UK naturalisation: How you can become a British citizen
by Mishal Patel | May 28, 2024
A common route to British citizenship is through naturalisation. But what does this mean and how complex is this process? We take a look at how you can naturalise as a British citizen and how much it is likely to cost you.
There are several ways for someone to get British citizenship. The most direct way would be having it passed down from your parents or grandparents – what is known as citizenship by descent.
However, many people naturalise as British citizens. What this means is that they have spent enough time in the UK on a qualifying visa to become a citizen of the country.
Which visas lead to settlement in the UK?
It’s important to remember that not all UK visas are eligible for settlement. Generally, short-term visas do not qualify, such as:
- Visitor visa
- Short-term student visa
- Parent of a Child Student visa
- Seasonal Worker visa
- Student visa
- Graduate visa
- Youth Mobility Scheme visa
- Visa with valid leave granted for a period of six months or less
However, if you are in the UK on any of the following visas, they will eventually lead to settlement, granted you meet the other requirements:
- UK spouse visa
- Fiancé visa
- Dependant visa
- UK Ancestry visa
- UK Skilled Worker visa
- Health and Care Worker visa
- Global Business Mobility visa (Senior or Specialist Worker) under specific conditions
- Innovator Founder visa
- Minister of Religion Visa (T2)
- Global Talent visa
- Scale-up visa
How to become a naturalised citizen of the UK
The first step to becoming a naturalised citizen is gaining indefinite leave to remain (ILR), which is permanent residency in the UK. You can do this once you’ve met the residency requirement as well as the following*:
- Pass the Life in the UK Test
- Prove your proficiency in English
- Be of good character
- Meet the residential and income requirements
*This isn’t a comprehensive list and our UK immigration consultants will be able to guide you through all the requirements for ILR.
When you have held ILR for 12 months, you will be eligible to apply for British citizenship.
Applying for British citizenship
The process of citizenship by naturalisation depends on your own individual status, for instance:
- Are you a national from the European Economic Area or Switzerland?
- What kind of passport do you hold?
- Are you married or in a relationship with a UK citizen?
While the naturalisation process is somewhat straightforward once you have ILR, there are stringent requirements that you need to meet. You need to make sure that you meet all these requirements before you submit your application.
To be eligible for citizenship by naturalisation in the UK you must:
- Be over 18 years old
- Be of good character
- Have the requisite language ability
- Have passed the Life in the UK test
- Intend to continue to live in the UK
- Have spent the requisite amount of time in the UK and have held ILR
You can expect the process to look like this:
1. Complete the application form
Once you have collected the evidence that you need, we will double check your document list and then review and complete your online application form once you have submitted the required fees.
2. Enrol your biometric details
Once your application is submitted, we will then book your appointment to enrol your biometric details.
3. Wait for a decision
You will usually get a decision within six months. You must have valid permission to be in the UK while waiting for your decision.
4. Attend a citizenship ceremony
You will usually get a decision within six months. You must have valid permission to be in the UK while waiting for your decision.
5. Return any BRPs
You have to return them within five working days of getting your certificate. Once you get your citizenship, you will have to apply for a British passport. You cannot use your naturalisation certificate to travel.
How much does it cost to naturalise as a British citizen
Costs will vary depending on your initial visa. Let’s take the example of starting your journey on a spouse visa.
| Current fee | |
|---|---|
| Spouse visa application | £1,846 |
| IHS fee | £3,105 (£1,035 for every year that your visa is valid for) |
| Spouse visa extension fee | £1,048 |
| Second IHS fee | £2,587.50 |
| Life in the UK test | £50 |
| English language test | £150 |
| ILR application fee | £2,885 |
| British citizenship application fee (including citizenship ceremony fee) | £1,630 |
How long does it take to get a decision?
Under normal circumstances, the application can take up to six months to be processed but can be expedited.
There is an additional cost of £500 if you want to use the priority processing service, which means you’ll get a response within five working days. This service is only applicable to points-based visas.
If your visa category is eligible, you can opt for using the super priority service, where you will get a response by the end of the next working day for £1000.
Why use Sable International?
This whole immigration and citizenship process can be complex to get right. With so many moving parts, it makes life so much easier having a knowledgeable consultant to help guide you every step of the way, from making sure that you have the correct information and documentation needed to prove your residency requirement to ensuring that all your forms are filled in and submitted correctly through the proper channels. This process is not a cheap one, and getting one thing wrong could cost you more in the long run.
Sable International ensures that everything is squared away correctly, giving you the peace of mind that your visas are in order and that your path to British citizenship is a smooth one.
No matter how complex your case, our citizenship and immigration consultants can help you every step of the way. Contact our team on +44 (0) 02 7759 7581 or +27 (0) 21 657 2139. Alternatively, you can send an email to citizenship@sableinternational.com.
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