British citizenship (naturalisation)

Eligibility

Usually: ILR held for 12 months (not needed if married to a British citizen), lived in the UK 5 years, in the UK exactly 5 years before the application date, no more than 450 days absent in 5 years and 90 days in the last 12 months, good character, Life in the UK test (£50) and English B1. India does not allow dual citizenship – Indian nationals usually lose Indian citizenship on naturalising (OCI may be an option).

Key facts (checked 31 Oct 2026)

Full eligibility criteria (official)

Eligibility and fees

You can apply for citizenship if you’ve lived in the UK for 5 years and have had one of the following for 12 months:

• indefinite leave to remain in the UK
• ‘settled status’ (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain under the EU Settlement Scheme’)
• indefinite leave to enter the UK (permission to move to the UK permanently from abroad)

You do not need to wait 12 months to apply if you’re married to a British citizen.

You must also:

• be over 18
• prove you were in the UK exactly 5 years before the day the Home Office receives your application
• prove your knowledge of English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic
• have passed the life in the UK test
• intend to continue living in the UK
• be of good character - read the naturalisation guidance

If you have pre-settled status

You may be able to apply for citizenship if you can show all of the following:

• you have pre-settled status
• you’re from the EU, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and started living in the UK by 31 December 2020 (or you’re their family member)
• you’ve lived in the UK for 5 years in a row and in that time you’ve been working (or looking for work for up to 3 months), studying or you’re self-sufficient

Residency requirements

You must have lived in the UK for at least 5 years before the date of your application. You also should not have broken any UK immigration laws.

If you have indefinite leave to enter or remain, the Home Office will not usually check if you broke any immigration laws before then.

You cannot include any time spent in the UK when you’re exempt from immigration control as a:

• diplomat
• member of a diplomat’s staff or household
• member of visiting armed forces

Time you’ve spent outside the UK

You should not have:

• spent more than 450 days outside the UK during the 5 years before your application
• spent more than 90 days outside the UK in the last 12 months
• broken any UK immigration laws (for example living illegally in the UK)

When you apply, you’ll be asked for information about time you’ve spent outside the UK. Give as much detail as you can using your own records, such as emails or boarding passes. The Home Office will check their records and fill in any gaps or make any corrections for you.

If you’ve been away from the UK for a long time

You may have lost your indefinite leave to remain or enter if you’ve been away from the UK for:

• more than 2 years at any time since you got it (you’ll need to apply for a Returning Resident visa)
• more than 5 years if you have settled status
• more than 4 years if you are a Swiss citizen, or the family member of a Swiss citizen, and you have settled status

This is one way to apply for British citizenship. Check if you’re eligible another way.

When to apply

You must have been physically present in the UK exactly 5 years before the Home Office receives your application.

Your application may be rejected if you were not in the UK exactly 5 years before the Home Office received it. This depends on the reason why you were not in the UK. The Home Office will consider if there are special circumstances, for example:

• you were not able to live in the UK at the start of the 5 year period because of health reasons or travel restrictions
• you were told to leave the UK during the 5 years but this decision was later overturned

Example

If the Home Office receives your application on 20 June 2022, but you left the UK on 10 June 2017 and returned to the UK on 25 June 2017, you will not qualify. You’ll need to wait until 24 June 2022 to apply.

The date the Home Office receives your application depends on how you apply. If you apply online, your application will be received on the same day. It will take longer if you apply by post.

How much it costs

It costs £1,839 (£1,709 to apply and a £130 citizenship ceremony fee).

You’ll also need to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken - there’s no fee for this. You’ll be told how to do this after you’ve applied.

How long it takes

You’ll usually get a decision within 6 months - some applications can take longer. If yours will take longer you’ll be told before 6 months have passed.

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

Source: GOV.UK – Eligibility and fees (checked 31 Oct 2026)

How to apply, step by step (official)

How to apply

There are 2 ways to apply for British citizenship by naturalisation. You can either:

• make an application yourself
• use an agent or representative

Make an application yourself

Read the guidance to check if you can apply and what documents you need to provide.

Fill in the form online.

You’ll be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photo).

You do not need to send your documents anywhere. You can either:

• upload copies into the online service
• have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment

You can also apply by post.

You must have been physically present in the UK exactly 5 years before the Home Office receives your application. If you apply online, your application will be received on the same day. It will take longer if you apply by post.

If you’re applying from the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or a British overseas territory

If you live in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or a British overseas territory, you have to apply by post or in person instead. Check which you can do with your governor’s office.

You’ll be told where to give your biometric information after you apply.

Get help to apply online

You can get help with completing the online form if you:

• do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device
• do not have internet access

You can only use this service if you’re applying in the UK.

You cannot get immigration advice through this service.

Apply through an agent or representative

An agent or representative is a private company or individual that can help you with your application and give you advice.

Check if an agent or representative is registered with the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA).

You can also use some solicitors or barristers that are not registered with the IAA. The solicitor or barrister must be registered with one of the following organisations instead:

• General Council of the Bar
• Law Society of England and Wales
• Chartered Institute of Legal Executives
• Faculty of Advocates
• Law Society of Scotland
• General Council of the Bar of Northern Ireland
• Law Society of Northern Ireland

Source: GOV.UK – How to apply (checked 31 Oct 2026)

Apply for your children

You must apply separately for your children.

You can apply to ‘register’ your child for citizenship if they were born either:

• outside of the UK
• inside the UK before you were granted indefinite leave to remain

Read the guidance to check you can apply.

How much it costs

It costs £1,000 to apply for each child.

If your child is under 18 and you cannot afford to pay the application fee, you may be able to apply for a fee waiver.

You must also pay £130 for your child’s citizenship ceremony if they turn 18 during the application process.

When you do not need to apply for your child

Your child may automatically be a British citizen if they were born both:

• in the UK
• after you were granted indefinite leave to remain

You can apply for a child’s passport if your child is under 16.

Your child can apply for an adult passport if they’re over 16.

Source: GOV.UK – Apply for your children (checked 31 Oct 2026)

After you’ve applied

You’ll usually get a decision within 6 months - some applications can take longer. If yours will take longer you’ll be told before 6 months have passed.

You’ll be told if you need to provide more information to help with your application.

If your circumstances change

You should contact UK Visas and Immigration (part of the Home Office) if your situation changes during your application (for example, you move house, get married or are arrested).

UK Visas and Immigration [email protected]

You might be asked to attend an interview where you’ll need to speak without an interpreter.

Attending a citizenship ceremony

You’ll need to attend a citizenship ceremony if your application is successful.

Source: GOV.UK – After you’ve applied (checked 31 Oct 2026)

After you get your certificate

You must send your biometric residence permit (BRP) back to the Home Office within 5 working days of getting your certificate of British citizenship. You must send it back even though it has expired.

Cut your BRP into 4 pieces and put it in a windowless envelope.

Include a note saying you’re returning your permit because you’ve become a citizen. Include your name, date of birth and the document number (found on the front of the card) in the note.

Naturalisation BRP ReturnsPO Box 195BristolBS20 1BT

You’ll be fined up to £1,000 if you do not return your permit within 5 working days.

Travelling to and from the UK

Once you have a British passport you can use this to enter the UK.

If you do not want a British passport you can apply for a certificate of entitlement instead.

You cannot enter the UK using your BRP or certificate of British citizenship.

If you’re a dual citizen

If you’re a dual citizen, you may be able to travel to the UK using:

• an expired UK passport
• a passport of your other nationality
• a national identity card

Find out more about travelling to the UK if you are dual citizen.

Source: GOV.UK – After you get your certificate (checked 31 Oct 2026)

Processing times and faster decisions (official)

Standard: Usually within 6 months (GOV.UK visa processing times).

• Priority service: +£500, usually a decision within 5 working days (settlement, citizenship and family-from-outside-UK: usually 30 working days).
• Super priority service: +£1,000, usually a decision by the end of the next working day after you prove your identity. Not available for citizenship.
• Availability depends on the route, the country and whether you use a UKVCAS centre or the ID Check app; there is a daily limit. You are told at the point of applying whether it is offered.

Source: GOV.UK – Get a faster decision on your visa or settlement application (checked 31 Oct 2026)

How the application works (official)

1. Check eligibility and gather documents (sections above). Sponsored routes: get your CoS/CAS reference first; endorsed routes: get your endorsement first.
2. Apply online on GOV.UK and pay the fee and Immigration Health Surcharge (if it applies) – IHS.
3. Prove your identity: either the UK Immigration: ID Check app (if offered) or an appointment at a visa application centre (outside the UK) or UKVCAS service point (inside the UK) for fingerprints and photo.
4. Upload documents and wait for the decision. Do not travel or leave the UK before a decision if applying from inside the UK – it can withdraw your application.
5. Your permission is issued as an eVisa in your UKVI account; physical BRPs are no longer issued. Link your passport to it and use share codes to prove your rights – GOV.UK eVisas.

Path to settlement (ILR) and citizenship

n/a – this is the step after ILR.

Citizenship normally needs ILR (or settled status) held for 12 months – or immediately if married to a British citizen – plus the residence, absences, good character, Life in the UK test (£50) and English B1 requirements. See GOV.UK – Settle in the UK and GOV.UK – Citizenship if you have ILR.