Naturalisation

Our specialist Immigration lawyers are highly experienced and can assist with applying for naturalisation to achieve British citizenship, helping guide you through the process and increasing your chances of success.

Naturalisation process

The naturalisation process can be confusing, and so specialist advice should be sought before making an application. Firstly, we will need to check if an individual already has British citizenship or can naturalise or register as a British Citizen.
If you wish to naturalise as a British citizen, you must hold indefinite leave to remain (permanent residence), be of good character, and meet certain minimum residence requirements.

There are three main routes to British naturalisation:

You must have British nationality to apply for or hold a British passport.
Having British nationality does not automatically guarantee you a passport if:

Marriage or civil partnership with a British citizen
Completing a residence period
For EEA nationals and their dependants only – completing a qualifying residence period in the UK in exercise of Treaty rights.

We have an in-house team who are specialists in British naturalisation. We provide expert legal advice, ensuring your application meets all the legal requirements. We collate your evidence and prepare detailed submissions to the Home Office.

There are three main routes to British naturalisation

What is Naturalisation?

Naturalisation is the application process by which you can apply to become a British citizen. Certain strict criteria such as residence and good character requirements must be met. A valid application must be made with supporting evidence.

If you are successfully granted British citizenship, you will receive an invitation to attend a citizenship ceremony to receive your Certificate of Naturalisation. After this, you will be permitted to apply for and hold a British passport.

This will allow you to stay in the UK permanently and enjoy the full range of rights as UK citizens.

Our immigration solicitors can help you and your family with your application to make sure you meet the requirements for citizenship and guide you through the process from start to finish.

Eligibility

If you have been living and working in the UK for at least 5 years, or 3 years if you are married to a British citizen and hold Indefinite Leave to Remain, you may be eligible to naturalise as British.

Before you can apply, you must also meet the following eligibility requirements:

You must be aged 18 or over
You have sufficient knowledge of the English language and completed the “Life in the UK” Test
Be seen to be of ‘good character’ – This generally constitutes having no criminal record or having committed a breach of immigration laws
You satisfy the residency requirements
You have had Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK for at least 12 months or have permanent residence in the UK as an EEA national
You must intend to continue living in the UK or to continue in Crown service, following the acceptance of your naturalisation application

Referees

A British citizen
Aged 25 or over
Not related to you
Not related to the other referee
Not your solicitor or agent

Referees are not deemed acceptable if they have been convicted of an imprisonable offence during the last 10 years.

Timescales

While each case is different, applications can take between 2-4 months to process, however, this timescale can vary greatly depending upon many factors.

Fees

The Home Office charge processing fees for naturalisation applications which vary depending upon the nature of the application. The fee for a typical British naturalisation application is £1330.

Speak to us today and we will advise on your eligibility for British citizenship including applications to register children. We can help with choosing the most suitable application for your circumstances and advise on challenging decisions if an application is refused.

Why Choose Us?

Our specialist immigration solicitors will be by your side throughout all stages of your application. We will discuss your circumstances and present you with options on how to proceed.

Our solicitors have many years of experience in dealing with all types of immigration matters. They will expertly guide you in all aspects of your case and are ideally positioned to explain the complexities of cases and can represent your position robustly in order to achieve your desired outcome.