British Citizenship

How to Apply for British Citizenship 

Applying for British Citizenship is a complicated process. It can be time-consuming, costly and frequently frustrating.

The process of obtaining British Citizenship will permit you the full rights and responsibilities of UK-born citizens. A British passport will be allocated to you, you'll be authorised to vote in elections, and you’ll be allowed to leave and return to the UK whenever you want. Before granting anyone citizenship, the British government conducts rigorous checks to see if you match the required criteria in order to make an informed decision before granting you these rights.

With an in-depth knowledge of the current requirements, laws and regulations enforced by the Home Office, IQA Immigration is here to help. Over the years, we have guided many successful citizenship applications through the system.

Whatever your situation, we’re confident we can support you through this often complex process.
 

Am I eligible for British Citizenship?

You may be eligible to apply for British Citizenship if:

• You were born in the UK (but do not have citizenship status)
• You’re married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen
• You’ve lived in the UK for at least 5 years (with no longer than 450 days outside the UK) 
• You have held eligible for settlement (also known as Indefinite Leave to Remain) in the UK for at least one year
• You have permanent residence status
• You have ‘settled status’ under the EU Settlement Scheme
• You’re from a Commonwealth country (or British overseas territory)
   

What are the current British Citizenship requirements? 

According to the current British nationality act, those who wish to apply for British Citizenship by Naturalisation must meet the following requirements: 

• Be over 18 years of age 
• Have committed no breach of UK immigration rules 
• Have met the B1 CEFR level English language requirements 
• Must pass the 'Life in the UK Test' (which shows awareness of British customs, culture and traditions)
• Demonstrate that they meet the 'Good Character' requirement
   

We help you apply for British Citizenship

At IQA Immigration, we guide you through from start to finish. We help to demystify the application process. By explaining what is required of you in the plainest terms, we can help you meet each criterion. 

For Individuals, we’ll help you identify the UK visa category that applies to you and assess your eligibility to meet the requirements. This helps to take the time and stress out the application process and gives you the best chance of being accepted to reside in the UK permanently.

We aim to help you submit your application in a thorough, smooth and timely manner and offer our help to students, employees and staff of UK companies and Universities with their immigration needs.
 

What is the application process like?

Each person’s process will differ significantly according to their circumstances.^[1]

You must ensure you fill out the correct forms and provide all relevant information and documents about yourself. You will be asked to provide photographs, fingerprints, and other personal information. Please note that during the 12 month qualifying period, you will not be allowed to spend more than 90 days away from the UK.

Once accepted, you must book a citizenship ceremony. This involves “swearing-in” (or an affirmation) that you will respect the rights, freedoms and laws of the United Kingdom.

If you would like to set up a meeting to see what Immigration solutions we can provide to your company, please contact Beverley Harper on 0131 344 4641 or beverley.harper@iqaimmigration.com