration of renunciation to the Home Office, on Form RN, where they already hold or are about to acquire another nationality. Renunciation is sometimes required by a country that does not accept dual nationality as a condition of naturalising there. A person who has renounced British citizenship to acquire another nationality can, in limited circumstances, later resume it, so the decision and the sequence are worth confirming before acting.
Can British citizenship be taken away?
British citizenship can be removed in defined circumstances, a process known as deprivation. Citizenship obtained by naturalisation can be taken away where it was obtained by fraud, false representation or the concealment of a material fact, so accuracy in the application matters well beyond the decision itself. Citizenship can also be removed where the Home Office is satisfied that deprivation is conducive to the public good, for example in cases involving serious criminality or a threat to national security. A person cannot normally be deprived of citizenship where doing so would leave them stateless, which is a safeguard built into the law.
What happens if my application is refused?
Where a naturalisation application is refused, the applicant is told the reason, and there are two main routes forward. Where the applicant believes the decision was wrong on the facts or the law, they can ask the Home Office to reconsider it, using Form NR within the stated time limit. Where the refusal reflects a genuine issue, such as an absence or good character point, the more direct route is usually a fresh application once that issue no longer applies.
The right course depends on the reason for refusal. An applicant refused on absences may simply need to let time pass so the qualifying period is clear, while an applicant refused on good character grounds should take advice on when a fresh application can succeed. Whytecroft Ford advises on reconsideration and on preparing a stronger fresh application.
Upcoming changes to naturalisation
Naturalisation policy has moved in recent years, and applicants should apply against the rules and guidance in force at the date of application. Recent changes have tightened parts of the good character assessment, and the government has signalled reform of settlement and citizenship timelines through its 2025 immigration White Paper. Where a change affects an applicant's route, it is reflected in the requirement sections above.
Naturalisation applications in practice
Three anonymised scenarios show how the requirements apply in common situations.
An applicant married to a British citizen was granted Indefinite Leave to Remain in June 2026 after five years in the UK. Because the section 6(2) route has no 12-month holding period, they can apply to naturalise as soon as they hold Indefinite Leave to Remain, provided they have three years of residence and are within the 270 day and 90 day absence limits. Their total cost is £1,839 (as of July 2026).
An applicant on the standard route had a five-year absence total of 300 days, comfortably within 450. A four-month secondment abroad in the final year took their last-12-month absences to 120 days, over the 90 day limit. Waiting until the secondment fell outside the final 12 months brought them back within the rule before applying.
An applicant held two speeding fixed penalties from three and four years earlier, both paid at the time, and was concerned they would bar naturalisation. Fixed penalties are not convictions, and two paid penalties from several years ago sit at the low end of the good character assessment. The penalties were disclosed on the application with the dates and payment confirmed, and the application proceeded on that basis.
Glossary
- Naturalisation
- The grant of British citizenship to a settled adult who meets the conditions in the British Nationality Act 1981.
- Section 6(1) and section 6(2)
- The standard five-year route and the three-year spouse-of-a-British-citizen route to naturalisation.
- Qualifying period
- The counted length of residence for the route, five years on section 6(1) and three years on section 6(2).
- Free from immigration time restrictions
- Holding a settled status, such as Indefinite Leave to Remain, with no time limit on the stay.
- The good character requirement
- The condition that the applicant is of good character, assessed on the balance of probabilities across criminal, financial, immigration and conduct history.
- Balance of probabilities
- The civil standard of proof, meaning something is more likely than not on the evidence.
- Citizenship ceremony
- The final step, at which the applicant takes the oath of allegiance and pledge and becomes British.
- Deprivation
- The removal of British citizenship, for example where it was obtained by fraud or where removal is conducive to the public good.
- Renunciation
- Voluntarily giving up British citizenship, on Form RN, where another nationality is held or about to be acquired.
British citizenship by naturalisation: frequently asked questions
Answers to the questions applicants ask most often about the requirements, cost and process of naturalising as a British citizen.
How long must I have lived in the UK to naturalise?
Do I need to hold ILR for 12 months before applying?
How many days can I have spent outside the UK?
Do I have to declare a spent conviction or a fixed penalty?
Can I naturalise if I owe money to the NHS?
How much does it cost to naturalise?
How long does a naturalisation application take?
Can I keep my current nationality?
Can my children become British at the same time?
What happens if my application is refused?
Why clients choose Whytecroft Ford
A strong naturalisation application comes from getting the detail right: the exact qualifying date, the day count for absences across five years, and the good character assessment. Clients come to us for clear, expert guidance and a team that prepares each requirement to the standard the Home Office expects.
Several years advising families and individuals, regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority and a member of the Immigration Law Practitioners' Association, with every client supported by a dedicated senior adviser.
Applications prepared to the exact evidential standards the Home Office requires, across family, work, visitor, settlement and citizenship routes.
Prepared to prevent the costly errors and technical refusals that so often catch out applications made without advice.
Absence counts across five years, good character issues and long-residence histories prepared with care, where a naturalisation application is most often lost.
A free initial conversation about your residence, absences and the best time to apply.
Trusted by families and individuals across the UK and internationally, with a five-star client rating.
How we help with your naturalisation application
Choose the level of support that fits, from a one-off conversation to full handling of your naturalisation application from start to your citizenship ceremony.
A one-to-one discussion of your residence, absences and good character, and whether now is the right time to apply.
Learn more →We review your prepared Form AN and evidence against the requirements before you submit.
Learn more →We prepare, check and submit your naturalisation application, and handle it through to a decision, so it is right the first time.
Learn more →How Whytecroft Ford can help with your naturalisation application
A naturalisation application succeeds on the detail: the exact qualifying date, the day count for absences across the qualifying period, and the good character assessment. Whytecroft Ford is a firm of regulated immigration advisers, and nationality applications are a core part of what the team does.
The firm confirms the right route and qualifying date, counts the absences, reviews the good character position against the current guidance, and prepares Form AN and the referee details so the application is right the first time. To talk through your naturalisation application with our team, call 0208 757 5751 or use the contact form.
Sources. GOV.UK: Apply for citizenship with ILR or settled status · Home Office: nationality good character guidance · British Nationality Act 1981, Schedule 1