How to apply for British Citizenship

Being a British citizen has its own benefits. You not only get a high quality of life living but access to some of the best facilities in the world. Here’s a look at why choosing to be a British citizen is a wise decision.

• Live permanently in the UK
• Access to world class facilities in the UK like education
• Free access to the National Health Service (NHS)
• Travel with a British passport worldwide and unrestricted between England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

You may apply for British citizenship in various ways.

British citizenship requirements

First, let’s take a look at the British citizenship requirements.

• You must be 18 years or above
• You must be of ‘good character’ (no crime record)
• You must meet the English language requirement
• You must meet the residency requirement

(Lived in the UK for 5 years and an absence of fewer than 450 days or travelled outside the UK no more than 90 days in the last 12 months)

You have indefinite leave to remain (ILR) for a minimum of one year. In the case of EU, EEA or Switzerland, you must have a ‘permanent residence’ status for 12 months or ‘settled status’. Please note that spouses and civil partners of British citizens have a separate set of criteria to be met.

When you clear the British Citizenship Test, you become eligible to apply for citizenship. The most common way to apply for British citizenship is through naturalization.

Life in the UK Citizenship Test

The passing of the Life in the UK Test is essential for the application of citizenship. Only when you complete the exam for the British Citizenship Test successfully, can you proceed further in the request for UK citizenship. These exams can be booked online. It should be scheduled a minimum of 3 days in advance from the date you wish to take it.

How to submit your application?

Once you meet the British citizenship requirements, the 3 ways through which you can apply for naturalisation are

• You need to individually submit the Form AN to become a British citizen by naturalisation.
• You can apply through the Nationality checking Service (NCS), which are run by local councils. The NCS service is available across the country.

The two major advantages of sending your application to NCS are:

• Your application is thoroughly checked and you receive a confirmation for the same.
• The attached documents are returned after taking a photocopy of them. Hence you get them back soon.
• You can use private agents or representatives. Ensure that they are registered at the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC).

British Citizenship Fees:

As a part of the application please remember that you may be required to submit you biometric information(fingerprint and photo). This will cost you £19.20 when applied within UK.

Address for Submission

You should then submit your Form AN, fees and all relevant documents. You can apply for British Citizenship online or via post to

After you apply for British Citizenship online or through any of the above ways, you will get a confirmation letter which could take up to 4 weeks. It takes up to 6 months or even longer for a decision to be made, which is then communicated to you by UK Visas and Immigration.

Citizenship ceremony

Upon receiving the coveted citizenship, you are invited to a Citizenship Ceremony if you’re over 18 years of age. You can contact your council to arrange for your citizenship ceremony close to where you live.

After taking an Oath of Allegiance to the UK, you get presented with a Certificate of British Citizenship. Your long wait is over and now you are an official UK citizen enjoying the best the nation has to offer! Those who are overseas can ask their ceremony to be arranged at the consulate or embassy of the country you reside in.

This is the process by which you can apply for British Citizenship and live permanently in the UK.