Good Character Requirement Check — Free ILR & British Citizenship Checker 2026

The good character requirement applies to everyone applying for ILR or British citizenship. Answer 6 questions about your criminal history, immigration record, and financial conduct to get an assessment of how your background might be viewed by the Home Office.

• 6 questions covering all main good character factors
• Green, amber, or red result per factor
• Overall risk level with explanation
• Links to professional advice if your situation is complex

What is the good character requirement?

UKVI assesses whether applicants are of good character before granting ILR or British citizenship. It is a holistic assessment — there is no single checklist of what passes or fails. The caseworker looks at the full picture of your history in the UK and abroad.

The main factors are: criminal history, immigration conduct, financial honesty (including unpaid taxes and benefit fraud), and civic behaviour. Serious issues do not automatically mean refusal — but they must be declared. Failure to declare something that UKVI later finds is treated more seriously than the original issue.

What affects the good character assessment?

Criminal convictions

• Sentences of 4 years or more in prison: permanent bar to citizenship
• Sentences of 12 months to 4 years: 15-year bar from the end of the sentence
• Sentences of 12 months or less: 7-year bar from the end of the sentence
• Non-custodial sentences, fines, and cautions: assessed case by case

Immigration conduct

• Overstaying a visa — even briefly — is noted on your record and may affect your application
• Working without permission can result in refusal
• Providing false information on any previous application is treated very seriously
• Civil penalties (such as working without authorisation) are taken into account

Spent convictions and citizenship applications

For most jobs and DBS checks, spent convictions do not need to be declared. Citizenship applications are an exception. You must declare all convictions on a citizenship application — including spent ones.

Failing to declare a conviction you thought was spent is treated as deception. This is more serious in the eyes of the Home Office than the original conviction itself. If in doubt, declare it.

Use our ILR refusal risk checker to assess other potential issues before you apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the good character requirement for ILR and citizenship?

The good character requirement is a holistic assessment UKVI makes before granting ILR or British citizenship. It covers criminal history, immigration conduct, financial honesty (including unpaid taxes and benefit fraud), and civic behaviour. There is no single pass/fail checklist — the caseworker considers the full picture. Serious issues do not automatically mean refusal, but they must be declared. Failure to declare something UKVI later finds is treated more seriously than the original issue.

Does a spent conviction affect my ILR or citizenship application?

Yes. Unlike most other contexts, ILR and citizenship applications require you to declare all convictions including spent ones. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 does not apply to these applications. Failure to declare a spent conviction is treated as deception — which is more serious in UKVI's eyes than the original conviction itself. If in doubt, declare it.

Do unpaid debts affect good character for ILR or citizenship?

Unpaid debts can affect the good character assessment, particularly where they involve unpaid taxes, benefit fraud, or deliberate financial dishonesty. A County Court Judgment (CCJ) is noted on your record. Ordinary consumer debt is less likely to cause a problem on its own, but deliberate non-payment of public duties is viewed more seriously.

What about minor offences — do they affect ILR or citizenship?

Minor offences are assessed case by case. The Home Office considers the nature of the offence, the sentence given, how long ago it was, and whether there has been any repeat offending. A single caution or small fine many years ago with no pattern of further offending is typically treated more leniently than recent or repeat offences.

Can I still apply for ILR or citizenship if I have a CCJ?

A County Court Judgment does not automatically prevent you from applying. UKVI considers whether the debt has been paid and how long ago the judgment was issued. Unsatisfied CCJs showing ongoing financial irresponsibility are viewed more negatively. Seek advice from an OISC-registered immigration adviser if you have a CCJ on your record.

Where can I find an OISC-registered immigration adviser?

Search the OISC register on GOV.UK to find a regulated immigration adviser near you. Only use advisers registered with the OISC or solicitors regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Unregulated immigration advisers operate illegally and can cause serious harm to your application.

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