New Rules for UK Citizenship 2026 — What Has Changed and What Is Proposed

Several things changed for UK citizenship and ILR in 2026. Some are already law. One major proposal — extending the qualifying period from 5 to 10 years — is not yet law. This article tells you which is which, with the current rules first.

Check the full British citizenship requirements alongside this article for context on the complete process.

Key Facts at a Glance

Detail	Information
Citizenship (naturalisation) fee	£1,605 from 8 April 2026
ILR fee	£3,226 per person from 8 April 2026
ILR English requirement	B1 now; B2 from 26 March 2027
Citizenship English requirement	B1 (unchanged)
Citizenship processing time	Approximately 6 months (standard)
Earned Settlement qualifying period — current law	5 years
Earned Settlement 10-year proposal	[Proposed — not yet law as of May 2026]
Citizenship ceremony fee	£80 (included in the £1,605 for adults)

Quick Overview

✅ The naturalisation fee increased to £1,605 from 8 April 2026 — confirmed and in force
✅ The ILR fee increased to £3,226 per person from 8 April 2026 — confirmed and in force
✅ Skilled Worker visa applications need B2 from 8 January 2026 — ILR settlement remains B1 until 26 March 2027
✅ Citizenship English requirement remains B1 — unchanged
⚠️ The Earned Settlement qualifying period (5→10 years) is a proposal — it is NOT yet law
⚠️ No cut-off date has been confirmed for grandfathering under 5-year rules
📌 You can still apply for ILR under the 5-year rule right now — the proposal has not passed
📌 Fee increases cannot be refunded if your application is refused — pay only when your application is complete
💡 If you are close to 5 years' residency, consider applying soon — if the 10-year proposal passes, early applicants are typically protected under transitional rules
💡 Your B2 certificate for ILR also satisfies the B1 citizenship requirement — you do not need a separate test

The Changes That Are Already Law

ILR English Requirement — B2 From 8 January 2026

This is confirmed and already applies. From 8 January 2026, Skilled Worker visa applications (new grants) require B2 English. However, ILR settlement applications still require B1 until 26 March 2027 — when B2 becomes the ILR standard.

Citizenship by naturalisation still requires B1. The B2 change is for ILR only.

Accepted B2 tests include IELTS Life Skills B2, IELTS Academic/General Training at B2 score, Trinity ISE II, and LANGUAGECERT B2. Check GOV.UK for the current approved list.

Fee Increases — 8 April 2026

The following fees increased from 8 April 2026:

ILR: £3,226 per person (up from £2,885)
Citizenship by naturalisation: £1,605 (up from £1,500) — this includes the £80 ceremony fee for adults

These fees are non-refundable if your application is refused.

What Is Proposed But Not Yet Law

Earned Settlement — 5 Years to 10 Years

[Proposed — not yet law as of May 2026]

The government has announced a proposal to extend the qualifying period for ILR from 5 years to 10 years for most visa routes. This is called "Earned Settlement" in the government's immigration white paper.

Current law: 5 years. Most applicants qualify for ILR after 5 continuous years in the UK on a qualifying visa.

Proposed: 10 years. The government's white paper sets out a plan to move to a 10-year qualifying period. However, this has not been legislated. It requires changes to the Immigration Rules or primary legislation.

What this means for you: You can still apply for ILR after 5 years under current law. If the 10-year proposal passes, there will likely be transitional arrangements for people who are already in the pipeline — but these have not been confirmed.

No date has been given for when or if this change will take effect. Track GOV.UK for updates.

Can You Still Apply Under the Old Rules?

If you currently qualify for ILR under the 5-year route, you can apply now under existing law. The Earned Settlement proposal has not passed as of May 2026.

Applying sooner rather than later makes sense if:

You meet the 5-year residency requirement
You have passed the Life in the UK test
You have the required B2 English evidence (from 8 January 2026)
Your absence record is within limits (max 180 days in any 12-month period)

See the absence calculator to check your days.

What Has Not Changed for Citizenship

Citizenship English requirement: Still B1. If you have ILR and are applying for naturalisation, you need B1 English — not B2.

Residence requirement: 5 years continuous residence (or 3 years if married to a British citizen), with ILR held for at least 12 months.

Absence limits: Maximum 450 days outside the UK in the 5-year period, with no more than 90 days in the final 12 months.

Life in the UK test: Still required for citizenship applicants (with the same exemptions for age and disability).

Good character requirement: Unchanged — no serious criminal record, no immigration violations.

Fee Increases in Context

The fee rises on 8 April 2026 were significant. For a family of four applying for ILR together, the total cost is £12,904 in Home Office fees alone — before biometrics, translation, solicitor costs, and the Immigration Health Surcharge.

The true cost of becoming British explains the full financial picture including ILR fees, citizenship fees, and associated costs.

Common Mistakes

❌ Treating the Earned Settlement proposal as confirmed law It is not law. The government proposed it in an immigration white paper. If you are delaying your ILR application because of this proposal, you are making a decision based on an unconfirmed future change. Apply under current rules if you are eligible.

❌ Using B1 English evidence for a new ILR application Since 8 January 2026, most ILR applications require B2. A B1 certificate will not satisfy this requirement for a new application. If you have an old B1 certificate, check whether it qualifies under any transitional provisions on GOV.UK.

❌ Assuming citizenship fees are the same as before April 2026 The fee increased to £1,605 from 8 April 2026. If you saw a lower figure in earlier research, that figure is now out of date.

❌ Not accounting for the 12-month ILR wait before citizenship You cannot apply for citizenship immediately after getting ILR. You must hold ILR for 12 months (or 0 months if you are married to a British citizen) before applying for naturalisation.

❌ Confusing ILR and citizenship requirements ILR currently requires B1 English (rising to B2 from 26 March 2027). Citizenship requires B1. The qualifying periods are different. The fees are different. These are two separate applications — plan them separately.

Expert Tips

Apply for ILR now if you qualify. The 5-year route exists today. If you meet the criteria, applying now under current law is the lower-risk option. If the 10-year proposal is enacted, transitional protections may apply to applications already submitted — but this is not guaranteed.
Your B2 ILR certificate covers citizenship too. When you apply for citizenship, you need B1 English. A B2 certificate clearly meets the B1 standard. You do not need to take a separate lower-level test. Keep your B2 certificate.
The £1,605 citizenship fee is non-refundable. Only submit your application when it is complete and strong. A refused application means you lose £1,605 and have to start again. Consider using a regulated solicitor to review your application before submission.
Track the Earned Settlement proposal actively. If you are not yet at 5 years and the 10-year proposal becomes law, your timeline changes significantly. Subscribe to GOV.UK updates for immigration policy. Do not rely on news articles alone — check the source.
Budget for the full cost, not just the headline fee. ILR at £3,226 and citizenship at £1,605 are just the Home Office fees. Add biometrics (£19.20), solicitor fees if used, and any testing costs. The true cost of becoming British gives a full breakdown.

Frequently Asked Questions

What has changed for UK citizenship in 2026?

The citizenship fee increased to £1,605 from 8 April 2026. The ILR English requirement increased to B2 from 8 January 2026 (though citizenship English remains B1). The Earned Settlement 5-to-10-year qualifying period change is a government proposal — it is not yet law as of May 2026.

Is ILR going up to 10 years?

[Proposed — not yet law as of May 2026.] The government has published an immigration white paper proposing to extend the ILR qualifying period from 5 to 10 years. This proposal has not been legislated. Current law requires 5 years. You can still apply for ILR after 5 years under current rules.

Has the citizenship fee increased in 2026?

Yes. The naturalisation fee increased from £1,500 to £1,605 from 8 April 2026. The ceremony fee of £80 is included for adults. This is confirmed and in force.

What are the English requirements now for ILR?

ILR requires B2 level English from 8 January 2026 for most applicants. This replaced the previous B1 requirement. Citizenship by naturalisation still requires B1.

Can I still apply under the old rules?

Yes. You can apply for ILR after 5 years under current law. The B2 English requirement (from January 2026) and the new fee (from April 2026) apply to all new applications, but the 5-year qualifying period remains in force.

When will the 10-year ILR rule start?

No start date has been confirmed as of May 2026. The government has announced the proposal but has not legislated it or confirmed a commencement date. Check GOV.UK regularly for updates.

How This Aligns With Official Guidance

The fee increases from 8 April 2026 are confirmed in the Home Office fee schedule. The B2 English requirement from 8 January 2026 is confirmed in the Immigration Rules. The Earned Settlement proposal was set out in the government's immigration white paper published in 2025/2026. No secondary legislation implementing the 10-year change has been passed as of May 2026. Always check GOV.UK for the current rules before making any application decisions.

Official Resources

Our Free Tools

Prepare for the Life in the UK test requirement while you plan your application:

570 practice questions — free, adaptive, covers all topics
45 free mock tests — 24 questions, 45 minutes, timed
Cheat sheet — key facts, dates and figures to memorise
FAQ — common questions answered

Check Your Eligibility Now

Use the ILR eligibility calculator to see if you qualify under current rules. If you are close to the 5-year mark, getting your documents in order now is the safest move — whatever happens with the Earned Settlement proposal.

Last reviewed: May 2026 — figures correct at time of publication. Always check GOV.UK for the latest requirements and proposals.