Applying for British citizenship by naturalisation
From settled status to a British passport: the residence rules, good character, the fee and the ceremony.
Rules and fees checked against gov.uk on 8 November 2026. Page updated 8 November 2026. How we check our guides.
- Who it is for
- Adults with ILR or settled status who have lived in the UK for 5 years (3 if married to a British citizen)
- Fee
- £1,605 plus the £130 ceremony
- Absence limits
- 450 days in the last 5 years, 90 in the last 12 months
- Decision time
- Up to 6 months
Naturalisation is how an adult who was not born British becomes a British citizen. It is a discretionary grant, not an entitlement, which is why the application asks about your whole life in the UK and the Home Secretary can refuse someone who meets every formal requirement. In practice, most people who meet the requirements are granted. This guide covers the standard route; if your spouse or civil partner is British, read the faster route for spouses.
The requirements
- Age and capacity. 18 or over and of sound mind.
- Settlement. You hold ILR, settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme or permanent residence, and have held it for at least 12 months before you apply. (Not required if married to a British citizen.)
- Residence. You were physically in the UK on the day exactly five years before the Home Office receives your application. Miss that day and the application is refused regardless of everything else.
- Absences. No more than 450 days outside the UK in those five years and no more than 90 in the final 12 months. The Home Office will normally overlook up to 480 and 100 days respectively, and more in defined circumstances, but anything above the limits needs an explanation.
- No immigration breaches in the five years: no overstaying, no working in breach, no illegal entry. Since February 2025 the guidance says that someone who entered the UK illegally will normally be refused on character grounds however long ago it was.
- Good character. Criminal convictions, serious debts, tax evasion, deception and immigration offences count against you. See the good character guide.
- Knowledge of language and life. The Life in the UK test and English at B1. A pass you used for ILR counts again; you do not retake either.
- Intention to live in the UK as your home (not required on the spouse route).
Cost
The fee is £1,605, plus £130 for the citizenship ceremony, usually quoted together as £1,735. It is one of the most expensive citizenship fees in the world and it is not refunded if you are refused. There is no priority service for naturalisation.
How to apply
- Check the five-year day. Count back five years from the date you expect to submit and confirm you were in the UK on that day.
- List your absences for the five years with dates. Exact days matter because of the 450 and 90 limits.
- Find two referees. One must be a British citizen who is a professional person (or over 25) and has known you for three years; the other must be a professional person of any nationality. Neither can be a relative, your solicitor or a Home Office employee.
- Apply online on form AN, pay the fee and book a biometric appointment or use the ID Check app. Upload your passport, ILR evidence, Life in the UK pass, English evidence, proof of residence (P60s, council tax, tenancy) and your absence list.
- Wait. Up to six months; three to four is typical. You can travel during this wait, unlike an ILR application, as long as you keep within the absence limits in case you need to reapply.
- Attend the ceremony within three months of your invitation. You swear or affirm allegiance and pledge loyalty, receive your certificate, and are a British citizen from that moment.
- Apply for a passport (£94.50 online) using the certificate. Your eVisa becomes irrelevant; keep the certificate safe, because replacing it is slow.
Dual nationality
The UK allows dual nationality, so naturalising does not affect your British status if you keep your original passport. Whether your original country allows it is a separate question: India, China, Japan, the Netherlands (with exceptions), Austria and a number of others treat voluntarily acquiring another citizenship as giving up theirs. Check before the ceremony, because the loss can be automatic.
Children
Children under 18 cannot naturalise; they are registered instead, usually at the same time as a parent's application, for £1,214.