British citizenship: Applying for a British passport in the UK
Understand how to get a British passport, take the UK citizenship test and more.
If you are living in the UK and want to settle permanently, you can apply for UK permanent residency – also known as UK indefinite leave to remain – and will then have the chance to apply for full UK citizenship.
Foreigners can apply for UK indefinite leave to remain after 5 years of legal residence in the UK in most cases, although in some instances it will be sooner. You can apply for UK citizenship after 5 years of residence (sooner in some cases) if you have been a permanent resident for 12 months. Circumstances and requirements vary depending on your nationality, whether you have family in the UK and what type of UK visa you arrived on. The process is currently simpler for citizens of EU and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) although the situation may change in 2019 when the UK is due to leave the EU following the 2016 Brexit vote.
Should you wish to apply for a divorce in the UK rules will vary depending on your residency status.
Current UK citizenship law is based on the 1981 British Nationality Act and is complex due to Britain’s imperial history, with certain categories of foreign nationals from former British colonies and British overseas territories able acquire UK citizenship through simplified routes These will be outlined below.
In recent years it has become slightly more difficult for non-EU/EFTA nationals to obtain UK indefinite leave to remain or UK citizenship through naturalisation. Both processes now involve sitting a Life in the UK test.
Who can get UK citizenship or permanent residence, UK?
While the UK is still an EU member country, different conditions apply for citizens from EU/EFTA countries who currently have freedom to live and work in the UK. If you are an EU/EFTA citizen, or a relative or partner of an EU/EFTA citizen, see our guide to EU/EFTA citizens moving to the UK for more information.
If you are a non-EU/EFTA citizen, you can apply to settle in the UK with indefinite leave to remain if you have lived legally in the UK for 5 years on any of the following UK visas:
- UK Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 5 (International Agreement) or Domestic Worker work visa
- UK Ancestry visa
- UK Retired Person visa
In most cases, if you are in one of the categories below then you have a claim to apply for British citizenship;
You were born in the UK before 1983, or,
You are under 18 years old and born in the UK to a parent who was (or was
later) “settled” in the UK, or,
born to or adopted by a parent who was born, adopted or naturalised in the UK or a British territory, or
born after 1948 to parents who married before 1949 and your father’s father was born or naturalised in the UK or a British territory, or
born to a parent who was registered as a British citizen or citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies
You were born outside the UK before 1983 to a British born mother or,
You were born outside the UK to a parent who was granted citizenship or
naturalised in the UK (and your parents were married at time of your birth)
You were married outside the wedlock, or
There are many other situations, where a person can claim British nationality as a consequence of having British born parents. If you believe that you have a valid claim, our experts can help you in tracing your status. Recent changes to the law have created many more opportunities for children to acquire British citizenship through a father or mother, including adopted children and children of unmarried parents. Each situation has to be assessed individually.
Why Solution Visas?
Applying For British Passport Overseas
Should you ask us to prepare your application, your entire case will be handled personally by our Immigration and Nationality adviser
We carefully check that you qualify according to the guidelines of Home office so that you do not lose the non-refundable Home Office fee
We will help you gather the documentary evidence required for the application before submission
We carefully prepare your application along with the letter of representation demonstrating that your application fulfils the criteria
Applying For British Passport Overseas:
To check your eligibility call us on Tel: 020 7859 4527 |Whatsapp +44 7894 54 2613 | info@solutionvisas.com alternatively, fill out our Free initial assessment form and we will get in touch with you on how to apply for British citizenship.
