Naturalisation as a British Citizen
Applying for British citizenship? Our immigration solicitors guide you through the good character requirement, fees and Form AN — so your application gets it right first time.
Naturalisation is the legal process by which an adult who was not born British becomes a British citizen, by applying to the Home Office under the British Nationality Act 1981 after meeting residence, immigration status, English language and “good character” requirements. Most adults apply using Form AN once they have held Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or EU Settled Status for the required qualifying period. Once approved, you gain the right to live, work and study in the UK without immigration restriction, to hold a British passport, to vote, and to leave and re-enter the UK freely — rights that ILR alone does not give you.
Adam Bernard Solicitors advises clients across London and internationally on naturalisation applications, from straightforward five-year-route cases to complex good character and discretionary cases. Book a free consultation with our immigration team before you submit.
Am I eligible to apply for British citizenship?
Under the British Nationality Act 1981, most adults must meet six requirements to naturalise. You must:
- Be aged 18 or over
- Have lived in the UK for a continuous qualifying period — five years for most applicants, or three years if you are married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen
- Have held Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or settled status for at least 12 months before applying (this waiting period does not apply if you already hold indefinite leave to enter)
- Not have spent more than 450 days outside the UK during the five-year period (270 days for the three-year spousal route), and no more than 90 days in the 12 months immediately before applying
- Meet the English language requirement at CEFR level B1 or above, unless exempt
- Pass the Life in the UK Test
- Satisfy the “good character” requirement
If you hold ILR but are unsure whether your absences or immigration history put your eligibility at risk, our solicitors can review your case before you pay the application fee.
The main routes to British citizenship
- Naturalisation — the standard adult route described on this page (5-year or 3-year spousal route)
- British citizenship by birth or descent
- Registration for children born in the UK or applying with a parent (Form MN1)
- Citizenship for stateless individuals, or for those seeking to resume citizenship they previously renounced
How much does it cost to apply for British citizenship in 2026?
The current Home Office fee for adult naturalisation (Form AN) is £1,839. This is a single, non-refundable fee that covers processing whether your application is approved or refused — it does not include the £80 citizenship ceremony fee charged separately by your local council, or the Life in the UK Test.
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Naturalisation (Form AN, adult) | £1,839 | Non-refundable, even if refused |
| Child registration (Form MN1) | £1,000 | Plus £130 ceremony supplement if the child turns 18 while the application is pending |
| Life in the UK Test | £50 | Paid to Pearson VUE, separately from the Home Office fee |
| Certificate of Entitlement / Right of Abode | £589 | Alternative route for some Commonwealth citizens with a British parent |
| Reconsideration of a refused application (Form NR) | £513 | See “What if my application is refused?” below |
(Figures confirmed against the GOV.UK fee schedule current at the time of writing. The Home Office periodically raises fees under secondary legislation — always check GOV.UK’s current fee page or ask us to confirm the live figure before you pay.)
What is the "good character" requirement — and has it changed?
You must satisfy the Home Office that you are of good character, assessed against criminal record, immigration history, and financial conduct in the UK and abroad — and the rules on immigration history changed significantly in 2026. Under Home Office good character guidance, applications are normally refused where an applicant has:
- Been sentenced to four years or more in prison (refusal is mandatory in most such cases)
- Concealed or refused to disclose criminal convictions, cautions or civil penalties
- A pattern of deliberate non-compliance with UK immigration rules
Decision-makers can, and do, weigh positive factors — long UK residence, employment history, community involvement and evidence of rehabilitation — against historic issues.
English language and Life in the UK Test — am I exempt?
Most applicants must prove English to CEFR level B1 and pass the Life in the UK Test, but three groups are exempt from the language requirement. You do not need to provide separate evidence of English proficiency if you:
- Hold a degree that was taught or researched in English
- Are under 18 or aged 65 or over
- Have a long-term physical or mental condition that prevents you from meeting the requirement
Everyone else must sit and pass the Life in the UK Test (currently £50, booked directly with Pearson VUE) — this is a one-off pass, so if you passed it for an earlier ILR or visa application, you do not need to sit it again.
What documents do I need for my naturalisation application?
You need to prove your identity, your immigration status throughout the qualifying period, your travel history, your English/Life in the UK Test pass, and your good character. In practice this generally means:
- Identity and immigration status — current and past passports covering the whole qualifying period, and your eVisa record showing ILR or settled status (physical BRPs have been phased out)
- Continuous, lawful residence — Home Office status letters or visa grant records showing you held valid permission throughout, with no unauthorised gaps
- Absences — a complete list of every trip outside the UK during the qualifying period, since you cannot exceed 450 days absence in 5 years (270 in 3 years for the spousal route) or 90 days in the final 12 months without a strong justification
- English and Life in the UK Test evidence
- Good character declarations — full disclosure of any convictions, cautions, fines or civil penalties, and of any past immigration breaches; non-disclosure is itself grounds for automatic refusal
- Two referees — one professional referee, and one British citizen aged 25 or over; neither may be related to you, and both must have known you personally for at least three years
- Biometric enrolment confirmation via UKVCAS (or a participating post office in limited cases)
- Supporting documents where relevant — marriage/civil partnership certificate, children included in the application, name-change deeds
How do I apply — Form AN step by step?
Almost all adult applicants apply online using Form AN, a detailed 30-page form that requires supporting evidence for every stage of the process. In outline: complete Form AN online, upload your supporting documents, attend a UKVCAS biometric appointment, provide two qualifying referees, and — once approved — attend a citizenship ceremony where you take the oath and receive your certificate of naturalisation, which you then use to apply for a British passport. We’ve set out the full step-by-step process, including how to avoid the most common Form AN mistakes, in our companion guide: How to Apply for Naturalisation as a British Citizen in 2026.
Children apply under a different route — Form MN1 — covering children born in the UK to now-settled or British parents, children of armed forces personnel, children of parents mid-application for citizenship, children born abroad to British-by-descent parents, and children adopted abroad by British citizen parents. See our child-based applications page for the registration routes available to under-18s.
How long does a naturalisation application take?
Most naturalisation applications are decided within six months, though straightforward cases can be quicker and complex cases can take considerably longer. Processing time depends on case complexity, whether further verification checks are triggered (particularly on good character), and current Home Office caseload. Providing complete, well-organised documentation from the outset — and having a solicitor review your application before submission — materially reduces the risk of delay or a request for further information.
What if my naturalisation application is refused?
There is no statutory right of appeal against a refused naturalisation application, but you generally have two other options: ask the Home Office to reconsider, or reapply. Common reasons for refusal include:
- Good character concerns (criminal history, non-disclosure, or — as explained above — historic illegal entry, which is now assessed under the more targeted April 2026 guidance)
- Outstanding tax or financial irregularities
- Employment history inconsistencies
- Failure to meet the residence or absence thresholds
Your options if refused:
- Reconsideration (Form NR, £513) — asking the Home Office to review its own decision, particularly relevant if your refusal predates the April 2026 good character guidance change
- Fresh application — reapplying from scratch at the current £1,839 fee, addressing the refusal reasons directly
- Judicial Review — challenging the decision in the courts where the Home Office has acted unlawfully or unreasonably; time limits are short (generally three months), so early advice matters
Is Indefinite Leave to Remain the same as British citizenship?
No — ILR and British citizenship carry similar day-to-day rights but are legally distinct, and only citizenship is permanent regardless of time spent abroad. ILR (including EU settled status) lets you live and work in the UK without immigration restriction, but you can lose it if you spend more than two years continuously outside the UK. You must hold ILR for at least 12 months before applying to naturalise, and during that 12-month qualifying period you cannot spend more than 90 days outside the UK. British citizenship, once granted, gives you an unrestricted right to leave and re-enter the UK for any length of time, the right to vote in UK elections, and eligibility for a British passport. If you’re not yet sure whether you should apply for ILR or move straight to naturalisation, we can advise on the fastest lawful route for your circumstances.
Why choose Adam Bernard Solicitors for your naturalisation application?
Naturalisation applications look procedural until something in your history — a criminal record, a gap in leave, an absence over the limit, or (as above) a historic irregular entry — puts the good character requirement in play. Our immigration solicitors track Home Office nationality policy as it changes, including the good character guidance revisions above, so applications are prepared against current requirements rather than outdated assumptions. We advise clients across London, the wider UK and internationally, and can review a completed Form AN, a refusal letter, or a case with complicating factors before you commit to the fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is naturalisation in the UK?
How long does it take to get British citizenship?
Do I need Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) to apply for British citizenship?
Can my British citizenship application be refused?
What documents do I need for British citizenship?
Can I apply for British citizenship if I am married to a British citizen?
Does entering the UK illegally in the past stop me from becoming a British citizen?
Why should I use a British citizenship solicitor?
Request to book a Free Consultation
Our Clients Share Their Success Stories.
Good service 👍 👌 many thanks for the great service you have provided to us. Our visa got approved just within 2 weeks only because of your hardwork and subject matter expertise. I am very thankful to you
For me, it was the attitude towards the job the lawyers displayed. Totally unmatched. I've been in and out of law firms because of the divorce with my wife and other related issues but Adam Bernard Solicitors was it for me guys. The best!
I want to thank Adam Benard team, they really helped me in my process of purchasing a property, their team are listen and respond to their customers fast. I really love your service, thanks alot.
Adam Bernard team helped me to purchase the best property for the best amount of time for the best money i have . i personally love dealing with them and i thank the team for all the efforts they made to make the task better .
