British Citizenship Planner — Timeline & Cost Calculator 2026

Find out when you can apply for British citizenship and what it will cost. Enter your ILR date and route to get your exact eligibility date, a month-by-month timeline, and a full breakdown of fees. Updated for April 2026 Home Office fees.

Calculates your earliest citizenship eligibility date
Covers standard route, spouse route, and EU Settled Status route
Full cost breakdown including ceremony fee
Passport cost shown separately — it is optional and a separate process

UK Citizenship Planner

Find out when you can apply for British citizenship and the total cost. Enter your route and key dates to get your eligibility date and full fee breakdown.

Your route to citizenship

I have ILR (or will get it) — standard route

1 year after ILR date

I am married to a British citizen — spouse route

3 years UK residence (no ILR needed first)

I have EU Settled Status

1 year after Settled Status granted date

ILR date (or expected ILR date)

Children applying for citizenship (£1,000 per child)

Tests already completed

I have already passed the Life in the UK testLeave unchecked to include £50 in the estimateI have already passed a B1 English testLeave unchecked to include ~£182 in the estimateInclude British passport cost in total£102 adult + £66.50 per child (not required immediately — optional)

Select your route and enter your key date above to see your citizenship eligibility date and cost estimate.

How long does it take to get British citizenship?

The timeline depends on your route to citizenship:

Standard route: 5 years qualifying residence in the UK, then ILR, then 12 months with ILR before applying for citizenship
Spouse of a British citizen: 3 years in the UK — no ILR required before applying
EU Settled Status route: 1 year after Settled Status is granted
Processing time after application: usually within 6 months
Total minimum from arriving in the UK to citizenship: approximately 6.5 years on the standard route

British citizenship requirements

To apply for British citizenship by naturalisation you must meet all of the following:

5 years continuous residence in the UK (or 3 years for the spouse route)
Indefinite Leave to Remain or EU Settled Status for at least 12 months immediately before applying (standard route)
Passed the Life in the UK test
B1 English speaking and listening certificate — or a valid exemption
Good character — no serious criminal convictions or immigration violations
Intend to continue living in the UK

What does British citizenship cost?

Naturalisation application fee: £1,709 per adult
Citizenship ceremony fee: £130 — included in the total (£1,839 for adults, all in)
Child citizenship registration: £1,000 per child
British passport (separate, optional): £102 adult / £66.50 child — online application
None of the application fees are refunded if the application is refused

A family of two adults and one child applying together faces total costs of approximately £4,678 in application and ceremony fees, before passport costs. Use our ILR calculator to also estimate the cost of the ILR stage.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long after ILR can I apply for citizenship?

On the standard route, you must hold ILR for at least 12 months before applying for citizenship. If you apply before 12 months have passed since your ILR was granted, your application will be refused.

What is the spouse route to British citizenship?

If you are married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen, you can apply for citizenship after 3 years of living in the UK. You do not need to hold ILR first. You must still pass the Life in the UK test, meet the English language requirement, and satisfy the good character requirement.

Is the citizenship ceremony fee included in the £1,709?

Yes. The total you pay when applying is £1,839 per adult — this covers the £1,709 naturalisation fee plus the £130 citizenship ceremony fee. You cannot opt out of the ceremony — it is a legal requirement before citizenship is confirmed.

Does the proposed 10-year ILR rule affect my citizenship timeline?

As of April 2026, the proposal to extend the ILR qualifying period from 5 to 10 years has been announced but is not yet law. If it becomes law it would significantly extend the path to citizenship for new visa holders. Check GOV.UK for the latest position before making plans.

What is the good character requirement?

The Home Office assesses whether you are of good character before granting citizenship. This covers criminal convictions, immigration conduct, financial honesty, and civic behaviour. Use our good character checker to assess how your background might be viewed.

Will I lose my original nationality if I become British?

The UK allows dual nationality. Becoming a British citizen does not require you to give up your existing citizenship. However, your original country may not allow dual nationality — check the rules of your home country before applying.

Related guides and tools

Last reviewed: April 2026 — based on GOV.UK guidance. Always check GOV.UK for the latest rules.