Quick answer
To naturalise as a British citizen, most people need to have held indefinite leave to remain (ILR) for 12 months and lived in the UK for 5 years. If you are married to a British citizen, you can apply once you have ILR, after 3 years here. We check your eligibility and time abroad, then prepare and submit your application.
On this page
What we do for you
- Confirm which route fits: naturalisation after ILR, or as the husband, wife or civil partner of a British citizen
- Count your days outside the UK in the 5 years (or 3 years) before your planned date, and in the last 12 months
- Confirm your Life in the UK test pass and your English evidence, or the exemption that applies
- Send you a list of the documents you need, and check each one against the Home Office guidance
- Complete and submit the application, and tell you what to expect before your ceremony
- Apply to register children born before you got ILR, while they are under 18
Who can apply, and when
| Naturalisation after ILR | Usually after holding ILR for 12 months, with 5 years’ residence in the UK |
|---|---|
| Married to a British citizen | No 12-month wait after ILR, and a residence period of 3 years |
| Children born in the UK after you got ILR | British citizens from birth |
| Children born before you got ILR | Not automatically British, but can usually be registered while under 18 |
- The Life in the UK test. Needed if you are 18 to 64. If you passed it for your ILR application, you do not take it again.
- English. You need to prove your knowledge of English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic. You are exempt if you are 65 or over, if a long-term physical or mental condition prevents you, or if you are a national of a country GOV.UK lists, such as Australia, Canada, Jamaica or the USA. A degree taught in English can also count (exemptions on GOV.UK).
- Time abroad. On the usual route, no more than 450 days outside the UK in the 5 years before you apply, and no more than 90 days in the last 12 months (GOV.UK, checked 8 October 2026).
- Good character. The Home Office also checks that you are of good character.
Not settled yet? Start with indefinite leave to remain.
What it costs
| Our legal fee: Naturalisation as a British citizen | Typically £1,500 – £1,800, excluding VAT |
|---|---|
| Our legal fee: MN1 child citizenship registration | Typically £700 – £950, excluding VAT |
| VAT | Where VAT applies it is charged at 20%. Whether it applies depends on your residence and immigration status, and we confirm it in your quotation. |
What our fee includes
- An initial meeting, advice on your route and a document checklist
- Reviewing your documents and evidence
- Preparing the application and the written arguments that support it
- Submitting the application
- Advising on the decision
Not included: Home Office fees, biometric charges, translation, interpreter, expert or barrister fees, appeals or reviews unless specifically included, and extra work caused by incomplete information, further-evidence requests or interviews.
The figure for your case depends on how complex it is, how much evidence there is, any earlier refusals and how urgent it is. You get a written quote before you instruct us. All our published immigration fee ranges are on our fees page.
Set by the government, paid separately: the Home Office application fee, which includes the £130 citizenship ceremony fee (GOV.UK, checked 8 October 2026). Home Office fees change, so check the current Home Office fee tables. We confirm every third-party cost and get your approval before it is paid.
How it works, and how long it takes
Getting your application ready typically takes 2 to 6 weeks from the day we have your documents. After that, the timing is the Home Office's.
- Your eligibility
You tell us when you got ILR and send your travel dates. We confirm the earliest date you can apply.
- Your documents
We send you a list, including your Life in the UK test pass and English evidence, and check each document.
- Your application
We complete the application and submit it once you have checked it. You then confirm your identity, usually at an appointment.
- The decision
The Home Office usually decides within 6 months, and tells you if yours will take longer.
- Your ceremony
If you are approved, you are invited to a citizenship ceremony, which you must attend within 3 months. You become a British citizen at the ceremony.
Typical Home Office processing time (Home Office estimate, not guaranteed): Usually within 6 months (GOV.UK, checked 8 October 2026).
Who you will work with
Oliverta Mediu
Partner — Immigration & Family
Immigration work is carried out by our team of solicitors, legal advisers and paralegals, supervised by Partner Oliverta Mediu.
Where we act
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Leicester office 3rd Floor, St George's House, 6 St George's Way, Leicester LE1 1QZ 0116 393 0334
Immigration in Leicester
What clients say
Firm-wide reviews across all our services.
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Regulated by the SRA SRA No. 605949, view our record
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CQS accredited Law Society Conveyancing Quality Scheme
Questions people ask
When can I apply for British citizenship?
Usually once you have held indefinite leave to remain (ILR) for 12 months and have lived in the UK for 5 years. If you are married to, or the civil partner of, a British citizen, you can apply as soon as you have ILR, and the residence period is 3 years.
Do I need to take the Life in the UK test again?
No. If you passed it for your ILR application, that pass counts for citizenship too. If you have not taken it, you need it if you are aged 18 to 64. You also need to prove your knowledge of English, unless you are exempt, for example because you are 65 or over.
How many days can I spend outside the UK before I apply?
On the usual route, no more than 450 days in the 5 years before you apply, and no more than 90 days in the last 12 months. These are the GOV.UK figures, checked 8 October 2026 (GOV.UK). Both periods end on the date of your application, so we count them against the date you plan to apply.
What is the difference between ILR and British citizenship?
ILR lets you stay in the UK permanently, but you keep your existing nationality and passport. Citizenship gives you a British passport and a vote in general elections. ILR also lapses if you spend more than two years in a row outside the UK; citizenship has no such rule.
Are my children British?
A child born in the UK after you got ILR is a British citizen from birth. A child born before you got ILR is not automatically British, but can usually be registered as one while they are under 18.
How long does a citizenship application take?
The Home Office says you will usually get a decision within 6 months, and that it will tell you if yours is going to take longer (GOV.UK, checked 8 October 2026). Getting the application ready with us typically takes 2 to 6 weeks from the day we have your documents.
When is the citizenship ceremony?
If your application is approved, the Home Office invites you to a ceremony, which you must attend within 3 months of the invitation. You become a British citizen at the ceremony, and you can then apply for a British passport.
What does the Home Office charge?
The Home Office application fee includes the £130 citizenship ceremony fee. It is paid separately from our fee, and it changes, so check the current Home Office fee tables before you apply.
Helpful guides
Want us to check when you can apply?
This page is general information about UK immigration law as of October 2026, not advice on your application. The rules change often.