To become a citizen of the UK, you must apply to the Home Office through the British Naturalization process unless you are of British ancestry.
With British citizenship, you can live and work in the UK without being subject to immigration regulations, apply for a British passport, and vote.
You must include evidence in your naturalization request that you meet the requirements for naturalization.
British Naturalization UK petitions sometimes fail because of incomplete or erroneous paperwork, clerical errors, and a delay in responding to Home Office inquiries.
You can prevent rejection by seeking professional assistance in submitting your British naturalization application.
British Prerequisites For Naturalization
To become a naturalized British citizen, you must fulfill specific legal conditions.
You may apply for British naturalization if you meet the requirements listed below.
- Age
You are at least 18 years old.
- UK residency and current status
Whether you were an EEA citizen with EU-settled status or had permanent residence in the UK at your request, you had settled a position in the UK for at least 12 months.
- Absence
You should have left the UK more frequently during the qualifying period. The Home Office needs to recognize travel days when determining the total absences.
- Test for naturalization
You’ve passed the Life in the UK test and meet the English language requirements.
- Decent Character
You have a “good reputation,” no major or recent criminal history, and you haven’t violated any UK immigration laws or regulations while there.
- Appropriate immigration status
Throughout the time that counts as your qualifying residency, you must have had a valid and legal immigration status.
- Intentions to move there
It would help if you wanted to live permanently in the UK.
The citizenship requirements change accordingly if you are married to a British citizen.
Obtaining Naturalization If You Are Not Married To A British Citizen
If you do not plan to marry a British citizen, you must demonstrate the following:
- You have spent less than 90 days away from the UK in the 12 months before your application.
- No time limits have been present on your stay in the UK during the preceding qualifying 12-month period.
- Five years before submitting your residency permit, you were physically present in the UK on the specified date.
- You haven’t spent more than 450 days away from the UK throughout this qualifying five-year period.
- Also, you did not transgress any UK immigration regulations over the preceding five years to qualify.
- You have good morals.
- You are familiar enough with British culture.
- Your command of the English language is adequate.
- You want to live permanently in the UK.
Getting Naturalized As The Spouse Of A British National
Suppose you request citizenship based on your union with a British national or a person with legal residency in the UK. In that case, you must provide evidence that you have spent less than 90 days away from the UK in the 12 months before your application.
- You were present in the UK on the particular day three years before submitting your citizenship application.
- Also, you have not left the UK for more than 270 days throughout this qualifying three-year period.
- You didn’t break any UK immigration regulations throughout this qualifying 3-year period.
- You do not have a time limit on your stay in the UK as of the date you submit your application.
- Processing of applications for naturalization
Most British naturalization requests get handled within six months. Decisions on simpler, well-prepared applications can be ready in as little as three to four months, but more complex applications may take up to six months to process. Processing times will also vary depending on the volume and staffing at the Home Office.
