Naturalisation

United Kingdom

Country Report: Naturalisation Last updated: 10/07/24

Author

Sonia Lenegan

Those with refugee status and subsidiary protection may not apply for naturalisation as a British citizen until they have been in receipt of Indefinite Leave to Remain (settlement leave) for 12 months.[1] They are subject to the same test of ‘good character’ as other applicants and must pass a ‘Life in the UK’ test and meet the requirements for English language proficiency.[2] There is also a fee, which can be up to £1,580 (€ 1,840).[3]

The requirements that a person be of good character specifically refer to applicants who previously entered the UK unlawfully i.e. through evading immigration control.[4] Where unlawful entry happened in the previous ten years, the application will normally be refused.[5]

Applications for naturalisation are made to the Home Office. There are no time limits for decisions to be made. The main obstacle is the fees.[6]

175,972 grants of UK citizenship were made in 2023 of which 130,430 were from non-EU nationals.

 

 

 

[1] Schedule 1, paragraph 1(2)(c), British Nationality Act 1981, available at: https://bit.ly/3SQSI1T.  

[2] UK government, ‘Apply for citizenship if you have indefinite leave to remain or ‘settled status’’, accessed 24 March 2024, available at: https://bit.ly/3uzRnol.

[3] Home Office, Immigration and Nationality fees, available at: https://bit.ly/2PS2Ub0.

[4] Home Office, Naturalisation as a British citizen: caseworker guidance, 23 August 2023, available at: http://bit.ly/2jDXJbv.

[5] Home Office, Naturalisation as a British citizen: caseworker guidance, 23 August 2023, available at: http://bit.ly/2jDXJbv.  

[6] UK government, ‘Apply for citizenship if you have indefinite leave to remain or ‘settled status’’, accessed 24 March 2024, available at: https://bit.ly/3uzRnol.

Table of contents

  • Statistics
  • Overview of the legal framework
  • Overview of the main changes since the previous report update
  • Asylum Procedure
  • Reception Conditions
  • Detention of Asylum Seekers
  • Content of International Protection