Naturalisation is the legal process by which an over 18 years old non-British adult becomes a British citizen. An applicant needs to meet the requirement as good character, English and Life in the UK knowledge, minimum period of residence and having intention to live in the UK. The person should attend a ceremony to become a British citizen and obtain a Certificate of Naturalisation.

The HO will only allow a person naturalise with “good character.” The ‘good character’ check will be made in relation to criminal offences and financial solvency. Conduct that does not amount to a criminal offence (or which was not prosecuted or did not lead to a conviction) can also lead to refusal of a naturalisation application on character grounds. In 2014, the good character requirement was extended to refuse applications of those who have been in breach of the immigration laws in the past ten years. This includes use of deception or dishonesty in an immigration application.

The applicant must have been physically present in the UK exactly three or five years prior to their application (depending on whether they are married to a British citizen or not). Most people will need to live in the UK lawfully for at least five years before they can apply for naturalisation as a British citizen. There are different rules for those who are married to a British citizen and those who are not: for those not married to a British citizen the period will usually be six years. In either case, if a person has overstayed or otherwise broken their period of lawful residence, the clock is usually reset and the countdown to qualifying for naturalisation will begin again.

Most applicants have to demonstrate an intention for their principal home to be in the UK. If a person is abroad or about to go abroad it may be important to explain this and to provide sufficient evidence to show that there is an intention to live in the UK. For example, caring for a person overseas who is ill or dying is likely to be a temporary absence and should not be treated as evidence that a person has no intention to live in the UK.

The maximum permitted number of full days absent from the UK for those not married to a British citizen is 450 days in total during the five years leading up to the application for naturalisation, no more than 90 of which can fall during the final year. The maximum permitted number of full days absent from the UK for those married to a British citizen is 270 days in total during the three years leading up to the application for naturalisation, no more than 90 of which can fall during the final qualifying year.

All applicants for naturalization must show sufficient knowledge of English, and “sufficient knowledge about life in the UK”. To pass the English language requirement, applicants will need to come from an English speaking country, have a degree taught in English, or pass an approved English language test. For the life in the UK element, the applicant must have passed the “Life in the UK” test. There is discretion to waive the language and life in the UK requirement where it would be unreasonable to expect the applicant to fulfill it because of age or physical or mental condition. The language and life in the UK requirement will normally be exempted where the applicant is aged 65 or over.

Anyone over the age of 18 who acquires British citizenship, whether by registration or naturalisation, is required to take the oath and pledge of allegiance at a public ceremony. Ceremonies are normally held in groups and normally take place at the local authority closest to the applicant’s home address. A fee is payable and this fee makes up a proportion of the naturalisation application fee.Normally a person seeking naturalisation has a period of three months to attend a citizenship ceremony. Due to the coronavirus pandemic this period was extended to six months.