Do I need a lawyer to apply for British citizenship?

23 Dec 2022, 24 mins ago

Naturalisation is a process by which a foreign national who is settled in the UK (also known as having indefinite leave to remain) may acquire British citizenship.

Becoming British gives you the right to live and work in the UK permanently, free from immigration restrictions. However, applying for British citizenship can be a complicated process, requiring an in-depth understanding of British nationality law.

When it comes to applying for naturalisation you must decide whether you would like to undertake the application yourself, or seek the assistance of a lawyer. Although it is not required to engage legal counsel to apply for British citizenship, it is highly recommended to do so, as nationality law is a complicated area of law. It is also recommended to seek assistance if your personal circumstances are not entirely straightforward – a lawyer can help you work out how to present these circumstances to the Home Office in terms of evidence, and in relation to how they may affect your eligibility.

Naturalisation applications require extensive information about your UK immigration history, family, employment, good character and nationality background. Therefore, every application is tailored to each individual’s particular circumstances and situation. Although not all naturalisation applications are complicated, it is vital for applicants to ensure they are eligible to apply in the first place and provide the correct information and documents.

Gherson has extensive experience in assisting with both straightforward and discretionary naturalisation applications. We offer support for every step of the process, from drafting your application to booking your biometric appointment, to ensure your application has the best possible chance of success.

How Gherson can assist

Gherson’s Immigration Team are highly experienced in advising on UK visa matters. If you have any questions arising from this blog, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice, send us an e-mail, or, alternatively, follow us on TwitterFacebook, or LinkedIn to stay-up-to-date.

The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please do not hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.

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