A British certificate of naturalisation, required to apply for British citizenship, on top of a United Kingdom passport.

British Citizenship

If you are looking to acquire British Citizenship, Pahl & Associates  can help you during the application process and make sure that documentation clearly showcases why you are eligible, and that you are meeting all the requirements. 

There are different routes to gain British Citizenship. Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible to apply for British Citizenship through one or more routes.

These routes include:

          ➤  Naturalisation

          ➤  Birth

          ➤  Marriage

If you’re not sure which one applies to you or which route you should choose, our team can provide expert advice.

Eligibility and requirements

Although there are several routes to obtain British Citizenship, general requirements to fulfil will include:

          ➤  Proof of living in the UK for at least 3 years prior to your application

          ➤  Proof that you have passed the Life in the UK Test

          ➤  Good knowledge of the English language through an approved test

          ➤  Good character (i.e. no criminal record, respect of immigration laws)

British Citizenship by Naturalisation

The most common route is called ‘Naturalisation’.  You can apply for British Citizenship by Naturalisation if:

          ➤  You’re 18 or over

          ➤  You’re of good character, for example, you don’t have a serious or recent criminal record, and you haven’t tried to deceive the Home Office or been involved in immigration offences in the last 10 years

          ➤  You’ll continue to live in the UK

          ➤ You’ve met the knowledge of English and Life in the UK Test requirements

          ➤ You meet the residency requirement

And you must usually have:

          ➤ Lived in the UK for at least the 5 years before the date of your application

          ➤ Spent no more than 450 days outside the UK during those 5 years

          ➤ Spent no more than 90 days outside the UK in the last 12 months

          ➤ Had settlement (‘Indefinite Leave to Remain’) in the UK for the last 12 months if you’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA)

          ➤ Had Permanent Residence or settled status for the last 12 months if you’re a citizen of an EEA country – you need to provide a permanent residence document

          ➤ Not broken any immigration laws while in the UK

 

British Citizenship by Birth

Not everyone automatically gets British Citizenship when they are born in the UK, this also depends on parents’ circumstances and when they were born.

You may be eligible for British Citizenship by registration if you:

          ➤ Have another form of British nationality

          ➤ Were born before 1 January 1983 to a British mother

          ➤ Were born to a British father, even if he was not married to your mother

          ➤ Were born in the UK on or after 1 January 1983

          ➤ Are under 18 and don’t fit into the other categories

          ➤ Have a connection with Gibraltar or Hong Kong

          ➤ Are stateless

British nationality laws are very complicated as they involve historical changes.  We always recommend that clients discuss their circumstances with one of our immigration lawyers before moving forward with their application. We deal with British Citizenship applications every day. The Home Office views British Citizenship as a privilege rather than an entitlement. If you would like to discuss your case please contact us.

British Citizenship by Marriage

If you are married to or in a civil partnership with a British Citizen and have lived in the UK for the last 3 years prior to your application, you may apply for British Citizenship through the marriage route.

To apply, you will also need to have one of the following:

          ➤ Indefinite Leave to Remain

          ➤ Settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme

          ➤ A Permanent Residence document

Since 1 January 2021, if you have the settled status you no longer can apply for a permanent residence document and will need to use your settled status to apply for citizenship.

PAHL & ASSOCIATES
Pahl & Associate UK Immigration Log
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Tel: 0345 055 9861

How We Can Help You!

We provide all clients with a FREE Initial 15 minute phone consultation followed by an agreed fixed fee quotation before we take on their case.

FAQs - British Citizenship

It is possible to apply for British Citizenship by yourself or through a representative registered with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC). Pahl & Associates are registered and can help you choose the best route available to you if possible and will help you make a solid and well-presented case that helps the Home Office come to a decision quicker.

The application process can be completed either online, in person or by post where applicable. You must check that you have all documents required and that you are meeting the eligibility criteria before starting your application.

British Citizenship application costs

It costs £1,330 for adults to apply for British citizenship by naturalisation. For registration, the fees are £1,206.

Additional costs should be taken into consideration, such as translation of documents that are not in English to support your application, taking an English language test or Life in the UK Test, or paying for your citizenship ceremony.

You will also need to pay £19.20 to have your biometric information taken, once your application has been approved.

It can take up to 6 months for the Home Office to make a decision, sometimes more depending on the nature of the application and the volume of applications that the Home Office has to handle. We find that a well-presented case enables the Home Office to make a decision much quicker. In the past 12 months, we have had some clients applications decided in 3 months!

Our team has extensive experience in dealing with British Citizenship applications. If you would like to discuss which route would be best for you and get help for your application, please do not hesitate to get in touch or book a consultation.

Initial Phone Interview

We discuss your UK immigration matter by phone on a free no obligation basis. We will review your options, confirm fees and ensure we are in a position to represent you.

Personal Consultation

We invite you to schedule a personal consultation at our office or via Skype for an agreed initial consultation fee. This fee will be deducted from any future legal fees.

Legal Representation

We agree to represent you in relation to your UK immigration matter for an agreed fee and provide a client care letter confirming your instructions.

Useful Home Office Links

The following UK government web links may assist you in accessing latest information related to UK immigration matters. If you need more information and detailed legal advice feel free to contact Pahl & Associates.

Contact Us for a Free Initial consultation

Contact Pahl & Associates for a FREE initial 15 minute phone consultation to assess your UK immigration enquiry.