UK Citizenship

UK Citizenship is a form of UK nationality that brings a number of benefits, including unrestricted entry into the UK, free movement within the European Economic Area (EEA) and the right to vote in UK elections.

UK Citizenship can be granted at birth, through naturalization or registration.

Citizenship Requirements

To qualify for UK Citizenship, applicants must meet specific requirements depending on their current citizenship or nationality.

To be naturalised as a UK citizen, applicants must meet the standard requirements for naturalisation, including a five (5) year residential requirement.

The standard requirements for naturalisation are that applicants must:

• Beat least 18 years of age;
• Be of sound mind;
• Intend to continue living in the UK;
• Be able to communicate in English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic to an acceptable degree;
• Have sufficient knowledge of life in the UK;
• Be of good character; and
• Meet the residential requirements.

To be naturalised as the spouse or civil partner of a UK citizen, applicants must also meet the standard requirements for naturalisation, including a three (3) year residential requirement.

The residential requirements for naturalisation are that applicants must have:

• Been resident in the UK for at least three (3) years for spouses or civil partners of UK citizens or five (5) years for all other applicants (known as the residential qualifying period);
• Been present in the UK for the residential qualifying period before the date of application;
• Not spent more than 90 days per year of the residential qualifying period outside the UK;
• Not spent more than 90 days of the last 12 months outside the UK;
• Abided by the immigration rules at all times during the residential qualifying period.

Spouses and civil partners applying on the grounds of their partner’s crown service are not required to meet the residential requirements (above) and must meet other specific requirements instead.

To register as a UK citizen, applicants will need to meet specific requirements depending on their current nationality and circumstance but must be:

• A British overseas citizen, British overseas territories citizen, British protected person, British subject or British national (overseas); or
• A British overseas territories citizen with a connection to Gibralta; or
• A British citizen or British overseas territories citizen who has previously given up citizenship; or
• Connected to Hong Kong under the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1997; or
• Born to a British mother before 1983; or
• Born in the United Kingdom on or after 1 January 1983 and lived there up to the age of 10.

All UK Citizenship applicants are required to demonstrate their knowledge of language (English, Gaelic or Welsh) and life in the UK, either by passing the “Life in the UK” test or passing an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) course in English and Citizenship. Some UK Citizenship applicants will have already met this requirement when they applied for Indefinite Leave to Remain.

Citizenship Entitlements

UK citizenship entitles the holder to extensive rights and responsibilities, including the entitlement to a UK passport, the right to stand and vote in local and national elections and the right to travel, reside and work within the UK and other European Economic Area member states.

Citizenship Processing Time And Costs

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* The reduced fee will be applicable when the dependent applies at the same time with the main applicant.