British Citizenship Application: Requirements & Process (2026)

Who Can Apply for British Citizenship?

To apply for British citizenship as an adult (aged 18 or over), you must meet all of the following requirements:

• You are aged 18 or over

• You are of sound mind

• You intend to continue living in the United Kingdom if naturalised

• You are of good character

• You have been lawfully resident in the UK for five years, or three years if married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen

• Your absences from the UK do not exceed:

  • 450 days in the last five years (or 270 days in the last three years if married to a British citizen)

  • 90 days in the final 12 months before applying

• You were physically present in the UK exactly five years before the application date (or three years if married to a British citizen)

• You have held ILR or Settled Status for at least 12 months, unless married to a British citizen, in which case you may apply immediately

• You have passed the Life in the UK Test (unless exempt)

• You meet the English language requirement (unless exempt)

Referees for a British Citizenship Application

You must also provide two referees who will confirm your identity as part of the application. Referees must meet specific criteria set by the Home Office.

Further guidance on who can act as a referee can be found here:
👉 British Citizenship Referees

British Citizenship Application Process

British citizenship applications are submitted online.

• The Home Office currently charges an application fee of £1,735 per person

• After submitting your application, you will be required to attend a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) appointment to provide your biometric information

• From the date of your biometric appointment, the current processing time is approximately six months

If your application is successful, you will be invited to attend a citizenship ceremony organised by your local authority. At the ceremony, you will receive your Certificate of British Citizenship, which you can then use to apply for a British passport.

Why Apply for British Citizenship Now?

In May 2025, the UK Government published a White Paper proposing significant reforms to settlement and citizenship. While these proposals are not currently law, they include intentions to:

• Increase the standard qualifying residence period

• Align citizenship more closely with an earned settlement model

• Introduce a Points-Based System for citizenship eligibility

• Refresh the Life in the UK Test, with indications that it may become more difficult

• Increase the required level of English proficiency

“introduce reforms to citizenship to align to earned settlement reforms, building on the expansion of the Points-Based System to settlement and citizenship” (p.270), and

“increase the standard qualifying period and expand the Points-Based System to allow those with greater contributions to qualify sooner” (p.271).

Although these proposals remain under consultation, they signal a clear direction of travel. For individuals who are already eligible under the current rules, applying sooner may help avoid the risk of more restrictive requirements being introduced in the future.