- Naturalisation costs approximately 1,605 pounds in 2026 (1,270 pounds application fee plus 80 pounds biometrics plus ceremony fee).
- Standard route: hold ILR for 12 months and have lived in the UK for five years (three years if married to a British citizen).
- No more than 450 days absent from the UK in the last five years; no more than 90 days in the final 12 months.
- Processing typically takes around 6 months; priority services are not widely available for naturalisation.
- A citizenship ceremony is mandatory for adults; you become a citizen when you take the oath or affirmation, not when you receive the letter.
Last reviewed: 13 May 2026
There are several routes to becoming a British citizen. The most common for people who migrated to the UK as adults is naturalisation. Other routes include citizenship by birth, by descent, and by registration. This article focuses on naturalisation, which applies to the majority of settled migrants.
Routes to British Citizenship
Naturalisation is the standard route for adult settled migrants. Citizenship by birth applies to children born in the UK to a British or settled parent. Citizenship by descent applies to children born outside the UK to a British citizen parent in some circumstances. Registration covers certain categories including children, British Overseas Citizens, and British Nationals Overseas.
Naturalisation Core Eligibility Criteria
To apply for naturalisation in 2026, an applicant must be aged 18 or over, hold Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or an equivalent form of settlement, have been resident in the UK for at least five years immediately before the application (three years if married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen), have been physically present in the UK on the date exactly five years before the application date, not have been absent from the UK for more than 450 days in the five-year period (270 days for the spouse route), not have been absent for more than 90 days in the 12-month period immediately before the application, be of good character, pass the Life in the UK test (or be exempt), meet the English language requirement, and intend to continue living in the UK.
Absence Calculation Worked Example
An applicant submits their naturalisation application on 1 June 2026. The five-year qualifying period therefore runs from 1 June 2021 to 31 May 2026. During this period they were abroad as follows: Summer 2021: 55 days; Winter 2021/22: 30 days; Summer 2022: 70 days; Summer 2023: 90 days; Summer 2024: 80 days; Total: 325 days. 325 days is below the 450-day cap, so the overall absence rule is met.
However, in the final 12 months (1 June 2025 to 31 May 2026) they were abroad for 80 days (the summer 2024 trip extended into that window) plus an additional trip of 15 days in January 2026, 95 days total. This exceeds the 90-day cap for the final year. The application would be refused on this ground. The applicant should wait until a 12-month window exists in which absences total 90 days or fewer.
The Good Character Requirement
The good character requirement is assessed by the Home Office and considers criminal history in the UK and abroad, immigration compliance history (overstaying, breaching visa conditions), financial conduct (unpaid tax, undisclosed income, bankruptcy in some circumstances), and deception used in previous immigration applications.
A single minor conviction does not automatically disqualify an applicant, but serious criminal offences or recent immigration breaches typically result in refusal. The Home Office guidance provides a table of offences and the standard waiting period before a naturalisation application is considered. For example, a custodial sentence of 12 months or more typically requires a 15-year wait from the end of the sentence. A fixed penalty notice (FPN) for a road traffic offence, or a police caution, may be disclosable depending on when it was issued. Failure to disclose a declarable matter, even a minor one, can itself constitute a deception ground for refusal.
Application Costs in 2026
Naturalisation application fee: 1,270 pounds. Biometric enrolment: 80 pounds. Citizenship ceremony fee (paid to local council): 100 to 255 pounds (varies by council). Approximate total: 1,450 to 1,605 pounds. Children can be registered as British citizens separately. The child registration fee is 1,214 pounds in 2026. There is no Super Priority service for naturalisation applications; processing takes the full standard time regardless of any willingness to pay.
Documents and Referees
Required documents: current passport (identity); previous passports covering the five-year period (absence calculation); BRP or eVisa evidence of settled status; Life in the UK test pass certificate; English language evidence (degree certificate, SELT result, or nationality exemption); two referees' details (character references); travel history summary (self-prepared absence schedule).
The two referees required for naturalisation are often misunderstood. Both must be British citizens aged 25 or over, have known the applicant personally for at least 3 years, not be a close family member, and one must be a professional person (defined broadly: a doctor, teacher, accountant, solicitor, police officer, or registered childminder all qualify). Referees are not required to attend any appointment; they complete their section of the online form, which is sent to them electronically once the applicant initiates the application.
How to Apply
Check eligibility using the gov.uk Naturalisation Checker before beginning. Gather documents (all passports used in the last five years, travel history, and supporting evidence). Complete Form AN online via the UKVI portal. Pay the fee (1,270 pounds application fee plus 80 pounds biometrics). Enrol biometrics (book an appointment at a UKVCAS service point). Await decision (standard processing is approximately 6 months). Attend citizenship ceremony (invitation sent by the local council if approved; must be attended within 90 days).
The Citizenship Ceremony
The citizenship ceremony is a statutory requirement for adults. It takes place at the local authority area linked to the applicant's address. The new citizen takes the Oath of Allegiance and the Pledge (or equivalent affirmations). They receive a certificate of naturalisation. British citizenship is granted at the moment the oath or affirmation is made, not when the decision letter is received. This distinction matters: a person who has received an approval letter but not yet attended the ceremony is not yet a British citizen and cannot apply for a British passport.
After Naturalisation: Practical Steps
Once citizenship is confirmed, a British passport can be applied for immediately (standard adult fee approximately 90 to 115 pounds in 2026; ten-year validity). Any existing ILR lapses, but this is irrelevant as citizenship provides greater rights. The applicant retains any other nationalities unless their previous country of nationality does not permit dual citizenship; this is a matter of that country's law, not UK law. Children born after the parent's naturalisation are British by birth; children born before may need a separate registration application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for citizenship and keep my original nationality?
In most cases, yes. The UK permits dual or multiple nationality. Whether your original country permits it depends on that country's laws; verify with the relevant embassy before applying.
What if I was outside the UK for more than 90 days in the final year?
Exceeding the 90-day absence limit in the 12 months before application will normally result in refusal. Wait until a compliant 12-month window exists, then reapply.
Do I need to have held ILR for exactly 12 months?
Yes, at least 12 months on the date of application. Applying one day early is a common reason for invalid applications.
Can my application be refused for a minor driving offence?
Fixed penalty speeding endorsements generally do not trigger good character refusal. Drink-driving, dangerous driving, or offences involving dishonesty are more likely to be considered.
How long does it take to get a British passport after naturalisation?
A passport application can be submitted immediately after receiving the naturalisation certificate. Standard processing is around 10 weeks in 2026.
How We Verified This Article
This article draws on Home Office naturalisation guidance, published UKVI fees, Form AN guidance notes, and Home Office good character nationality policy guidance current as of May 2026.
