How to Apply for British Citizenship (Naturalisation) in 2026: Rules, Fee and Steps

To apply for British citizenship by naturalisation, most adults need 5 years’ residence in the UK, indefinite leave to remain (ILR) or settled status held for at least 12 months, no more than 450 days away in those 5 years, a pass in the Life in the UK test, proof of English, and good character. The application is made online and, as of October 2026, costs £1,839 (£1,709 plus a £130 ceremony fee), according to GOV.UK.

Key points

• 5 years’ residence, and you must have been physically in the UK exactly 5 years before the Home Office receives your application.
• Absence limits: 450 days in 5 years, and 90 days in the last 12 months.
• ILR or settled status for 12 months first, unless you are married to a British citizen.
• English at B1 or above, plus the Life in the UK test.
• Decisions usually take up to 6 months, followed by a ceremony.

This guide covers the citizenship application. For the test itself, see our Life in the UK test guide.

Who can apply

There are two main naturalisation routes for adults.

Requirement	Standard route (ILR or settled status)	Spouse or civil partner of a British citizen
Residence	5 years	3 years
Present in the UK on a fixed date	Exactly 5 years before the application is received	Exactly 3 years before the application is received
Absences in the whole period	No more than 450 days	No more than 270 days
Absences in the last 12 months	No more than 90 days	No more than 90 days
Settled status	ILR, settled status or indefinite leave to enter, held for 12 months	ILR, settled status or indefinite leave to enter (no 12-month wait)
Age	18 or over	18 or over
English and Life in the UK	Required	Required
Good character	Required	Required

Sources: standard route, spouse route.

You must also intend to keep living in the UK. You cannot use the spouse route if your British partner has died.

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens with pre-settled status, or their family members, may be able to use a separate route. GOV.UK sets out the conditions on the main citizenship page.

The residence and absence rules

The “exactly 5 years” rule

You must have been physically in the UK on the date exactly 5 years before the Home Office receives your application. If you were abroad on that date, the application may be rejected, although special circumstances such as health or travel restrictions can be considered. Online applications are received the same day, so it is easy to control this date. Check it carefully against your travel history before you submit.

Counting the 450 and 90 days

These limits are different from the 180-day rule used for ILR. You can meet the ILR test and still fail the citizenship test. Our post on ILR absences and the 180-day rule explains the difference.

Use your own records, such as boarding passes and passport stamps. The Home Office checks its own records and fills in gaps. Time spent exempt from immigration control (for example as a diplomat or a member of visiting armed forces) does not count towards the 5 years.

English language

You need to show knowledge of English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic. For English, GOV.UK accepts:

• a qualification at B1, B2, C1 or C2 level from the approved list, or
• a degree taught or researched in English.

Some people are exempt, for example on grounds of age or a long-term condition. GOV.UK warns that the application will be refused if you send the wrong qualification, so check the approved list before booking a test.

The English level for ILR rises to B2 for applications from 26 March 2027. Sources disagree on whether that change also covers naturalisation, and no official confirmation was found as of October 2026. See /updates/ before you apply.

Life in the UK test

You must have passed the Life in the UK test. It costs £50, has 24 questions in 45 minutes, and the pass mark is 75%. When you pass, you get a unique reference number, which you enter in your citizenship application. If you passed the test for your ILR application, you do not take it again.

Good character

Every adult applicant must be of good character. The Home Office looks at criminal records, immigration history, honesty in past applications, tax and financial affairs, and other conduct. The good character guidance was last updated on 30 April 2026.

Key points from the guidance:

• Illegal entry: applications made after 10 February 2025 by people who entered the UK illegally will normally be refused, regardless of when the illegal entry happened.
• Criminality: thresholds were aligned with Part 9 of the Immigration Rules in July 2023.
• Honesty: failing to declare a conviction or immigration breach can itself lead to refusal.

If you have any criminal record, immigration breach, serious financial problems, or an irregular entry in your history, speak to a solicitor or an adviser regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (formerly OISC) before applying. The fee is not refunded if you are refused.

Cost

Item	Fee (as of October 2026)
Naturalisation application	£1,709
Citizenship ceremony	£130
Total	£1,839
Life in the UK test (if not already passed)	£50
Biometrics	Free

The application fee rose from £1,605 on 8 April 2026. Source: Home Office fees table.

Registering a child as a British citizen is a separate application costing £1,000.

How to apply: step by step

1. Check your dates. Confirm 5 years’ residence, the “exactly 5 years” date, and your 450 and 90-day totals.
2. Check your status. Make sure you have held ILR or settled status for 12 months, unless you are applying as the spouse of a British citizen.
3. Gather evidence. English qualification, Life in the UK pass reference, passport, eVisa or other status evidence, and travel history.
4. Apply online on GOV.UK and pay the fee. You do not need to post documents.
5. Book biometrics. Give fingerprints and a photo at a UKVCAS service point. Documents can be uploaded or scanned at the appointment.
6. Wait for a decision. GOV.UK says this usually takes up to 6 months. You may be asked for more information or to attend an interview.
7. Attend your ceremony. You must book and attend within 3 months of your invitation through your local authority. You make an oath or affirmation of allegiance and a pledge, and receive your certificate of British citizenship.
8. Apply for a British passport. Your certificate is the document you use to apply.

Tell UK Visas and Immigration if your circumstances change while you wait, for example if you move house, marry or are arrested.

What about “earned citizenship”?

The government has proposed changes to settlement and citizenship, including longer qualifying periods. As of October 2026, earned citizenship would need new primary legislation and no bill to change naturalisation had been introduced. The current rules above still apply. For the settlement side, see our earned settlement explainer.

What to do next

1. Work out your earliest eligible date using your ILR grant date and travel history.
2. Book the Life in the UK test early if you have not passed it.
3. Check your English evidence against the approved list.
4. If anything in your history might raise good character concerns, get regulated advice first.
5. Read the UK country hub for related guides and recheck the GOV.UK citizenship page before you pay.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Fees and rules are as of October 2026.