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Become a British citizen through naturalisation, birth, descent, or marriage
British citizenship represents the final step in your UK immigration journey. As a British citizen, you'll have the right to live and work in the UK permanently, vote in all elections, hold a British passport, and pass your citizenship to your children.
There are several routes to British citizenship, depending on your circumstances:
At Mohmand Immigration Legal Services, we guide you through the citizenship process with care and expertise. We understand the significance of this milestone and ensure your application is prepared to the highest standards.
Our expert team can guide you through every step of the process.
Children born in the UK may automatically be British citizens depending on the immigration status of their parents at the time of birth.
A child born in the UK is automatically a British citizen if at least one parent is a British citizen or has settled status (Indefinite Leave to Remain) at the time of the child's birth.
If a child is born in the UK but neither parent is British or has settled status at birth, the child may be able to register as British if a parent later obtains ILR or British citizenship.
Children born outside the UK to British parents may be British citizens by descent. The rules depend on when the child was born and the status of the British parent.
A child born outside the UK on or after 1 January 1983 is automatically British by descent if at least one parent was a British citizen "otherwise than by descent" at the time of birth.
For children born before 1 January 1983, the rules are different. A child born outside the UK was British by descent if the father was British (and married to the mother) at the time of birth.
British citizens by descent cannot automatically pass citizenship to their children born outside the UK. However, they can register their children as British citizens in certain circumstances, or the child may be eligible if the other parent is British "otherwise than by descent".
If you are married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen, you may be eligible to apply for British citizenship through naturalisation after just 3 years of residence (instead of 5 years).
Children can become British citizens through registration rather than naturalisation. The requirements depend on the child's circumstances, where they were born, and the immigration status of their parents.
If a child is born in the UK but neither parent is British or has settled status at birth, the child may be able to register as British if a parent later obtains ILR or British citizenship.
Children born outside the UK may be eligible to register as British citizens if a parent becomes British, or if they have lived in the UK for a certain period.
For naturalisation applications (adults), you must meet several key requirements regardless of whether you're applying through the 3-year or 5-year route.
British citizenship provides significant benefits and rights that last a lifetime.
Travel visa-free to over 180 countries worldwide
Vote in all UK elections including general elections
Your children born after naturalisation are automatically British
Cannot be deported and citizenship cannot be revoked for absence
Find answers to frequently asked questions about British citizenship.
To naturalise as a British citizen, you must: be 18 or over, have held ILR for at least 12 months, have lived in the UK for 5 years (3 years if married to a British citizen), not have spent more than 450 days outside the UK in those 5 years (or 270 days in 3 years), not have spent more than 90 days outside the UK in the last 12 months, meet the good character requirement, pass the Life in the UK test, and meet the English language requirement.
Yes, the UK allows dual (or multiple) citizenship. You don't need to give up your existing nationality to become British, unless your home country doesn't allow dual citizenship. Many countries now permit dual nationality, but you should check the rules of your home country before applying.
Standard processing time for naturalisation applications is approximately 6 months, though it can take longer in complex cases. After approval, you'll be invited to attend a citizenship ceremony within 3 months, where you'll take an oath of allegiance and receive your certificate of naturalisation.
A citizenship ceremony is a formal event where you make an oath of allegiance to the Crown and a pledge to the United Kingdom. You'll receive your certificate of naturalisation at the ceremony. Ceremonies are organised by your local council and typically take place within 3 months of your application being approved. You can invite guests to witness this important moment.
Citizenship by birth applies to children born in the UK to at least one parent who is a British citizen or has settled status (ILR) at the time of birth. Citizenship by descent applies to children born outside the UK to a British parent. The rules differ depending on when the child was born and the status of the British parent at that time.
Children can become British citizens through registration rather than naturalisation. If you become a British citizen, your children born after that date will automatically be British. Children born before your naturalisation may be eligible to register as British citizens. The requirements depend on where the child was born and the immigration status of both parents.
If you are married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen, you can apply for citizenship through naturalisation after 3 years of residence in the UK (instead of 5 years), provided you have held ILR for at least 12 months. You must still meet all other requirements including the residence requirements, good character, Life in the UK test, and English language.
For adults applying for naturalisation, it costs £1,735 to apply. This includes the £130 citizenship ceremony fee. For children under 18 applying for registration, it costs £1,214 per child. If you cannot afford to pay the application fee for a child under 18, you may be able to apply for a fee waiver. Additionally, if your child turns 18 during the application process, you must also pay an additional £130 for their citizenship ceremony.
Book a free consultation with our expert team today. We'll assess your eligibility and guide you through the citizenship application process.