British
Check If You Can Become a British Citizen
There are different ways to apply for British citizenship (also called naturalisation) depending on your circumstances. If you qualify in more than one way, you can choose the most suitable route.
You Must Have Permission to Stay
You must have valid permission to stay in the UK until your citizenship ceremony. This includes:
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
Settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
Apply for citizenship if you have indefinite leave to remain or 'settled status'
You can apply for British citizenship if you have ILR, Settled Status, or Indefinite Leave to Enter, have lived in the UK for 5 years, held status for 12 months (unless married to a British citizen), passed the Life in the UK Test, and met language and residency requirements.
Apply for citizenship if you were born in the UK
You’re not automatically a British citizen if born in the UK — it depends on your birth date and your parents’ status at the time. If you're not already a citizen, you may be able to apply based on your parents' settled status or your long-term residence in the UK.
Who Can Apply
If You Were Born in the UK
You’re not automatically a British citizen. Your eligibility depends on:
When you were born
Your parents’ immigration status at that time
You may still be able to apply for citizenship.
If You’re Married to or in a Civil Partnership with a British Citizen
You can apply if:
You’ve lived in the UK for the last 3 years
You have ILR or Settled Status
You can apply immediately after meeting these requirements.
If You Have Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
You can apply for citizenship if:
You’ve lived in the UK for 5 years
You’ve held ILR for at least 12 months
Unless you’re married to a British citizen — in which case you can apply immediately.
If You’re an Irish Citizen
You can apply after living in the UK for 5 years.
If You Have Settled Status
You can apply after:
Living in the UK for 12 months after getting settled status
If You Have Pre-Settled Status
You may be eligible if:
You’re from the EU, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein
You started living in the UK before 31 December 2020
You’ve lived in the UK for 5 continuous years while:
Working or looking for work (up to 3 months)
Studying or being self-sufficient
You must then live in the UK for another year before applying (unless married to a British citizen).
If You Haven’t Applied to the EU Settlement Scheme
The deadline was 30 June 2021, but you can still apply if you have reasonable grounds for missing it. Once granted settled status, you may use it to apply for citizenship.
Other Ways You Might Be Eligible
You may also qualify if:
You have a British parent
You have another form of British nationality
Your parent has British Overseas Territories citizenship
You are stateless
You previously renounced British citizenship
You’re a Chagossian descendant
Special circumstances apply to you
If You’re a Commonwealth Citizen
You may qualify under the Windrush Scheme if:
You or a parent arrived in the UK before 1973
You’ve lived in the UK and haven’t been away for more than 2 years
If your parent came before 1973, you must have either:Been born in the UK, or
Arrived in the UK before you turned 18
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