Why Apply for the British Citizenship? 

• Apply for citizenship after residing in the UK for 5 years
• Gain complete rights and privileges of a UK citizen.
• Work and live in the UK legally 
• Freedom of movement inside the UK
• Apply for the British passport 

The UK is a popular choice among foreign nationals for settling overseas. The country has a multicultural society of individuals from across the globe. It offers multiple job opportunities, high income, advanced healthcare facilities, quality education at inexpensive tuition fees, and a British passport that lets you travel visa-free to 154 countries. These factors make immigrants in the UK apply for British citizenship. 

To apply for citizenship in the UK, you must have been a permanent resident for at least one year. The UK ILR, or Indefinite Leave to Remain, grants you permanent residence in the country. 
 

Benefits of UK Citizenship

You can avail of the benefits listed below as a British citizen.

• Right to live in the UK indefinitely
• Apply for a British passport
• Participate in electoral activities
• Avail of inexpensive universal healthcare 
• No restrictions on applying for employment 
• Unrestricted entry to the UK
• Freedom of movement in the country
• No limits on traveling overseas
• Avail of quality education at affordable fees
   

Eligibility for British Citizenship

To apply for the British citizenship naturalization, you must fulfill the eligibility criteria below. You must:

• Be 18 years or more
• Have resided in the UK for at least 5 years
• Have good character
• Fulfill the English language requirements
• Qualify the "Life in the UK" test
• Intention of continued living in the UK
   

Requirements for British Citizenship

The documents required to apply for the citizenship are listed below. You must have:

• An identity proof
• Biometric residence permit 
• Evidence of your qualifying the Life in the UK test
• Proof of having a level of B1 or more in English language proficiency  
• Evidence of legal resident status in the UK 
• Information about your periods of absence from the UK within the qualifying period
• Proof that you have a valid Indefinite Leave to Remain status in the UK
   

How to Apply for the British Citizenship?

The application procedure for the UK citizenship is given below.

Step 1: Check if you meet the eligibility criteria for British citizenship.

Step 2: Gather all the documents required to apply.

Step 3: Duly fill out the application and submit it.

Step 4:  Wait for the decision on your citizenship application. 

Step 5:  Attend the 'Oath-taking Ceremony' to solemnize your British citizenship. 
 

Processing Time for British Citizenship  

The processing time for the British Citizenship application is approximately 6 months. 
 

Fees for UK Citizenship 

Detailed information about the processing fee for UK citizenship application is given in the table below.

Pathways to Apply for British Citizenship 

There are several pathways to applying for British citizenship. You can apply through any of the following pathways. 
 

Naturalization

The naturalization process is for immigrants who have resided in the UK for the past five years and have a valid UK ILR.  

Naturalization is the most common way for foreign nationals to gain British citizenship. Foreign nationals who apply for citizenship by naturalization must fulfill the following eligibility criteria. You must: 

• Be 18 years or above
• Have spent not less than 5 years of continuous residence in the UK. You should not be outside the UK for more than 450 days.  
• Have a valid UK ILR for a minimum of 12 months
• Qualify the Life in the UK Test
• Have at least a B1 CEFR level of English language proficiency
• Meet the good character requirement

When applying for UK citizenship, you must not stay outside the UK for more than 90 days in your final year of the five-year qualifying period.
 

British Citizenship by Birth or Descent 

Applicants born in the UK or have a parent who is a British citizen or permanent resident at the time of their birth can apply for citizenship through birth or descent. 

You must have resided in the UK for at least 10 years to gain citizenship through this route. In the qualifying period, you must not have spent more than 90 days for every year outside the UK. 
 

British Citizenship by Marriage

Foreign nationals with Indefinite Leave to Remain married to a British citizen or an individual with settled status in the UK can apply for UK Citizenship through this route. 

For such candidates, they are required to reside in the UK for a minimum of 3 years with their spouse or partner. You are not required to hold UK ILR  for 12 months to apply for British citizenship. You can apply as soon as you obtain permanent residency status in the UK.  

You must fulfill other criteria such as: 

• Qualifying the Life in the UK Test
• Having the required proficiency in English
• Fulfilling the good character requirement
   

How Does Y-Axis Help You?

The UK is the best place for immigrants to work and settle. With deep knowledge of UK immigration and work policies, Y-Axis offers you expertise guidance and counsel on all necessary procedures and requirements to increase your chances of working and migrating to the UK.

Our impeccable job search services include:

• Free eligibility check to work in the UK through the Y-Axis UK immigration points calculator
• Y-Path: Get step by step guide to work in the UK. Y-Path is a personalized approach that assists in making a life-changing decision. Millions of people transform their lives dramatically when they work or study abroad and you can, too.
• Y-Axis Coaching services: Get advanced IELTS coaching services.

Latest UK immigration updates: Follow Y-Axis UK immigration news updates to get the latest information about UK jobs, immigration, new policies, etc.