UK Citizenship Requirements

UK Citizenship Requirements and Application Procedures

The UK Nationality Act is the law that sets out the requirements that a person must meet to become a UK citizen. The UK Visas and Immigration Agency is responsible for receiving, assessing and deciding on applications for citizenship in the UK. The requirements for becoming a UK citizen include having sufficient English language skills, having lived in the UK for at least 5 years and passing the Life in the UK Test.

If those who wish to become British citizens meet the necessary conditions, they must apply to the relevant institution by preparing the necessary application documents completely.

What are the requirements for becoming a UK citizen?

The requirements for becoming a UK citizen are listed below.

  • The person must be over 18 years of age.
  • The person has not committed any serious crime or immigration fraud.
  • The person must currently reside in the UK.
  • The person must have lived in the UK for the last 5 years before the application date and must not have been out of the country for more than 450 days during that period.
  • The person must have the required English language skills
  • The person must have passed the Life in the UKTest
  • The person must not have been outside the UK for more than 90 days in the last year.
  • The person must have had an indefinite residence permit for at least 1 year.

Does the UK Grant Dual Citizenship?

Yes, the UK grants dual citizenship. People who want to obtain UK citizenship and have dual citizenship must be over 18 years of age and have the right to reside in the UK for at least 12 months.

How Many Years Does It Take to Grant UK Citizenship?

The UK generally grants citizenship in 6 years. People who have resided legally in the UK for 5 years have the right to apply for indefinite leave to remain and those who have indefinite leave to remain have the right to apply for citizenship after 1 year. People married to a British citizen have the right to apply for indefinite leave to remain after 3 years of living in the UK and then apply for citizenship immediately afterwards.

How to Become a UK Citizen?

Ways to obtain UK citizenship are listed below.

  • British citizenship by permanent residence
  • British citizenship through marriage
  • British citizenship by descent or birth

How to Get UK Citizenship Through Permanent Residency?

British citizenship through indefinite leave can be obtained after living in the UK for 5 years. People who wish to obtain British citizenship through indefinite leave are generally required to have lived in the UK for 12 months after obtaining indefinite leave to remain.

How to Get British Citizenship Through Marriage?

British citizenship through marriage can be obtained by marrying a British citizen and living in the UK for the last 3 years. People who want to become British citizens through marriage must obtain indefinite leave to remain. People who obtain indefinite leave to remain have the right to apply for citizenship directly if they are married to a British citizen without having to complete the 12-month waiting period.

How to Get British Citizenship by Birth and Lineage

British citizenship by birth and lineage is not granted directly to individuals and depends on variables such as where a person was born in the UK and the status of their parents. British citizenship by birth and lineage is available to individuals born within the UK if at least one of their parents is a British citizen or is deemed to have settled in the UK.

How does the process of becoming a UK citizen proceed?

The steps to follow in the process of becoming a UK citizen are listed below.

  • If deemed necessary, the person will be given a British citizenship test.
  • If deemed necessary, an English language proficiency exam is taken.
  • The necessary documents for citizenship application are prepared.
  • Online application procedures, which include filling out the application form, uploading documents, paying the fee and making a biometric appointment, are carried out via the Gov.Uk website.
  • Biometric registration is done by going to a citizenship appointment.
  • Once your citizenship application is accepted, you will attend the UK citizenship oath ceremony.
  • The biometric residence permit card must be returned to the Home Office within 5 days of receiving the British citizenship certificate.

Those who receive a passing grade from the UK citizenship test, have taken the UK citizenship oath and meet other necessary requirements are granted UK citizenship.

How to Apply for UK Citizenship?

Applications for UK citizenship can be made online via the UK government’s official website Gov.Uk or by post. After completing the UK citizenship application process, an application must be made to the application centre to have the biometric data recorded.

For citizenship applications made in the UK by post, the required documents must be prepared completely and sent to UKVI, Department 1, The Capital, New Hall Place, Liverpool L3 9PP. For UK citizenship applications made online, individuals must create a user account with an e-mail address and password. Applicants who log in to the application platform via their user accounts must complete the procedures of providing their identity information, entering the required document details and test reference number, and paying the application fee.

The UK citizenship application screen image is given below.

When can I apply for British citizenship?

British citizenship applications can be made if the applicant has lived in the UK for 5 years prior to the application date. Applications may be rejected if the applicant cannot prove that they have lived in the UK for 5 years prior to the application date.

The date of British citizenship application may vary depending on the application method. While online citizenship applications are processed by the UK Home Office on the same day, this process may take longer for applications made by post.

Who Can Be Used as a Reference for a UK Citizenship Application?

At least 2 people must be shown as references for the UK citizenship application. The people who will be shown as references in the UK citizenship application file must have known the applicant for at least 3 years and must be close enough to confirm the person’s identity.

For citizenship applications, a family member or representative of the applicant can be a reference. For UK citizenship applications, one of the persons shown as a reference must be working in a professional position and the other person must have a British passport and be working in a professional position or be over 25 years of age.

What are the documents required for UK citizenship application?

The documents required for the UK citizenship application are listed below.

  • UK citizenship application form: The UK citizenship application form, which must be filled out online, must be filled out completely and with accurate information by the visa applicant.
  • Identity document: The person applying for UK citizenship must present a document that can verify their identity, such as a passport, national identity card, birth certificate or photo driving licence.
  • UK citizenship test result: The reference number in the e-mail sent to the applicant by the Life in the UK Test test centre must be entered in the application form.
  • English language proficiency certificate: A test result approved by the Home Office of the United Kingdom showing that the person has at least B1 level English language skills or a diploma or certificate showing that the person has received education in English must be submitted in the application file.
  • Marriage certificate: For applications by marriage, a marriage certificate showing that the person is married to a British citizen and a full photocopy of the spouse’s passport, including blank pages, must be submitted.

Citizenship applications can be made provided that the requirements for British citizenship are met and the necessary documents for British citizenship are submitted in full.

How to Fill in the UK Citizenship Application Form?

The UK citizenship application form is filled out by hand and in capital letters when applying online via the Gov.Uk website or when applying by post. The UK citizenship application form, which is among the documents required for citizenship applications, is also called AN.

When filling out the UK citizenship application form, care must be taken to ensure that all information requested from the applicant, such as personal information, employment status information, residence information, contact information, information on the level of knowledge about life in the UK, information on English language skills and information on family members, is provided accurately, completely and in accordance with the supporting documents submitted for the application.

A sample image for the UK citizenship application form is provided below.

How to Prove Language Proficiency for UK Citizenship

Language proficiency for UK citizenship is proven by submitting documents showing that you have attained one of the levels B1, B2, C1 or C2, or a diploma showing that you have received education in English. The results of the Secure English Language Test (SELT) are accepted for UK citizenship applications.

UK citizenship applicants are exempt from the language proficiency requirement if the person is over 65 years of age or is unable to demonstrate language proficiency due to a physical or mental disability.

What is the UK Citizenship Test?

The UK citizenship test is an exam that requires a passing grade to gain UK citizenship and is designed to measure people’s knowledge of the UK. The UK citizenship test, also known as the Life in the UK Test, which all applicants must take, lasts 45 minutes and includes 24 multiple choice questions about UK traditions and customs.

People who want to become British citizens must make an appointment for the UK citizenship test at least 3 days before the exam date and pay the exam fee of 50 British pounds. There are more than 30 test centers in England for the UK citizenship test and applicants must choose the test center that suits them when making an appointment.

Applicants for UK citizenship do not need to take the UK citizenship test if they are under 18 or over 65, have passed the test before, or have a long-term physical or mental health problem.

What are the UK Citizenship Test Questions?

UK citizenship test questions are listed below.

  • In what part of the country is the Gaelic language spoken?
  • Which of the following sports were found in England?
  • What date is Christmas Day?
  • Which of the following is Evelyn Waugh’s best-known novel?
  • What percentage of the population of England does Scotland constitute?

How Much Is the UK Citizenship Fee?

The UK citizenship fee is determined as the total of the fees of 1,330 British pounds for the application process, 50 British pounds for the Life in the UK Test, and 150 British pounds for the English language proficiency exam, if required. There is no need to pay any fees for biometric information other than the UK citizenship fee for the UK citizenship application.

How Long Does It Take to Get British Citizenship?

Obtaining UK citizenship can take 6 months or longer. Once the UK citizenship application process is complete, applicants are notified by the UK Visas and Immigration Agency.

What is the UK Citizenship Ceremony?

A UK citizenship ceremony is a ceremony held for people who have been granted UK citizenship. For applications made from outside the UK, the UK citizenship ceremony can be held in the foreign country where the person is located or in the UK at a delayed date. The UK citizenship ceremony can be held as a group or individually, depending on the person’s preference.

People who are granted British citizenship take a British citizenship oath at the citizenship ceremony, swearing to obey the sovereignty and laws of the United Kingdom. After the citizenship ceremony is completed, individuals are presented with a British citizenship certificate.

What to do after obtaining a British Citizenship Certificate?

After the UK citizenship certificate is received, the person’s residence permit document must be sent to the UK Home Office within 5 working days.

The residence permit document of persons who have been accepted as British citizens must be divided into 4 parts when sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs and placed in an envelope with a note stating that the document has been returned due to the person being accepted as a citizen.

What are the rights and obligations of UK citizens?

The rights and obligations of UK citizens include the right to own property in the UK, the right to vote in the UK, the right to join political parties, the obligation to pay taxes, the right to benefit from national health services and the obligation to obey the laws of the country.

People who want to become citizens of the United Kingdom need to be informed about the rights and obligations of citizens of the country.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most frequently asked questions to our centre about British citizenship, application requirements and acquired rights are listed below with their answers.

How Do Minors Become British Citizens?

Minors must be registered by their parents to become British citizens. In order for children born in the UK to become British citizens, the child’s parents must have acquired the right to settle in the UK after the child’s birth, the child’s father must be a British citizen or have settled in the UK at the time of birth, the child’s parent must have joined the UK armed forces after the child’s birth, or the child must have lived in the UK until the age of 10. In order for children born outside the UK to become British citizens, at least one of the parents must be a British citizen.

What are the advantages of British citizenship?

The benefits of British citizenship are listed below.

  • The right to live, study and work in the UK without any time limits
  • Eligibility for a UK passport
  • The right to vote in elections in the UK
  • The right to free access to the UK’s national health service
  • The right to receive public funds from the UK
  • The right to pass on British citizenship to children

Among the advantages of being a British citizen, people who are entitled to a UK passport can travel to many countries such as Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany and France without a visa.

How to Get a British Passport?

A British passport can be obtained by applying online or by post. People wishing to obtain a British passport must be a British citizen, over the age of 16 and have not previously held a British passport.

How Much Is a UK Passport Fee?

The UK passport fee is £75.50 for online applications and £85 for postal applications.

Which Countries Can I Visit Visa-Free With a British Passport?

With a British passport, you can travel to 139 countries without a visa, including Belgium, Dominican Republic, Estonia and France, 7 countries including New Zealand by obtaining a travel permit online, and 38 countries including Egypt and Cambodia by obtaining a visa at the border. British passport holders have free entry to the countries of Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, which make up the United Kingdom.

Does the UK Grant Citizenship by Birth?

The UK grants citizenship by birth, but citizenship is only granted if one of the parents is a British citizen.

How to Gain British Citizenship by Investment?

UK citizenship is acquired by completing a 5-year residence period in the country as an innovator visa holder through investment.

With the new regulations made with the Brexit process in 2019, the UK investor visa was abolished. A new visa type called the innovator visa was introduced instead of the UK investor visa for people who want to invest in the UK, and people who invest in the UK with the innovator visa are granted UK investment citizenship after living in the UK for 5 years and meeting other conditions.

Can You Get Citizenship by Buying a House in the UK?

No, you cannot gain citizenship by buying a house in the UK.

Can You Obtain UK Citizenship Through Asylum?

Yes, it is possible to obtain British citizenship through asylum.

There are certain steps that people who want to obtain UK citizenship through asylum must follow. People who want to become citizens through asylum must first gain temporary residence status. People with temporary residence status have the right to apply for citizenship after living in the UK for 5 years. People who successfully pass the Life in the UK Test, who still need protection and who do not have a criminal record can have probationary citizenship. After the probationary citizenship process, people are granted permanent residence.