British Citizenship (Naturalisation)
British passport, voting rights, EU travel reciprocity and no immigration controls.
£1,839
N/A — in-UK only
For life (revoked only in rare national-security cases)
Overview
What is the British Citizenship (Naturalisation)?
Naturalisation is the discretionary route to British citizenship for adults with ILR. The standard wait is 12 months after ILR — but if you are married to a British citizen and hold ILR you can apply immediately. The fee in 2026 is £1,839 in total (Form AN application + £130 citizenship ceremony fee), per gov.uk/apply-citizenship-indefinite-leave-to-remain. Children of British or settled parents are often British at birth — check that before paying for an MN1 registration.
Which sub-route applies to you?
Switching between tabs reveals the fees, eligibility and gov.uk source for that specific variant.
- 5 years UK residence + 12 months holding ILR (or settled status)
- Max 450 days absent in last 5 yrs · Max 90 days in last 12 months
- B1 CEFR English + pass Life in the UK Test
- •Form AN. Biometrics free.
- •Good character: no unspent convictions, no immigration breaches, no NHS debt over £500.
- Application fee
- £1,839
- ILR → Citizenship
- 1 year
Eligibility
Are you eligible?
You must meet every condition below — Home Office caseworkers refuse on the first one missed.
- 12 months on ILR (or apply immediately if married to a British citizen and hold ILR)
- 5 years lawful UK residence (3 years if British spouse) ending on the application date
- Maximum 450 days absent in the qualifying 5 years (270 for the spouse route)
- Maximum 90 days absent in the final 12 months before application
- Life in the UK Test pass (same test as ILR — pass valid for life)
- B1 English (or higher) — degree taught in English / SELT / nationality exemption
- Good character — DBS check, no recent convictions, no immigration breaches, no NHS debt over £500
- Intention to make the UK your primary home
Costs
What it costs in 2026
Two compulsory costs apply: the application fee and the Health Surcharge (IHS). Priority service and dependants sit on top.
British citizenship (adult) cost
- Naturalisation (Form AN) inc. ceremony£1,839Source: gov.uk/apply-citizenship-indefinite-leave-to-remain
Includes £130 ceremony fee. Biometrics free. Children register on Form MN1 for £1,214.
Documents
What you'll need to provide
Group your evidence under these four headings. Missing or mis-categorised documents are the second most common refusal reason after salary.
Identity
4- Passport with ILR endorsement or current digital share code from your UKVI account
- Two referees — one British passport holder, both having known you 3+ years (one must be a professional)
- Marriage certificate (if applying via British spouse route)
- Children's birth certificates if including dependants on Form MN1
Finance
2- Council tax bills / utility bills / tenancy or mortgage covering the 5-year qualifying period
- P60s + HMRC records for last 5 years (tax-compliance check)
Health & qualifications
2- Life in the UK Test pass certificate
- B1+ English language evidence
How to apply
Step-by-step
Confirm eligibility timeline
Standard: 12 months after ILR grant. British-spouse route: immediately on ILR if married 3+ years.
Pass the Life in the UK Test
£50 booking, 24 questions, 75% pass mark. Pass is valid for life — same certificate counts for ILR and citizenship.
Audit absences
Total absences across the qualifying 5 years must be under 450 days. Final 12 months must be under 90 days.
Line up two referees
One must be a British passport holder; the other a professional (doctor, accountant, solicitor, manager, civil servant). Both have known you 3+ years.
Apply online (Form AN)
Total £1,839 per adult (application fee + £130 citizenship ceremony fee). Biometrics free.
Biometric enrolment
Free UKVCAS appointment after submitting AN. Bring passport + BRP / share code.
Approval + ceremony
On approval you receive an invitation to a citizenship ceremony at your local town hall (Oath of Allegiance + UK national anthem).
Apply for a British passport
Separate process via HM Passport Office: £94.50 adult standard, £100.50 fast-track. You need the citizenship certificate from your ceremony.
Watch out for
Things that catch people out
Children born in the UK to a parent with ILR or British citizenship are British automatically — they don't need to register, just apply for a passport (£57.50 child).
Children born outside the UK to a British-by-descent parent can usually be registered under MN1 (£1,000).
Dual citizenship is allowed by the UK but may not be by your country of origin — India, China, Singapore, Japan, Netherlands and others require you to renounce.
Spouse route advantage: you can naturalise the same day your ILR is issued if married to a British citizen — saving 12 months over the standard route.
Citizenship by descent applies if at least one parent is a British citizen by birth.
FAQ
Common questions
Frequently asked
12 months from the date your ILR was granted. If you are married to a British citizen, you can apply immediately after ILR with no 12-month wait.
£1,500 application fee + £80 citizenship ceremony fee = £1,580 total. British passport (separate) is around £88.50 for adults.
No more than 450 days outside UK in the last 5 years, AND no more than 90 days in the final 12 months before application.
The UK allows dual citizenship. However your country of birth may not — India, China, and some others require renunciation. Check your home country's rules before applying.
Children born in the UK to a parent with ILR are British at birth automatically. Children born abroad to British citizens are usually British by descent. Adopted children have a separate registration process.
Apply for the British Citizenship (Naturalisation) on gov.uk
Free, official, no agents. Bookmark the URL — it's the only place to legally apply.