If you entered the UK as the spouse or partner of someone present and settled in the UK, you are able to apply to naturalise as a British Citizen if you can satisfy the following criteria:

• have passed the ‘Life in the UK’ test
• over 18 years of age
• of good character
• have sufficient knowledge of the English language
• intends to make the UK your home
• meet the three year residence requirements, explained below

Frequently Asked Questions

The most frequent questions we receive from prospective clients with respect to obtaining British Citizen are:

What are the criteria to naturalise as a British Citizen?
What is the Life in the UK test?
How do I calculate absences?
How long will it take?
How do I apply?
How much will it cost?
I have previous criminal convictions
Public funds

What are the criteria to naturalise as a British Citizen?

When reviewing your application to naturalise as a British Citizen, the UK Border Agency will check to see if you satisfy the three year residence requirement, which states that you must:

• have lived in the UK for the three years immediately preceding the date of submission of the application
• have been physically present in the UK at the beginning of the three year period. This means that if we submit your application on, say, 1 August 2007, you must actually have been in the UK on 1 August 2004
• not have been outside the UK in the three year period for more than 450 days in total
• not have been outside the UK in the last 12 months for more than 90 days
• not have been in breach of the immigration laws during the five year period
• not have been subject to any time restriction on your stay in the UK in the previous 12 months (i.e. you must have had indefinite leave to remain in the UK for a minimum of one year)

What is the Life in the UK test?

An important provision is that you must pass the Life in the UK test. Details of the test can be found at www.lifeintheuktest.gov.uk or you can purchase the book at most major book stores.

We recommend that you this as soon as you can as it’s expensive to apply for an extension simply because you failed to take the test.

How do I calculate my absences?

When calculating your absences from the UK, the Home Office does not count days spent travelling to or from the UK as a day of absence, except for overnight trips which are counted as one day.

How long will it take?

It currently takes between 3- 6 months to process naturalisation applications. The complexity of your application will determine how long it will take for your application to be processed as well as the volume of applications they have to process.

How do I apply?

You can make your application by post. There is currently no service available to allow you to make your application in-person.

How much will it cost?

The current fee for making an application to naturalise as a British Citizen is £836.

I have previous criminal convictions?

The UK Border Agency will not allow you to naturalise as a British Citizen if you are in possession of any unspent criminal convictions.

The UK Border Agency view any offence such as theft, drink driving, using a mobile phone while driving and being disqualified from driving as criminal convictions and you will be prevented from naturalising until these convictions are no longer active.

What happens once my application has been approved?

Once your application has been approved, you will be invited to attend at a Citizenship Ceremony and you will then be presented with your naturalisation certificate.

Once you have received your naturalisation certificate, you can then apply to the Identity and Passport Service should you wish to obtain a British passport.