Naturalisation & Citizenship

To apply for naturalisation as a British citizen, you must generally have held Indefinite Leave to Remain (or EU Settled Status) for at least twelve months (or be the spouse of a British citizen, in which case you may apply as soon as you have ILR). You must also meet the residency requirements — including no more than 450 days outside the UK in the five-year qualifying period, and no more than 90 days outside the UK in the final twelve months — and satisfy the good character requirement.

• Held ILR or EU Settled Status for at least 12 months (or immediately if married to a British citizen)
• Resided in the UK for at least five years (three years if married to a British citizen)
• Not spent more than 450 days outside the UK in the five-year period
• Not spent more than 90 days outside the UK in the final 12 months
• Passed the Life in the UK test
• English language requirement (B1 CEFR or above)
• Good character — no serious criminal convictions or immigration violations

Children may be entitled to British citizenship by birth, descent or through registration under various provisions of the British Nationality Act 1981. If your child was not automatically a British citizen at birth, they may be registrable as a British citizen under a range of provisions, including Section 1(3), Section 3(1), Section 3(2) and Section 3(5). Each provision has different requirements, and it is important to identify the correct legal basis for the application.

• Registration under Section 1(3) — child born in the UK to a parent who subsequently becomes settled
• Registration under Section 3(1) — discretionary registration of a child born outside the UK
• MN1 applications for minors
• Applications for stateless children
• Advice on automatic acquisition of British citizenship

If your naturalisation or registration application has been refused on good character grounds or for any other reason, BW Solicitors can assist with a formal review request or reconsideration application. Our Principal Solicitor has specialist expertise in citizenship refusal cases, including cases involving the Lumba fettering of discretion argument.