British citizenship applications can take between 2-6 months. You can't apply for them via the Premium Same Day Service such as for visa and ILR applications. The application must be mailed. In our experience, the vast majority of applicants have their application approved within 3-4 months.
You can apply for UK citizenship by naturalization after five years of residence in the UK, as long as this includes at least 12 months of either indefinite leave or EU settled status. This can be sooner under certain circumstances, such as if you are married to a British citizen.
You can usually apply for ILR after you've lived in the UK for 5 years. To apply for citizenship with ILR you must usually have lived in the UK for 12 months after getting it.
Becoming British is one of the most arduous and expensive citizenship processes in the world. Many of the tens of thousands of people who are accepted as UK citizens each year will have faced years of preparation and bills of between £5,000 and £10,000.
You'll usually get a decision within 6 months - some applications can take longer. It may take longer than the usual 6 months to get a decision because of coronavirus (COVID-19). This will not affect the decision. You'll be told if you need to provide more information to help with your application.
Yes, once you have applied for British Citizenship, you can travel outside the UK while your application is being considered. When you apply for British Citizenship, you can submit a full certified copy of your passport and keep your original passport with you.
Benefits of citizenship
the right to live in the UK forever – your status will be permanently settled. the right to hold a British passport. full civic rights – this includes the right to vote in elections and the right to stand for public office. free NHS medical care.
Total time to naturalize: 18.5 months to 24 months
This is because some U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) field offices handle applications much faster than others (see “Understanding USCIS Processing Times” below).
The investor, his or her spouse and children under 18 years old can apply for UK citizenship by investment one year after receiving permanent residence. During this period, it is important not to travel outside the UK for more than 90 days.
Dual citizenship (also known as dual nationality) is allowed in the UK. This means you can be a British citizen and also a citizen of other countries. You do not need to apply for dual citizenship. You can apply for foreign citizenship and keep your British citizenship.
You may travel to another country, including your home country, provided no other legal impediment precludes you from doing so. However, if a trip lasts longer than 180 days, USCIS may determine that you have not continuously resided in the United States and therefore are ineligible for naturalization.
Proof of identity: This could be your passport, driving licence, birth certificate, Home Office travel document or even a credit card statement issued to you within the last six months. Your biometric residence permit (if you have one) Evidence of your pass in the Life in the UK test.
$1,170. You may pay the fee with a money order, personal check, or cashier's check. When filing at a USCIS Lockbox facility, you may also pay by credit card using Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions. If you pay by check, you must make your check payable to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
On average, it takes anywhere from 18 months to 24 months to complete the naturalization process and become a U.S. citizen. The naturalization process has 5 general steps; beginning with filing Form N-400 and ending with taking the Oath of Allegiance.
In 2022, the most powerful passport in the world in terms of travel freedom is the Japanese passport, according to the HPI. A passport issued by Japan allows the holder to enter 193 different countries and territories without having to get a visa in advance. Singapore and South Korea are tied for 2nd place.
The British passport is the world's sixth most powerful with visa-free or visa on-arrival access to 187 countries. The UK passport was one place ahead of the US at 186 countries, while EU states dominated much of the top rankings, data from Henley & Partners' 2022 Henley Passport Index showed.
If you have British citizenship, you can't usually be deported or lose your citizenship. You can't apply for citizenship if you've already been found guilty of a serious criminal offence.
To get a decision within 5 working days
If you're eligible you can choose the 'priority service' when you apply. It costs £500 in addition to the application fee. You'll get a decision within 5 working days.
You can check if you are already a citizen on the government website. However, if you're not automatically a British citizen, you can become one through the process of naturalisation. Being a citizen is a status, while naturalisation is a legal process to acquire it!
Check how much it costs to apply
You usually pay £1,330 to apply for adult citizenship or £1,012 for children. If you're applying for citizenship as an adult you'll also have to pay: £50 to do the Life in the UK Test. £19.20 to send your fingerprints and photo to the Home Office.
You can generally request expedited processing by calling the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833) or by asking Emma after you have obtained a receipt notice.
In 2022, it costs £1,330 to make an application to naturalise as a British citizen. This includes the fee for the citizenship ceremony. In recent years the UK government has not increased the mandatory fee of £1,330 but this is subject to a review.
The Home Office website states that applications are generally processed within six months and that due to COVID-19, it may even take longer. Thankfully, the backlog which built up in 2020 during the ongoing pandemic has reduced, meaning that COVID-19 related delays are now less likely.
Do you need a lawyer to apply for UK citizenship? The process of applying for UK citizenship is a long and extremely complicated process so the help of a specialist immigration lawyer is essential.