British Citizenship Applications.

Obtaining British citizenship means you have the legal right to live in the UK permanently. When you become a citizen, you gain important rights like the ability to vote in elections and apply for a British passport.

Being a British citizen also means you can travel more easily with your passport and have the full protection of UK laws. It’s a big step that shows you are officially recognised as a member of the UK community, with all the rights and responsibilities that come with it.

British citizenship is full membership of Britain as a citizen. It allows you to live, work and study in the UK permanently, and it gives you the right to a British passport. You can vote in all elections and stand for public office. You can’t lose your citizenship simply because you went abroad, except in extremely rare cases.

Meanwhile, indefinite leave to remain (ILR) is a form of permanent residency in the UK. ILR allows you to live, work and study in the UK for as long as you like, and you can usually access some public services and benefits. However, you do not have the right to a British passport, you can’t vote in general elections, and you can lose your ILR status if you leave the country for too long.

Many people start by getting ILR and then apply for British citizenship after holding ILR for a qualifying period. British citizenship is the ultimate legal recognition of a person as a national of the UK.

You can apply if you meet certain rules set by the Home Office. Most people must have had indefinite leave to remain (ILR) or permanent residence in the UK for at least 12 months before applying. 

Usually, you also need to have lived in the UK for five years and have kept within the allowed time limits spent outside the country. 

You must be of good character, which means having no serious criminal record or immigration problems. You’ll also need to pass the Life in the UK test and meet the required English language skills. 

You apply online through the Home Office website. You will fill out forms and send documents like your passport, proof you’ve lived in the UK long enough, and your Life in the UK test pass certificate. 

You’ll also provide your biometric details (like fingerprints and a photo). 

Our solicitors can help you get your application right the first time, so you don’t face delays or refusals. We can also guide you on what extra documents you might need and help you through the biometric process. 

The Home Office charges a standard fee of £1,750 to process most British citizenship applications. This fee includes your biometric enrolment, where you provide fingerprints and a photo as part of your application. 

For a clear breakdown of our legal fees and the services included, please see our immigration pricing page. 

There are a number of reasons why your application may Typically, the Home Office takes about six months to process a British citizenship application after you have submitted your biometric information. This is an average timeframe, and processing times can vary depending on the volume of applications and the specifics of your case. 

If the Home Office needs to carry out further checks or verify documents, it may take longer. Cases that involve complex personal circumstances or require additional evidence can face delays beyond the standard processing time. 

Your application can be refused for reasons like missing information, not meeting residency or good character rules, or problems with your English or Life in the UK test. 

If refused, you can ask the Home Office to review the decision. You must request this within 28 days if outside the UK, or 14 days if inside. 

In some cases, you may be able to appeal the refusal through the courts. 

Our solicitors can help you understand your options, assist with reviews or appeals, and explore other ways to secure your status. 

Applying for citizenship can be complicated and stressful. A skilled, experienced solicitor, like our immigration experts at Britton and Time, will make the process easier and smoother. 

We check your forms carefully to avoid any errors, thereby avoiding unnecessary delays and refusals. We also help you gather the right documents and explain what you need to qualify, for instance, the Life in the UK test, and English language requirements. 

If your application results in a refusal or any extra questions, we will represent you and can guide you through reviews and appeals. 

Having expert legal support makes the citizenship application process much simpler, and that’s exactly what you get with Britton and Time. Details of our legal fees and what’s included can be found on our immigration pricing page.