What are the processing times for British citizenship applications?

There are various ways a person can become a British citizen. One of the most common ways for foreign nationals to become British is called naturalisation.

You can usually naturalise once you have been free of any immigration restrictions for at least 12 months. Usually that means that you have obtained Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK or Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme, and you have held this status for 12 months.

If you are married to a British citizen, you do not need to wait and can apply to naturalise as a British citizen immediately after you have obtained ILR.

Naturalisation applications usually take 6 months to be processed. It is important to note that these processing times are estimates and may vary depending on individual circumstances and the volume of applications received at the time. There is no option to have the application considered faster.

It is possible to travel during the time when your application for naturalisation is considered by the UK authorities.

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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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