How to apply for British citizenship?

You can either apply online or by post for British citizenship if you are meeting the eligibility requirements according to the British Nationality Act 1981.

Please contact our British citizenship lawyer on 0161 989 9370 or fill in the enquiry form to take the first step towards your successful UK citizenship application.

Below is the step-by-step process to apply for British citizenship:

Fill in and submit the application
Send or upload documents
Attend your biometric appointment
Waiting for the decision
UK citizenship ceremony

Step 1: Fill in and submit the application

You can fill in and submit your British citizenship application online. On the other hand, if you want to apply for citizenship by naturalisation by Post then you can use form AN. You must use the correct application form according to the type of your British citizenship application.

Step 2: Send or upload documents

You will need to scan and upload all the supporting documents in the correct format if applying online for British citizenship. You don't need to send original documents anywhere.

For postal applications, you need to send all the documents along with your British citizenship application form. Do not apply for British citizenship by post if you'll need your documents back by a specific date.

Step 3: Attend your biometric appointment

You will need to book & attend your biometric appointment to provide your biometric information such as photo and fingerprints at a UKVCAS service point.

Step 4: Waiting for the decision

You should get a decision within 6 months on your British citizenship application. Time starts once you've submitted the application and attended your biometric appointment.

Step 5: UK citizenship ceremony

You will need to attend the UK citizenship ceremony if your application is successful and you are age 18 or over.

British citizenship application forms

There are several ways to become a British national and you must use the correct British citizenship application form depending on how you want to apply.

Apply to naturalise as a British citizen

British citizenship application form to become a British citizen by naturalisation:

Form AN: Become a British citizen by naturalisation

Apply to register as a British national

British citizenship application form to become a British citizen by registration:

Form MN1: Register a child under 18 as a British citizen
Form MN3: Register a child under 18 as a British overseas citizen
Form T: Register a child born in the UK as a British citizen after 10 years
Form S2: Register a stateless person born outside the UK as a British citizen
Form B(OS): Register as a British overseas citizen

You can find here a complete list of the latest application forms for British nationality and obtain evidence of the right of abode in the UK.

Requirements for British citizenship?

To be eligible to apply for British citizenship by naturalisation you must meet the requirements of the British Nationality Act 1981.

You must meet the following requirements:

UK Residency requirements
Good character requirement
Prove your knowledge of English
Life in the UK test

You must also meet all the other eligibility requirements depending on type of application and your personal circumstances. Please contact us for an initial assessment to determine your eligibility, and to discuss the options.

UK citizenship processing time after biometrics

You should get a decision on your British citizenship application within 3-6 months. However, Some UK citizenship applications may take longer than 6 months depending on the complexity of the matter.

Time starts once you've applied for British citizenship and attended your biometric appointment.

How much does it cost to apply for British citizenship?

£1,330 is the fee for British citizenship by Naturalisation application.
£1,012 is the fee to register a child under 18 as a British citizen.

Here are some common other costs associated with applying for British citizenship:

£19.20 Biometrics fee
£50 Life in the UK test fee (unless you are exempt)
£150 approx. English language test fee (unless you are exempt)
Immigration lawyer fees (if using legal services to boost your chances of success & avoid mistakes)

The above is a general list of costs associated with British citizenship applications. There may be additional costs such translation fee depending on your circumstances.

Please note that these fees are subject to change, and you should always check the most up-to-date information on the UK government's official website before applying for a visa.

Immigration lawyer fees

Our expert UK citizenship & nationality lawyer will guide you through every step of the British citizenship application process including advice about legal requirements and eligibility criteria.

At Rex Law Chambers, our UK nationality lawyer charges a fixed fee between £800-£1000 for our complete legal services in relation to your citizenship application. The agreed fixed fee will depend on the complexity of the matter and the casework involved in the matter.

Need help with the British citizenship application?

If you need legal advice or help with your British citizenship application, our lawyer can provide legal assistance.

Our citizenship lawyer will assess your eligibility and personal circumstances to determine if you can apply for British citizenship and meet the requirements.

British citizenship lawyer at Rex Law Chambers will:

advise you about eligibility criteria and the requirement;
provide you with a comprehensive checklist of supporting documents;
fill in and submit your British citizenship application;
check all the supporting documents;
upload all the supporting documents online in their correct format and order;
schedule your biometrics appointments;
prepare a cover letter or letter of representation to support your application.
dealing and responding to any enquiries or correspondence from the Home Office;
do all the follow-up work on your British citizenship application until a decision is received from the Home Office UKVI.

Contact our experienced UK citizenship & nationality lawyer on 0161 989 9370 or fill in our enquiry form to get reliable & confidential legal advice and assistance with your British citizenship application.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What are the requirements to become a British citizen?

Residency requirement, good character requirement, English language test and Life in the UK test are the 4 key requirements to apply for British citizenship.

You must meet all other eligibility requirements depending on your personal circumstances and type of British citizenship application.

How do I become a British citizen in 3 years?

You can become a British citizen after living at least 3 years in the UK as a spouse of a British citizen. You must meet all the eligibility requirements of the British Nationality Act 1981 to apply for UK citizenship through marriage.

Does the uk allow dual citizenship?

Yes, the UK does allow dual citizenship with other countries which means you can be a British citizen and also a citizen of other countries at the same time.