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How to apply to become a British Citizen.

If you are looking to apply to become a British Citizen, we recommend that you contact a firm of solicitors that have experts in this area of law.

Do not confuse this with other applications - if you are in any doubt please seek professional help.


To be eligible to apply, will need to meet certain basic criteria first, these include

- Being mentally sound - if not, do you have someone who is applying for you?
- Of good character - do you have a criminal record?
- Over 18 - an adult?
- You can speak/communicate in English or Welsh
- You have not breached immigration laws.
- You must either attend classes for Naturalisation or take, and pass, the life in the UK Test.

Your residency will also be questioned, you must have lived in the UK for the past five years, and in that time, spent no more than 90 days outside the UK in the past year, and no more than 450 days in the past five years.

If you have been granted indefinite leave, the rules are also different so check with your solicitor, or with the home office.

If you have children under the age of eighteen, you will need to apply for citizenship for them, they are exempt from the Test and Classes.

For married couples or partners in a civil partnership the rules are, in general, the same as above, with the exceptions that you have to have lived in the UK for 3 years and in that time spent no more than 270 out of the country.

How to apply to become a British Citizen.

Making the application;

Your solicitor will assist with this; you have three ways to make your application.

You can complete an individual application, use the National Checking service (via your council) or use a 3rd party to do it for you.

Forms and additional Guidance is available online via the .gov website or the home office website

With all the applications fees will apply.

The whole process will take around six months, however, if the Home Office has questions about your application it may take longer.

For those over 18, once you have been successful with your application, you will be invited to attend a citizenship ceremony, and if you are in the UK, you must attend this. It is normally held through your local council and you will be able to take two people with you to witness the ceremony, where you will take an oath to respect the Laws in the UK, at the end of the ceremony you will be given a certificate and pack welcoming you as a British citizen.



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