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.
British citizenship by naturalization
This is the most common route to British citizenship for Americans. In most cases, you will be eligible for British citizenship if you have lawfully lived in the UK for at least six years (which includes one year of Indefinite Leave to Remain status).
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.
There is a requirement that you have to have been lawfully resident in the UK for either three or five years, depending on your route to British Citizenship. In addition to the residence requirement you also need to be of 'good character' and that is why it's got harder for EU nationals to become British.
The Life in the UK test is by no means easy. In fact, many British citizens struggle to answer the questions asked in the test, much to their embarrassment. But with preparation and practice, the Life in the UK test is not hard.
The Life in the UK test can be very difficult. The syllabus covers all aspects of British history and condenses it down into 24 questions with a 45-minute time limit. These questions are completely random and you need 75% correct answers to pass the test.
If you fail the test
You can take the test as many times as you need. You should wait 7 days before taking the test again so you can prepare to retake it. You need to book and pay again each time.
Overall, citizenship application costs have been rising since 2007 in an attempt to compensate for cuts to the Home Office budget. Current fees are now at an incredible £1,330 per adult, and that's without the cost of the legal advice, which is often necessary to navigate the complicated process.
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.
A right to a British passport – As a British citizen, you will be free to enjoy one of the most powerful passports in the world. The British passport will not only allow you hassle-free entry into the UK on your return but you can also use it to visit many different countries around the world visa-free.
The Home Office fee for naturalisation is £1,330 (including the £80 itizenship fee). The biometric enrolment fee is £19.20. The Home Office fee for adult registration is £1,206 (including the £80 Citizenship fee). The biometric enrolment fee is £19.20.
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.
3 Year Route To Naturalisation
Although there are many visa applications in this route it is the fastest way of becoming naturalised as a British Citizen within the UK visa system.
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.
Some individuals have misconceptions regarding the various routes to residency in the UK. Purchasing a residential property in the UK will not give the investors or them residency in the UK.
Voting and citizenship
Your UK citizenship will not be affected if you move or retire abroad.
Is it illegal to have three passports? If your nation does not allow dual citizenship or more then yes it is illegal, unless you renounce that citizenship of course. If your nation allows dual citizenship or more then it is fully allowed and legal to have three passports.
Can You Have Two Passports from Different Countries? Yes, many countries allow their citizens to hold more than one nationality. This means travelers can potentially hold a passport for each country they are a citizen of. Some people are automatically considered dual citizens from birth.
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.
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.
You were born before 1983
You're automatically a British citizen if you were born in the UK before 1 January 1983, unless: your father was a diplomat working for a non-UK country. your father was 'an enemy alien in occupation' and you were born in the Channel Islands during World War 2.
If you're applying for British Citizenship / Naturalisation
The Life in the UK Test is a mandatory requirement for British citizenship. The requirement to demonstrate knowledge of life and language in the UK is stated in the law, as such very few exemptions apply to the life in the UK test for citizenship applicants.
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.
This condition must prevent you from studying for or taking the test permanently. To be exempt you must: be suffering from a long-term illness or disability that severely restricts your mobility and ability to attend language classes, or.