British Nationality
Naturalisation/British passport
Naturalisation/British passport
If you would like to apply for naturalisation a as a British citizen or for a British passport, we are here to provide the highest quality advice and services. By becoming a British citizen, you show strong commitments to the United Kingdom and its way of life and values .
Naturalisation
Standard requirements for naturalisation
There are seven requirements you need to meet before you apply:
- You must be aged 18 or over.
- You must be of sound mind.
- You must intend to continue living in the UK, or to continue in Crown service, the service of an international organisation of which the UK is a member, or the service of a company or association established in the UK.
- You must be able to communicate in English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic to an acceptable degree.
- You must have sufficient knowledge of life in the UK.
- You must be of good character.
- You must meet the residential requirements (see below).
Residential requirements
To demonstrate the residential requirements for naturalisation, you must have:
- been resident in the UK for at least five years (this is known as the residential qualifying period); and
- been present in the UK five years before the date of your application; and
- not spent more than 450 days outside the UK during the five-year period; and
- not spent more than 90 days outside the UK in the last 12 months of the five-year period; and
- not been in breach of the Immigration Rules at any stage during the five-year period.
Requirements for naturalisation if you are married to or the civil partner of a British citizen
In order to demonstrate the residential requirements for naturalisation you need to:
- have been resident in the United Kingdom for at least three years (this is known as the residential qualifying period); and
- have been present in the United Kingdom three years before the date of your application; and
- have not spent more than 270 days outside the United Kingdom during the three-year period; and
- have not spend more than 90 days outside the United Kingdom in the last 12 months of the three-year period; and
- have not been in breach of the immigration rules at any stage during the three-year period.
Crown service
If you are applying on the grounds of your Crown service instead of your residence in the UK, you must show that you:
- are serving overseas in Crown service on the date when your application is received; and
- have been the holder of a responsible post overseas; and
- have given outstanding service, normally over a substantial period; and
- have a close connection with the UK.
Crown service is an alternative only to the residence requirements for naturalisation. You must still meet the other requirements for naturalisation.