Good Character Check — ILR & Citizenship Requirement 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

Does a criminal record mean automatic refusal for ILR?

Not automatically. The severity and recency of the conviction matters. A minor offence many years ago with no subsequent issues may not prevent a successful application. Serious convictions with custodial sentences have fixed bars attached. Always seek advice from an OISC-registered adviser if you have any criminal history.

Do I need to declare spent convictions on a citizenship application?

Yes. Unlike most other contexts, citizenship applications require you to declare all convictions including spent ones. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 does not apply to citizenship applications. Failure to declare is treated as deception and is more serious than the conviction itself.

What counts as a minor offence for good character purposes?

There is no fixed legal definition of minor. The Home Office guidance 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.

I had a brief overstay years ago — will this affect my application?

A brief overstay is noted on your immigration record. Whether it affects your application depends on how long ago it was, how long the overstay lasted, and your conduct since then. UKVI may exercise discretion for a short and old overstay if there is a clear and innocent explanation. Seek professional advice before applying.

Can I still apply for ILR if I worked without permission?

Working without permission is a serious immigration breach. It may result in a civil penalty and can affect your good character assessment for ILR and citizenship. The outcome depends on the circumstances. Get OISC-registered immigration advice before applying.

Where can I find an OISC-registered immigration adviser?

You can 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.