How to Apply for British Citizenship

There are a number of circumstances where you are able to apply for naturalisation, or British citizenship, if you have been living in the country for a minimum of five years, or three years in some instances. If you are not married to a British citizen, and are not the civil partner, of a British citizen, then there are a number of requirements that you must meet in order for your application to be successful.

There are many types of visa that can be used to enter the UK, and in most cases these will allow a period of between one and three years during the initial visa period. Extensions are available, so that some migrants are able to remain in the country for a period of five years. Once this occurs, it is possible to apply for naturalisation, which means that you become a British citizen with all of the same rights as any other British citizen.

If you are married to a British citizen, or the civil partner of a British citizen, then you will be able to apply for citizenship after a period of three years. Otherwise, the minimum period of time that you need to have resided in the country is usually five years. You must have been resident in the UK at a period five years before your application, not spent more than 450 days outside the country, and not spent more than 90 days outside the country in the past 12 months.

Applying for citizenship requires that you are able to show that you have sufficient knowledge of life in the UK, that you intend to continue living in the UK, that you can speak English or another British language, and that you are of good character and sound mind. You must also be aged 18 or over for your citizenship to be granted.

British citizenship can be obtained after a period of three years, for those married to or the civil partner of a British citizen, or five years. Certain requirements must be met for an application to be successful, and to ensure the greatest chance of a successful visa application, you can enlist the help of a qualified and experienced immigration professional.