British citizenship can be acquired in several ways: naturalisation after settlement, registration (including for children), or through a parent. Each has its own tests, and nationality questions can be complicated.
Information checked against the sources listed below on 10 October 2026. Rules, fees and thresholds change; this is general information, not advice on your case, and does not assess whether you qualify.
What the official guidance says.
- Naturalisation: GOV.UK says you can apply if you have lived in the UK for 5 years and have held indefinite leave to remain, settled status, or indefinite leave to enter for 12 months. Pre-settled status holders from the EU, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein may qualify if they started living in the UK by 31 December 2020 (or are a family member of such a person) and meet the residence conditions.
- GOV.UK’s residence test: you should not have spent more than 450 days abroad in the 5 years, or more than 90 days abroad in the last 12 months. You generally need to have held ILR for 12 months, but not if you are married to a British citizen.
- Other requirements: be over 18, pass the Life in the UK test, prove knowledge of English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic, be of good character and intend to keep living in the UK.
- Children can be registered as British citizens by entitlement, where all requirements are met, or at the Home Secretary’s discretion.
- Entitlement categories include a child born in the UK whose parent later becomes a British citizen or settles while the child is a minor, a person born in the UK who lived here for the first 10 years of life with limited time abroad, and certain children born outside the UK to British citizens by descent. Children aged 10 or over must also be of good character for discretionary registration.
- A person who has right of abode, such as a British citizen, does not need a visa. Right of abode can be proved with a UK passport or a certificate of entitlement.
What usually decides the outcome.
- Your precise residence history and absences for the five years before applying.
- The date you obtained settled status or ILR, and whether the 12-month wait applies.
- Good character: any criminal history, immigration breaches or other matters the Home Office may consider.
- For a child, the route for registration and the parent’s status at the child’s birth.
- Whether you may already be a British citizen, such as through a parent.
How we can help.
Depending on what you need, support can range from a first conversation to full representation. Ask for the scope of any work, and an explanation of our fees and separate government charges, in writing before you instruct the firm.
- Initial consultation and eligibility assessment. A conversation about your circumstances, the routes that may apply and the risks.
- Written advice and immigration planning. A considered view on your options and a plan that looks ahead to extensions, settlement or citizenship.
- Document and application checking. A review of an application or evidence you have prepared, before you submit it.
- Full application preparation and representation. Preparing and submitting the application, and dealing with the Home Office on your behalf.
- Responses to Home Office requests. Help answering requests for further information, interviews or evidence.
- Refusal analysis and next steps. Understanding why an application failed and whether to seek review, appeal, judicial review or make a fresh application.
Before you contact us
- Write a short summary of your circumstances and what you want to achieve.
- Note any decision dates, expiry dates or deadlines.
- Do not send passport numbers or sensitive documents in the first enquiry. We will explain how to share them securely.
Common questions.
Sources.
Related information.
Settlement and citizenshipBritish citizenship applicationIndefinite leave to remainUK Ancestry, BN(O) and right of abodeLong residenceEU Settlement SchemeReturning residentsStatelessness and WindrushUkraine and other nationality-specific schemesChild, parent and adult relative visasPrivate and family lifeAll services