Naturalisation Solicitors

Naturalisation is a discretionary application for eligible adults aged 18 or over. Under the usual five-year route, an applicant normally needs five years’ residence and to have been free from immigration time restrictions for the final twelve months. ILR, indefinite leave to enter or EU Settlement Scheme settled status can establish the relevant settled position.

A person married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen normally uses a three-year residence period. They must be free from immigration time restrictions when applying, but do not normally have to wait twelve months after obtaining settlement. An unmarried relationship with a British citizen does not confer this particular spouse-route treatment.

Some applicants with pre-settled status may be able to establish the necessary permanent right of residence under the relevant provisions. Do not assume either that pre-settled status is always enough or that a new settled-status grant is invariably required; this needs an individual status assessment.

• Naturalisation after settlement
• Naturalisation as a British citizen’s spouse or civil partner

The normal absence limits are 450 days across the five-year qualifying period, or 270 days across the three-year British-spouse period, with no more than 90 days in the final twelve months for either route. These are nationality calculations, not the rolling absence rules used for some ILR applications.

Applicants normally need to have been physically in the UK on the date exactly five or three years before the Home Office receives the application. Count whole days abroad for the absence totals; caseworker guidance excludes departure and arrival days.

Discretion exists for specified residence issues, including excess absences and special circumstances affecting presence at the start of the period. Its exercise depends on the facts and the relevant guidance; an excess should be explained and assessed rather than treated as automatically acceptable.

The standard five-year route also involves future intentions concerning the UK as the principal home or specified service. This is not the same requirement as under the British-spouse route.

• Naturalisation caseworker guidance

The good-character assessment is wider than a check for unspent convictions. Relevant matters can include criminal history, deception, immigration conduct and financial dishonesty. Provide accurate information and explain relevant circumstances rather than assuming that a past issue no longer matters.

A previous ILR grant does not remove every good-character concern. Current guidance normally requires refusal for citizenship applications made from 10 February 2025 where the applicant previously entered illegally, irrespective of how long ago that occurred. Exceptional circumstances and the guidance’s specific protections require careful legal assessment; this is not an automatic conclusion about an individual application.

• Nationality good-character guidance

Applicants normally need to meet the language and Life in the UK requirements unless exempt. For English, the current citizenship guidance recognises an accepted qualification at B1 or above, an eligible degree taught or researched in English, and specified nationality-based routes to satisfying the requirement.

People aged 65 or over and those with a qualifying long-term physical or mental condition may be exempt, subject to the required evidence. An exemption used for settlement should not be assumed to carry over without the citizenship evidence being supplied.

Life in the UK is separate from English. A previous test pass can be used, but an English-speaking nationality does not automatically remove the Life in the UK requirement. Check the applicable evidence before booking another test.

• English evidence for citizenship
• English exemptions and citizenship
• Life in the UK Test and exemptions

Prepare the evidence before choosing a submission date. The application requires identity, immigration and residence information, the relevant knowledge evidence and two referees meeting the guidance. A British-spouse application also needs evidence of the marriage or civil partnership and the partner’s British citizenship.

Follow the current online or other permitted application process, supply the supporting documents and complete the identity steps requested. Disclose travel and relevant personal history consistently across the form and evidence.

• Current identity and immigration-status records.
• A residence and travel chronology for the appropriate qualifying period.
• Accepted language evidence and Life in the UK details, or exemption evidence.
• Eligible referees’ details and relationship documents where the spouse route applies.

• Form AN guidance and evidence
• How to apply for naturalisation

A citizenship application does not grant immigration permission while it is being considered. Maintain the necessary lawful status and check travel documentation separately. Naturalisation is not complete merely because an application has been submitted.

Follow the decision instructions, including the citizenship ceremony where required and the process for obtaining a British passport afterwards. Current processing guidance is an estimate, not a guaranteed completion date.

When enquiring with Highfin, identify your settlement date, whether the British-spouse provisions apply and any residence or good-character concern. Ask the team to confirm the assessment, application assistance and professional fees available.

• Nationality retention and travel