How to Apply for British Citizenship 2026: Step-by-Step

You apply for British citizenship online through a UKVI account using Form AN (naturalisation). The adult fee is £1,839. Before you apply, you need ILR or Settled Status held for at least 12 months, 5 years in the UK, a B1 English pass, a Life in the UK test pass, and a good character record.

Featured Snippet: How Do You Apply for British Citizenship?

Apply online at gov.uk using a UKVI account. Complete Form AN for naturalisation. You need ILR or Settled Status for at least 12 months, 5 years in the UK (3 years if married to a British citizen), a Life in the UK test pass, B1-level English, and a good character record. The fee is £1,839 for adults. Processing takes up to 6 months. After approval, you attend a citizenship ceremony and receive your naturalisation certificate.

Key Facts

Topic	Detail
Application method	Online via UKVI account at gov.uk
Form	AN (naturalisation)
Adult fee	£1,839
Child under 18 fee	£1,012 — check gov.uk for current fee
Residence requirement	5 years (3 years if spouse of British citizen)
ILR/Settled Status held for	At least 12 months before applying
Biometrics	Required — UKVCAS appointment after submission
Processing time	Up to 6 months
Ceremony	Mandatory — you are not a citizen until you attend

Quick Overview

✅ You must hold ILR or Settled Status for at least 12 months before applying
✅ The Life in the UK test pass and B1 English are required before submitting your application
✅ Two referees are required — one must have known you at least 3 years and have professional standing
✅ After approval, you must attend a citizenship ceremony to complete the process
⚠️ Paying the fee and submitting the form does not make you a British citizen — the ceremony does
⚠️ The certificate of naturalisation is not a travel document — you need a British passport for that
📌 Processing takes up to 6 months — plan travel and renewals around this
📌 You cannot use a foreign passport showing you are British once you hold a naturalisation certificate
💡 Gather documents before starting the online form — having everything ready prevents delays
💡 Your Life in the UK test certificate reference number goes directly into the application form

Introduction

British citizenship by naturalisation is the final step for most long-term migrants in the UK. Once you have ILR or Settled Status and have met the residence requirements, the application is a structured online process. This guide walks through every step in order. For background on ILR — the step before citizenship — see our ILR vs British citizenship guide and full British citizenship requirements for 2026. For the costs involved, including the ceremony and passport, see how much British citizenship costs in 2026.

Step 1: Check You Meet All the Requirements

Before spending time on the application, confirm you meet every requirement. A missing requirement means a refusal — and you do not get the fee back.

Residence:

5 years living in the UK (or 3 years if you are married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen)
No more than 450 days outside the UK in those 5 years
No more than 90 days outside the UK in the final 12 months

Status:

You must hold ILR, Indefinite Leave to Enter, or EU Settled Status
You must have held that status for at least 12 months before the date you apply

Age:

You must be 18 or over to apply for naturalisation (parents can apply for children separately)

English language:

You must meet the B1 English requirement — through an approved test, a degree taught in English, or an exemption based on age or nationality
Use our B1 check tool to confirm which route applies to you

Life in the UK test:

You must have passed the Life in the UK test
You need your pass certificate reference number for the application
The test certificate does not expire

Good character:

No serious criminal record, no immigration offences, no deception used in previous applications
See our guide on the good character requirement for ILR and citizenship

Step 2: Gather Your Documents

Collect everything before you start the online form. Stopping midway to find documents can cause problems.

You will need:

Current passport (and all previous passports covering the qualifying period)
BRP or eVisa confirmation
Proof of ILR or Settled Status (your BRP, UKVI online status, or ILR stamp in passport)
Life in the UK test pass certificate (or reference number)
English language certificate (if applicable)
Two completed referee forms (details below)
Employer letter or payslips if relevant to your application
Evidence of your absences from the UK (travel history)

Referee requirements:

You need two referees
At least one must have known you for 3 or more years
At least one must hold a professional position: teacher, doctor, solicitor, employer, accountant, police officer, or similar
Neither referee can be a family member or someone who lives with you

Step 3: Complete the Online Application (Form AN)

Go to gov.uk and log in to or create your UKVI account. Select the naturalisation (Form AN) application.

The form covers:

Personal details (name, date of birth, nationality, addresses)
Immigration history (all visas, entries, and exits from the UK)
Absences from the UK — you will enter every trip abroad during the qualifying 5 years
Employment history
Life in the UK test reference number
English language details
Good character declarations (criminal record, immigration offences, unpaid taxes)
Referee details

Complete the form carefully. Inaccurate information — even innocent mistakes — can delay or harm your application.

Step 4: Pay the Fee

The current fee for adult naturalisation is £1,839. The fee for a child under 18 is £1,012. Check GOV.UK for the current fee before applying, as fees change annually.

Important: The fee is non-refundable. If your application is refused, you do not get the money back. Make sure you meet all requirements before paying.

Payment is made online at the end of the form.

Step 5: Book and Attend Your UKVCAS Biometrics Appointment

After submitting the form and paying, you will receive instructions to book a biometrics appointment at a UKVCAS (UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services) centre.

At this appointment:

Your fingerprints are taken
Your photo is taken
Original documents may be checked

Book the appointment as soon as the link is available. Delays in booking extend your overall waiting time.

Step 6: Wait for a Decision

Processing takes up to 6 months from the date UKVI receives your complete application. Most applications are decided within this window, but some take longer if additional checks are needed.

You will receive a letter or email when a decision is made. If approved, you will be invited to a citizenship ceremony.

Step 7: Attend the Citizenship Ceremony

The ceremony is not optional. You are not legally a British citizen until you attend and take the oath or affirmation.

Your local council organises the ceremony. You will receive a letter from them with a date, time, and location. Ceremonies usually take place within 3 months of approval.

At the ceremony:

You take the Oath of Allegiance (or make the Affirmation, if you prefer a non-religious version): "I will give my loyalty to the United Kingdom and respect its rights and freedoms."
You make the Pledge: "I will uphold its democratic values. I will observe its laws faithfully and fulfil my duties and obligations as a British citizen."
You receive your Certificate of Naturalisation
You may also receive a Welcome Pack from the council

Bring family if you wish — most ceremonies allow guests. The event usually lasts around 30 to 45 minutes.

Step 8: Apply for a British Passport

Your naturalisation certificate is not a travel document. To travel as a British citizen, you need a British passport.

Apply for your passport separately through GOV.UK after the ceremony. Standard processing takes around 10 weeks. Do not book international travel until you have your passport.

Important: Once you hold a naturalisation certificate, you should not travel on a foreign passport that identifies you as a British citizen. Apply for the British passport promptly.

The Spouse Route: 3 Years Instead of 5

If you are married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen, the residence requirement reduces from 5 years to 3 years. All other requirements remain the same: ILR or Settled Status held for 12 months, Life in the UK test pass, B1 English, good character.

Common Mistakes

❌ Applying before holding ILR for 12 months. The 12-month wait after getting ILR is fixed. Applying early results in refusal and you lose the fee.

❌ Not having two eligible referees ready. Finding referees at the last minute is stressful. Confirm both referees meet the requirements before starting the application.

❌ Forgetting to account for all absences. UKVI cross-checks travel history against passport scans. Underreporting absences is treated as deception.

❌ Assuming the naturalisation certificate allows travel. It does not. Apply for a British passport separately after the ceremony before booking any trips.

Expert Tips

Use the citizenship planner to confirm your eligibility date. Getting the date right prevents early submissions and wasted fees.
Book your Life in the UK test well before you plan to apply. Test dates fill up weeks in advance, and you need the pass reference for the form.
List every absence from the UK, no matter how short. UKVI has your entry and exit data from the border. Unexplained discrepancies create delays.
Attend the ceremony date offered. Councils have limited ceremony slots. Asking to reschedule can add months to the process.
Apply for your British passport within a week of the ceremony. Passport processing takes around 10 weeks — the sooner you apply, the sooner you can travel freely.

FAQs

How long does the British citizenship application take?

Processing takes up to 6 months from when UKVI receives your complete application, including biometrics. Some straightforward applications are decided faster. After approval, the citizenship ceremony typically takes place within 3 months.

Can I apply for British citizenship before I have ILR?

No. You must hold ILR, Indefinite Leave to Enter, or EU Settled Status before you can apply. You also need to have held that status for at least 12 months.

Do I need to pass the Life in the UK test for citizenship?

Yes. The Life in the UK test pass is a requirement for naturalisation. You need your test certificate reference number to complete Form AN. Take the test before you start the application.

What are the referee requirements for British citizenship?

You need two referees. At least one must have known you for 3 or more years. At least one must hold a professional standing (doctor, teacher, solicitor, employer, etc.). Neither can be a family member or someone living with you.

Is the citizenship ceremony mandatory?

Yes. The ceremony is a legal requirement. You are not a British citizen until you take the oath or affirmation and receive your certificate of naturalisation. You cannot skip or postpone it indefinitely.

What happens if my citizenship application is refused?

If your application is refused, you receive a letter explaining why. You do not get the fee back. You can address the reason for refusal and reapply, or seek legal advice if you believe the decision was wrong.

Can my child become a British citizen at the same time as me?

Children's applications are separate from adult naturalisation. A child born outside the UK to a British parent may be registered as a citizen. Each child's case depends on their individual circumstances. The child registration fee is different from the adult naturalisation fee.

Do I lose my original citizenship when I become British?

Whether you can hold dual nationality depends on your original country's rules — not the UK's. The UK allows dual nationality. However, some countries require you to give up citizenship when you naturalise elsewhere. Check with your original country's embassy before applying.

How This Aligns With Official Guidance

The process described in this article reflects the British citizenship by naturalisation application process published on GOV.UK, including the requirements set out in the British Nationality Act 1981 and updated Home Office guidance. Fees and specific requirements change periodically — always confirm current figures on GOV.UK before submitting your application.

Official Resources

Our Free Tools

Citizenship planner — calculate when you become eligible
Life in the UK mock test — prepare for the test required for your application
Practice questions by topic — strengthen your knowledge before the real test
Absence calculator — check your travel history does not exceed the limits

What to Do Next

Check your eligibility date using the citizenship planner. If you are within 6 months of becoming eligible, book your Life in the UK test now — test dates fill up quickly and you need the pass certificate before you can submit. Then gather your documents and referees so you are ready to apply the day you qualify.