How long does naturalisation take?
Short answer
Around six months from biometric enrolment, and there is no priority service — you cannot pay for a faster decision. You apply online on form AN, give biometrics at a UKVI service centre, and attend a citizenship ceremony once approved. Gather your evidence before you start.
Naturalisation runs on a single timetable: roughly six months from biometrics to decision. Unlike most visa routes, Priority and Super Priority services are not available, so plan around the wait rather than trying to shorten it.
The sequence
- Apply online through the UKVI portal using form AN.
- Enrol your biometrics at a UKVI service centre.
- Wait for the decision, then attend a citizenship ceremony to complete the process.
The evidence to assemble first
- Proof of ILR or settled status and of continuous residence, including a schedule of absences from the UK
- Your Life in the UK pass certificate reference
- English language evidence — a SELT at B1 or above, a degree taught in English, or a nationality exemption
- Referees, one of whom must be a British citizen. They do not have to be in the UK and can sign digitally or by post, but watch the validity period if there will be a long gap before you submit.
Good character: the part that catches people out
Declare convictions honestly and in full, including anything spent — the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act does not apply to naturalisation. Broadly, a sentence of four years or more is a permanent bar in most cases, and shorter sentences trigger time bars of varying length after the sentence is served.
Minor motoring fixed penalty notices, such as ordinary speeding fines, are generally not criminal convictions and need not be declared — but anything dealt with by a court, resulting in a court fine or penalty points recorded as a conviction, must be. If you are unsure, declare it and explain: non-disclosure of something that should have been declared is treated far more seriously than disclosing something trivial.
Good character also covers tax compliance and immigration history, so resolve any HMRC issues before applying. Ordinary commercial debts and county court judgments do not usually affect the assessment unless they involve fraud or deception, and student loan debt is not treated as a tax debt.
Related guides
Naturalisation Process in Detail
Naturalisation is the formal legal process by which a person who was not born a British citizen becomes one. While the eligibility criteria are covered in the British Citizenship guide, this guide focuses on the practical steps involved in submitting and progressing a naturalisation application.
6 min
British Citizenship Basics
British citizenship can be obtained in several ways — by birth, descent, registration, or naturalisation. The most common route for immigrants is naturalisation, which is available to most people who have lived lawfully in the UK for at least five years (or three years if married to a British citizen). Becoming a British citizen gives you the right to a British passport, the right to vote in all UK elections, and the ability to pass citizenship to your children.
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Life in the UK Test Preparation
The Life in the UK Test is a computer-based test of knowledge about British history, culture, society, and values. It must be passed by most applicants for Indefinite Leave to Remain and British citizenship. The test consists of 24 questions drawn from the official handbook and must be completed in 45 minutes.
5 min
Citizenship Ceremony Guide
A citizenship ceremony is the formal occasion at which a successful naturalisation applicant officially becomes a British citizen. The ceremony involves taking an oath of allegiance and a pledge to uphold the rights and freedoms of the UK. Until you attend the ceremony, your naturalisation approval is not complete and you cannot obtain a British passport.
4 min
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