Apply for Naturalisation as a British Citizen after ILR/Settled Status

: Written by: Arshad Mahmood; Last Updated: 14 March 2026

Naturalisation is the legal process through which individuals who are not born British citizens can acquire British citizenship. Applying for naturalisation as a British Citizen becomes an option once you have been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK and meet the additional eligibility criteria outlined in the British Nationality Act 1981. This pathway, following the grant of ILR, is the most common route individuals take to attain British citizenship in the United Kingdom.

The application for naturalisation as a British Citizen is submitted to the Home Office UKVI by completing the AN application form. However, it's essential to understand that the decision to grant naturalisation rests with the Home Secretary, as outlined in Section 6 of the British Nationality Act 1981. The Home Secretary holds the discretion to issue a certificate of naturalisation to individuals of full age and capacity if satisfied that they meet the requirements specified in Schedule 1 of the Act.

Becoming a British citizen through naturalisation is a significant milestone for many individuals who have made the United Kingdom their home.

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Free Immigration Advice for Naturalisation as a British Citizen

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Requirements for Naturalisation as a British Citizen after the ILR

To be eligible for naturalisation as a British citizen following the grant of Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), you need to fulfil the following criteria:

Holding ILR: You must have had ILR for a minimum of 12 months before you apply for naturalisation as a British Citizen, unless you are the spouse of a British Citizen, in which case you can apply for naturalisation immediately after receiving ILR without the 12-month waiting period.

Meeting the Residence Requirement: If you're not a spouse or civil partner of a British Citizen, you must have resided in the UK for at least the last 5 years, with no more than 450 days of absence during that period. If you're a spouse or civil partner of a British Citizen, you must have been resident in the UK for at least the last 3 years, with no more than 270 days of absence during that period. Additionally, you should not have been absent from the UK for more than 90 days in the last 12 months before applying for naturalisation as a British Citizen. It's also essential to be physically present in the UK on the first day of the relevant 5 or 3-year qualifying period of residence.

Intention to Make the UK Main Home: You must demonstrate an intention to make the UK your main home.

Good Character Requirement: You must meet the good character requirement, as outlined in the UKVI guidance on good character.

English Language and Life in the UK Test: You must fulfil the English Language and Life in the UK test requirements unless you are over the age of 65. If you are unable to meet these requirements due to serious health conditions, you can apply for exemption from either or both tests.

What is a Good Character Requirement for Naturalisation as a British Citizen?

To be successful in their application for naturalisation as a British Citizen, an applicant must meet the good character requirement. While the British Nationality Act 1981 does not explicitly define good character, guidance from the Home Office, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), outlines the types of conduct considered when assessing an individual's character.

What is the Referees' Requirement for Naturalisation as a British Citizen?

The naturalisation application Form (AN) requires an applicant to be endorsed by two referees. One referee must be an individual of any nationality with professional standing, such as a minister of religion, a civil servant, or a member of a professional body, such as an accountant or solicitor (who is not representing the applicant in the application). The second referee typically needs to hold a British passport and be either a professional or over 25.

Referees must meet the following criteria:

They cannot be a relative of the applicant.
They cannot be a solicitor or agent representing the applicant in the naturalisation application.
They must not be related to the other referee.
They must not be employed by the Home Office.
They must not have been convicted of an imprisonable offence within the last 10 years (unless that conviction can be disregarded following the guidelines outlined in the UKVI Guidance).
They must have a personal acquaintance with the applicant.
They must be willing to provide comprehensive details of their knowledge about the applicant.
They should inform the Home Office of any reason why the applicant should not be registered.

How to Apply for Naturalisation as a British Citizen after an ILR Grant?

To apply for naturalisation as a British Citizen following the grant of ILR, you should adhere to the following step-by-step procedure:

Completing Application Form Online: You should complete the online application form AN and submit it, along with the Home Office UKVI fee of £1580, through the Home Office UKVI website.

Booking an Appointment for Biometrics: You should book an appointment for biometrics enrollment at a UKVCAS application centre through the online platform.

Uploading Documents Online: Prior to your biometrics appointment, you should upload all necessary supporting documents via the UKVCAS online portal.

Attending Biometrics Appointment: You should attend your scheduled biometrics appointment, bringing along your BRP card (if applicable), passport/travel document, and the biometrics appointment letter. Processing of your naturalisation application commences from the biometrics enrollment date.

Decision On The Naturalisation Application: You should wait to be notified of the decision. Upon approval, you'll receive a letter inviting you to attend a citizenship ceremony.

Attending Citizenship Ceremony: Upon receiving the invitation letter, contact your Local Council at the provided telephone number to schedule an appointment. You will then attend the citizenship ceremony to receive your naturalisation certificate. Upon receiving this certificate, you officially become a British citizen.

Applying for a British Passport: After receiving your naturalisation certificate, you can apply for your first British passport at any time.

Naturalisation One Year after the Grant of ILR Under Section 6(1) of BNA 1981

Under section 6(1) of the British Nationality Act 1981, you become eligible to apply for naturalisation as a British Citizen 12 months after the grant of Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) if you are not married to a British Citizen. Furthermore, you must have maintained lawful residence in the UK for the preceding 5 years before the date of your application for naturalisation as a British Citizen.

You are eligible to apply for British citizenship through naturalisation under section 6(1) of the British Nationality Act 1981 if you meet the following criteria:

You are 18 years of age or older.
You possess sound mental capacity.
You demonstrate good character, which includes the absence of serious or recent criminal activity and no history of attempting to deceive the Home Office or involvement in immigration offences within the past 10 years.
You have the intention to continue residing in the UK.
You have fulfilled the English language and life in the UK knowledge requirements.
You satisfy the residency requirement.

Additionally, you should typically have:

Resided in the UK for a minimum of 5 years leading up to your application date.
Not exceeded 450 days outside the UK during the aforementioned 5-year period.
Spent no more than 90 days outside the UK in the last 12 months.
Held a settlement/Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK for the preceding 12 months.
Maintained permanent residence or settled status for the past 12 months if you are a citizen of an EEA country, supported by providing a permanent residence document or settled status.
Adhered to immigration laws without violation during your time in the UK.

There exists discretion to waive certain residency requirements, with the condition that the applicant:

Was present in the UK at the commencement of the 5-year period, unless absence was due to service in HM forces.
Is free from time restrictions under immigration law at the time of application.

Discretion for Excessive Absences During the Qualifying Period

In cases where an applicant for section 6(1) naturalisation has surpassed the permitted absence of 450 days outside of the UK during the 5-year qualifying period, the Home Office may consider exercising discretion if all other requirements are met. For absences exceeding this threshold by 30 days or less, the Home Office UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) typically exercises discretion, unless there are additional grounds for refusal. However, when absences extend beyond 480 days, the UKVI has the authority to exercise discretion based on various factors, including the applicant's ties to the UK, length of residency, familial connections, and extenuating circumstances.

In instances where absences exceed 730 days, the UKVI expects applicants to have been resident in the UK for the previous 8 years, unless the absences were due to:

- A posting abroad in Crown or designated service, such as serving in HM Forces or accompanying a British citizen spouse/partner serving abroad.
- Unavoidable work-related travel, such as being a merchant seaman or employed by a UK-based business with frequent international commitments.
- Exceptional or compelling reasons of an occupational or compassionate nature, such as having a job offer where British citizenship is a genuine requirement.

It's important to note that absences in excess of 900 days are rarely overlooked by the Home Office. If your absences exceed this limit, your application is likely to be unsuccessful, and your fee may not be fully refunded.

Furthermore, applicants should not be absent from the UK for more than 90 days in the last 12 months. Normally, the UKVI exercises discretion in favour of applicants whose absences during the final 12 months do not exceed 100 days. However, only in highly exceptional circumstances would total absences exceeding 180 days in the last 12 months of the qualifying period be disregarded if all other requirements are not met.

Naturalisation as a Spouse of a British Citizen Under Section 6(2) of the BNA 1981

Under section 6(2) of the British Nationality Act 1981, individuals can apply for naturalisation as a British citizen as the spouse or civil partner of a British Citizen immediately upon being granted Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK, provided they have been lawfully resident in the UK for at least 3 years preceding the date of application. Unlike naturalisation through other routes, there is no requirement to wait for 12 months after the ILR grant date when applying for naturalisation as a spouse or civil partner of a British Citizen.

Eligibility criteria for naturalisation under section 6(2) include being 18 years or older, possessing sound mental capacity, demonstrating good character, meeting English language and life in the UK knowledge requirements, and having been granted indefinite leave to stay in the UK or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) if an EEA national (with appropriate documentation).

Unless the spouse or civil partner works abroad for the UK government or a closely affiliated organisation, applicants must typically have:

Resided in the UK for at least 3 years before the application was received.
Spent no more than 270 days outside the UK during those 3 years.
Spent no more than 90 days outside the UK in the last 12 months.
Adhered to immigration laws while in the UK.

There exists discretion to waive the residence requirement for applications under section 6(2) of the British Nationality Act 1981, as long as the applicant holds Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK at the time of application for naturalisation as a British Citizen.

Discretion for Excessive Absences During the Qualifying Period

In cases where an applicant for section 6(2) naturalisation has exceeded the allowable absence of 270 days outside of the UK during the qualifying period, the Home Office may consider exercising discretion provided all other requirements are met. If the applicant exceeds the permitted absence by 30 days or less, the Home Office, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), typically exercises discretion, unless there are additional grounds for refusal.

When absences extend beyond 450 days, the UKVI expects applicants to have been resident in the UK for the previous 3 years, unless the absences were due to:

A posting abroad in Crown or designated service, such as serving in HM Forces or accompanying a British citizen spouse/partner serving abroad.
Unavoidable work-related travel, such as being a merchant seaman or employed by a UK-based business with frequent international commitments.
Exceptional or compelling reasons of an occupational or compassionate nature, such as having a job offer where British citizenship is a genuine requirement.

It's important to note that absences exceeding 540 days are rarely overlooked by the Home Office. If your absences exceed this limit, your application is likely to be unsuccessful, and your fee may not be fully refunded.

Additionally, applicants should not be absent from the UK for more than 90 days in the last 12 months. Normally, the UKVI exercises discretion in favour of applicants whose absences during the final 12 months do not exceed 100 days. However, only in highly exceptional circumstances would total absences exceeding 180 days in the last 12 months of the qualifying period be disregarded if all other requirements are not met.

Exceptional Grants Of Naturalisation Applications

In exceptional circumstances, an application that would typically be refused may be granted due to mitigating factors. Examples of such cases include, but are not limited to:

- Instances where the applicant's criminal conviction is for an offence not recognised in the UK or for which there is no comparable offence, such as cases involving homosexuality or membership in a trade union.
- Situations where the applicant has received a single non-custodial sentence within the first two years of the preceding three, with no further offences within the last 12 months, and strong evidence exists suggesting the person is of good character in all other aspects, making a refusal disproportionate.
- Cases where the applicant has a single conviction, but has resided in the UK since childhood or from a very young age, and the conviction occurred many years ago.

Decisions to grant exceptions are subject to approval by the Chief Caseworker. Any proposal to grant an individual with a sentence of 4 years or more imprisonment requires approval from ministers.

Naturalisation Application as an EEA National or a Swiss National

If you are an EEA national or Swiss national seeking naturalisation as a British Citizen, you must first possess settled status granted under the EU settlement scheme (EUSS). You also need to meet all the other eligibility requirements as explained above to succeed in your application for naturalisation as a British Citizen.

In a significant ruling on March 10, 2022, in the case of VI v HM Revenue and Customs C-247/20, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) determined that individuals "affiliated" to the National Health Service (NHS) are entitled to Comprehensive Sickness Insurance (CSI) under the Free Movement Directive. The term "affiliated" was not explicitly defined by the CJEU but is interpreted to mean having the right to comprehensive and free NHS treatment. Under domestic law, an individual is considered to be entitled to such treatment when they are "ordinarily resident" in the UK. Consequently, individuals who are ordinarily resident in the UK are deemed to have held CSI, as per domestic law interpretation.

British Passport Application after Naturalisation as a British Citizen

You are eligible to apply for your first British passport at any time following the receipt of your certificate of naturalisation as a British Citizen. However, it's important to note that applications for a first British passport cannot be expedited through Priority or Urgent Passport Service. The processing time for first-time British passport applications through Her Majesty's Passport Office (HMPO) typically ranges from 4 to 8 weeks. Additionally, HMPO may require you to participate in an identification interview before issuing your first British passport, subsequent to naturalising as a British Citizen.

How Can Our Nationality Solicitors Help With Your Naturalisation Application?

Our specialised team of nationality solicitors is dedicated to providing expert advice and legal representation for your application for naturalisation as a British Citizen on a fixed fee basis. Our solicitors specialising in British nationality law can guide you through the entire legal process and handle all aspects of your application until a decision is reached by the Home Office UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

Here's an overview of the immigration casework our British nationality law solicitors will undertake in relation to your application for naturalisation as a British Citizen:

Advice on Requirements: Our immigration solicitors will provide comprehensive guidance on the necessary requirements for a successful application for naturalisation as a British Citizen.

Advice on Documents: Our nationality law solicitors will compile and email you a detailed list of supporting documents required for your application.

Assessment of Documents: Our immigration lawyers will meticulously review your documents to ensure they meet the standards outlined in the Home Office UKVI guidance on naturalisation as a British Citizen.

Completing Application Form: Our immigration lawyers will complete the online application form AN on your behalf and arrange an appointment at the application center for your biometric enrollment.

Preparing Detailed Cover Letter: Our specialist immigration solicitors will draft a thorough cover letter supporting your application, outlining all relevant legal requirements for approval by the Home Office UKVI.

Uploading Documents Online: Prior to your biometric enrollment appointment, our immigration lawyers will upload all supporting documents online for consideration in your application.

Follow-Up Work: Our immigration lawyers will conduct all necessary follow-up work until the Home Office UKVI decides on your application for naturalisation as a British Citizen.

With our expert legal representation, you can navigate the naturalisation process with confidence, knowing that your application is in capable hands. Our dedicated team is here to support you at every step of the naturalisation process. From providing guidance on eligibility criteria and document preparation to offering assistance with completing your application and preparing for the Life in the UK test, we are committed to helping you achieve your goal of becoming a British citizen.

Ready to begin your journey to British citizenship? Contact us to learn more about how we can assist you with your naturalisation application. With our expertise and personalised support, you can navigate the process with confidence and ease, bringing you one step closer to realising your dream of becoming a British citizen.

Why Choose Us for Naturalisation as a British Citizen?

There are several compelling reasons to choose our team of British nationality law solicitors and lawyers in London to handle your application for naturalisation as a British Citizen. The key benefits include:

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Open 7 Days A Week: We take pride in providing dedicated advice and legal representation 7 days a week for naturalisation applications, ensuring accessibility and support when you need it most.

Qualified Specialist Nationality Law Solicitors: All aspects of your application for naturalisation as a British Citizen will be handled by our team of fully qualified and experienced nationality law solicitors. Our specialists have extensive experience handling naturalisation applications, ensuring thorough and effective representation.

Fixed Fees With Payment Plan: We offer transparent and affordable fixed fees for naturalisation applications, with the option to pay in two instalments. You can pay half of the agreed fixed fee at the commencement of our work on your application, and the remaining balance upon completion of the preparation process before submission to the Home Office UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

With our dedicated team of professionals and comprehensive services, we strive to make the naturalisation process as seamless and efficient as possible for our clients.

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Our immigration solicitors are specialists in British citizenship applications. As one of the best immigration solicitors for British citizenship applications, we have an excellent track record of helping clients succeed. Our highly experienced and fully qualified immigration solicitors can provide fast, friendly, reliable, and fixed-fee immigration advice and legal representation for your British citizenship application.

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At Premium Solicitors, our strength lies in the expertise, dedication, and unwavering commitment of our immigration solicitors in London. We understand that British citizenship matters are life-changing, and our team is here to guide you through every step of the process with professionalism and care.

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