What documents do i need to apply for british citizenship

Become a British citizen and enjoy the many benefits of citizenship!

  • Live permanently in the UK
  • Access world-class medical care — free!
  • Feel safe in a stable society and secure economy
  • Travel the world with a British passport

What documents do i need to apply for british citizenship

What documents do i need to apply for british citizenship

step 1

Check if you meet the citizenship requirements

Check if you meet the citizenship requirements

There are 5 basic requirements to apply for British citizenship through naturalisation that most candidates must meet.

  • Be over 18 years old
  • Be of “good character”. Generally, this means not having committed any serious crimes or immigration fraud.
  • Be currently living in the UK
  • Meet the English language requirements
  • Pass the “Life in the UK” test

These are the general requirements for naturalisation, but most applicants must also have:

  • Lived in the UK for at least 5 years, without an absence longer than 450 days
  • Travelled outside of the UK for no more than 90 days in the last year
  • UK permanent residence (for EEA nationals) or been granted indefinite leave to stay in the UK (you must have had this for at least 1 year)

Spouses and civil partners of British citizens may have different requirements.

step 2

Prepare your application for British citizenship

Prepare your application for British citizenship

There are 3 ways to prepare your application for naturalisation:

  • Submit an individual application
  • Apply through a National Checking Service (NCS)
  • Apply through an agent or representative

If you decide to apply on your own, you must complete Form AN. Immigration Direct can help you prepare and submit this application!

step 3

Complete Biometrics

Complete Biometrics

As a part of the application process, you are required to provide biometric information (fingerprints and photo) at a cost of £19.20. After you submit your application, the Home Office will tell you when to provide this information.

step 4

Submit Your Application

Submit Your Application

Once your Form AN, Application for Naturalisation is complete, you will need to send it along with the fee and supporting documents to:

UKVI Department 1
The Capital
New Hall Place
Liverpool
L3 9PP

If you are overseas, you should send your application to UK Visas and Immigration:

Department 1
UK Visas and Immigration
PO BOX 306
Liverpool
L2 0QN

step 5

Wait for a decision

Wait for a decision

It can take 6 months or longer for a decision to be made on your application. Once a decision is made, or if any further information is needed from you, you will be contacted by UK Visas and Immigration.

step 6

Attend a Citizenship Ceremony and officially become a British citizen!

Attend a Citizenship Ceremony and officially become a British citizen!

If you’re application is approved, you’ll be invited to attend a Citizenship Ceremony. At the ceremony, you’ll make an Oath of Allegiance to the UK, promising to respect the its rights, freedoms and laws. Then, you’ll be presented with your Certificate of British Citizenship!

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British Citizenship - Naturalisation

Naturalisation is the process whereby a Non-British Citizen apply to the Home Secretary to be made British. British Nationality Act 1981, Section 41 is to be amended by the 2014 Immigration Bill so as made mandatory for anyone applying for British Citizenship to provide Biometric Information. Different rules apply for both Standard Naturalisation and Naturalisation of Spouses of British Citizen.

List of documents/information required in support of Naturalisation (British Citizenship) application filed in the UK

Documents required:

  • Full copy of Applicant’s Current Passport or EU ID Card or UK Driving Licence

  • Full copies of Applicant’s Expired/Cancelled Passports used in the last 5 years - For Non-EEA nationals

  • Applicant’s two photographs - pasted on the referee pages (download referee pages under “Download Documents” page)

  • Indefinite Leave to Remain Biometric Residence Permit or Permanent Residence document with UKVI letter confirming date of acquiring Permanent Residence Status, if available or Copy of letter confirming Settled status, if available

  • Copy of Life in the UK Pass test result (if test taken before 17 December 2019) or Copy of email confirmation containing test reference number of the Passed Life in the UK test (if test taken on or after 17 December 2019) - book the test at https://www.gov.uk/life-in-the-uk-test

  • UK Bachelors/Masters/Phd Award or Secure English Language Tests (SELTs) Certificate passed at least level B1 - see details at https://www.gov.uk/english-language

  • Marriage Certificate, if married to a British National

  • Bio page of Partner’s British Passport, if married to a British National

Information required:

National Insurance Number

Last 5 years addresses in the following format:

From: (DD-MM-YYYY) or (MM-YYYY)

To: (DD-MM-YYYY) or (MM-YYYY)

Address:

Post Code:

Details of the Applicant’s Parents:

Father’s – Name, Town and Country of birth, Nationality and Date of birth

Mother’s – Name and maiden name, Town and Country of birth, Nationality and Date of birth

Details of the Applicant’s Spouse/Partner:

Name and any other previous names, Town and Country of birth, Nationality and Date of birth, Present Address, Date/Place of Marriage

Date of Naturalisation and Citizenship Certificate Number (if Naturalised as British)
 

If previously married, date of Applicant’s Previous Spouse/Partner:

Name and any other previous names, Town and Country of birth, Nationality and Date of birth, Present Address, Date/Place of Marriage

Date of Naturalisation and Citizenship Certificate Number (if Naturalised as British)

For List of Professionals who can act as Professional referees, please download here: List of Professional Referees

First Referee details

Title(Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss, etc.)

Given names 

Family name 

Gender

Date of birth 

Addresses for last 3 years(starting with the current address)

Phone number:

Email address:

Profession:

Does your referee have a British passport? If yes, What is their passport number?

How does the referee know the applicant?

Second Referee details

Title(Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss, etc.)

Given names 

Family name 

Gender

Date of birth 

Addresses for last 3 years(starting with the current address)

Phone number:

Email address:

Profession:

Does your referee have a British passport? If yes, What is their passport number?

How does the referee know the applicant?
 

Employment History for the last 10 years in the following format:

From

To

Occupation

Employer’s Name

Employer’s Address

List Absences from the UK in the last 5 years (or in the last 3 years, if married to a British National) in the following format:

Country Visited

Reason (Holiday, Business, Visiting Relatives)

Date of Departure from the UK (DD-MM-YY)

Date of return to the UK (DD-MM-YY)

Number of days*

Total number of days absent

Enter whole days’ absences only. Do not include the day you left the UK or returned to the UK. For example, if you were absent from the UK between 1 January 2014 and 31 January 2014, enter 29 days (2 January to 30 January inclusive).

__________________________________________________________________________

Please ensure that you were in the UK 5 years ago on the date of filing the application, so if we are filing the application on 24/05/2017, then you should have been present in the UK on 24/05/2012.

__________________________________________________________________________
 

Only for EEA National Applicants 

Proof of residence in the UK from the date of acquiring Permanent Residence or Settled Status up-to the date of application

Items of correspondence from 6 different sources as below (monthly items - 4 documents per year spread across the year, all documents which are quarterly, half-yearly and yearly) addressed to the Applicant, examples below: (online statements can be printed)

Below are the examples of documents:

Bank statements/letters

Council Tax Bill

NHS letters,

HMRC letters,

TV licence

DVLA letters

Telephone Bills/Statements

Water rates bills/statements

Internet bills

Tenancy Agreement

Any online purchase invoices, like ebay invoices, amazon invoices, etc.

__________________________________________________________________________

Evidence that the Applicant has been in the UK lawfully for his/her 3 or 5 year qualifying residence period.

This should be evidence that you were here as a worker, student, self-employed, self-sufficient, retired or incapacitated person 

(please provide these documents covering the Applicant’s 3 or 5 year qualifying residence period)

Below are the examples of documents:

Worker

Employer’s letter

Wage slips

Bank statements showing receipt of wages

P60s

Contracts of employment for all employers for the qualifying residence period, if available

Vocational training

Letter from training provider giving details of training

Job-seeker - looking for work (try to provide as many documents as available from the below list)

Proof of receipt of job-seeking benefits

Letters of invite to interviews

Rejection letters from employers

Evidence of academic or professional qualifications

Any Job offers of offers not accepted

Proof of registration with recruitment agencies, e.g. emails exchanged, CV emailed

Self - employment - (try to provide as many documents as available from the below list)

Tax self-assessment forms

Proof of payment of class 2 or 4 national insurance contributions

Invoices sent to Clients for the relevant period

Business accounts

Company Tax returns for the relevant period, if any

Company Registration Certificate, if any

SA302s for the relevant period

Business Bank/Personal Bank account statements for the relevant period showing client payments received

Letter from Accountant confirming your incomes for the relevant period

Payslips for salary from your own company for the relevant period, if any

Corresponding Personal Bank Statements showing the above salary entries for the relevant period, if any

Self-sufficient - (try to provide as many documents as available from the below list)

Bank statements

Evidence of receipt of pension

Evidence of Comprehensive Sickness Insurance(CSI) – European Health Insurance Card (not issued by the UK); form S1, S2, or S3; or evidence of comprehensive private medical insurance.
 

Student - (try to provide as many documents as available from the below list)

Letter from school/college/university - enrolment letter

Statement of sufficient financial resources

Bank statements

Evidence of receipt of scholarship or bursary

Evidence of comprehensive sickness insurance – European Health Insurance Card (not issued by the UK); form S1, S2, or S3; or evidence of comprehensive private medical insurance.

Temporary or permanent incapacity - (try to provide as many documents as available from the below list)

Letter from doctor or medical report

Evidence of sickness-related benefits

What are the documents required to obtain British citizenship?

What Documents are Required for British Citizenship?.
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).

What documents do I need for citizenship application?

Bring the following documents to the appointment:.
Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card;.
Appointment notice; and..
A second form of identification (driver's license, passport, or state identification card). Your second form of identification must have your photograph on it..

What is the fastest way to get British citizenship?

If you have been living in the UK for 5 years or more and had Indefinite Leave to remain for a minimum of 12 months you may be eligible to apply for Citizenship. There are other requirements to be met such as Life in the UK test and residency.