Naturalisation & Citizenship
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British Citizenship by Naturalisation
Becoming a British Citizen
Naturalisation as a British citizen is one of the most significant milestones in a person’s immigration journey. It gives you the right to hold a British passport, removes any remaining immigration conditions on your stay, and allows you to participate fully in the life of your community. For many people it is the natural final step after years of lawful residence in the UK.
Naturalisation is governed by the British Nationality Act 1981 and is not an automatic entitlement. The Home Secretary has discretion to grant naturalisation only where the statutory requirements are met, though in some circumstances discretion can be exercised even where not all requirements are fully satisfied.
Naila Kosar is a specialist immigration solicitor with extensive experience in naturalisation applications. She will assess your eligibility carefully, advise on the timing of your application, and ensure your application is as strong as possible before it is submitted.
Two Routes to Naturalisation
There are two routes to naturalisation depending on your personal circumstances.
The five-year route is available to adults who are not married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen. You must have lived lawfully in the UK for at least five years before applying, been physically present in the UK on the first day of that five-year period, been free from immigration time restrictions for at least 12 months before applying and not exceeded the permitted number of absences from the UK during the qualifying period.
The three-year route is available to adults who are married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen at the date of application. The qualifying period is reduced to three years, the 12-month free from time restrictions requirement does not apply in the same way, and the permitted absences are calculated differently. You must still have been present in the UK on the first day of the qualifying period and meet all other requirements.
Both routes require you to be of good character, to have passed the Life in the UK test, to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of English, Welsh, or Scottish Gaelic, and to intend to make the UK your home. The spouse or civil partner route does not require a declaration of future intentions.
Key Requirements
Settlement
In most cases you will need to hold Indefinite Leave to Remain or settled status before applying for naturalisation, as this is how the lawful residence and free from time restrictions requirements are most commonly met. Under the Nationality and Borders Act 2022, holding valid indefinite leave in the UK will normally satisfy the lawful residence requirement without the need to evidence your immigration status throughout the qualifying period.
Absences
The number of days you have been absent from the UK during the qualifying period is carefully assessed. Both the total absences across the qualifying period and absences in the final 12 months before applying are relevant. There is some discretion to overlook excess absences in certain circumstances, but this is limited and the timing of your application relative to your absence history is an important factor that Naila will assess before advising you to proceed.
Good Character
The good character requirement is assessed broadly and covers criminal convictions, immigration compliance, financial matters including debts to the Home Office or NHS, and any use of deception in previous immigration or nationality applications. It is one of the most frequently misunderstood aspects of a naturalisation application and early advice is strongly recommended where there are any matters in your history that could be relevant.
Dual Nationality
Before applying, you should check whether your current country of nationality permits dual citizenship. Some countries require you to renounce your existing nationality in order to acquire another, and becoming a British citizen may have consequences for your rights and obligations in your country of origin. Naila can advise on the immigration aspects of your application but will recommend you seek advice from your home country’s authorities on the dual nationality question before proceeding.
The Process
Once an application is submitted, a decision is usually made within six months. You must maintain valid permission to remain in the UK throughout the period your application is being considered, as a nationality application does not in itself confer any immigration status. If successful, you will be invited to attend a citizenship ceremony where you will take an oath of allegiance and receive your naturalisation certificate. You will then need to apply for a British passport to travel.
How Naila Kosar Can Help
Naila provides a complete advisory and application service for naturalisation applications under both routes. This includes assessing your eligibility and the timing of your application, advising on absences and any good character considerations, preparing the application and supporting documentation, and advising on any refusal.
Naturalisation applications require careful preparation and the consequences of a poorly timed or inadequately evidenced application can include refusal and delay to your citizenship journey. Naila will give you a clear and realistic assessment before you commit to applying.
Naila operates on a private fee basis and details of her fees are set out on the main immigration page.
Contact Naila Kosar
If you are considering applying for British citizenship and would like to understand whether you are ready to apply, please contact our immigration solicitors Manchester to arrange an initial consultation.
Our offices in Manchester (Burnage) and Stockport (Heaton Moor) are easily accessible, and Naila represents clients throughout the United Kingdom.
Need some professional advice?
Do you have any issues that you are worried about? Contact our professional team for a free, no-obligation informal discussion, where we can discuss your particular requirements in greater detail.
