Overview
Naturalisation is the legal process by which a settled non-British national becomes a British citizen. Under the British Nationality Act 1981, the most common adult routes are section 6(2) (applicants married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen) and section 6(1) (all other adults with Indefinite Leave to Remain).
Once granted, British citizenship is permanent. You can apply for a UK passport, vote in UK general elections, leave and re-enter the UK without restriction, and pass citizenship to children born outside the UK.
Updated for 2026: Home Office fees rose by 6-7% on 8 April 2026. The English language standard for naturalisation rises from B1 to B2 on 26 March 2027 in line with the wider settlement-route changes.
The application is made on Form AN. Decisions take around 6 months; if approved, you attend a citizenship ceremony at your local register office (in Glasgow, this is at the City Chambers). You become a British citizen at the ceremony, not at the date of decision.
Key Benefits
Right route, right timing
We confirm whether you qualify under section 6(1) or 6(2), audit your residence and absence record, and time the application to avoid common waiting traps.
Good character audit
Naturalisation refusals on good-character grounds are common and disastrous. We audit minor convictions, civil judgments, immigration history, and tax record before you submit.
Absence reconciliation
Form AN demands a 5-year (or 3-year for spouses) absence reconciliation. We work back through every trip and apply the disregards that catch borderline cases.
Glasgow ceremony booked
Once your application is approved, we coordinate with Glasgow Register Office to book your citizenship ceremony at the City Chambers within the 90-day window.
Our Service Packages
Advice Package
A one-to-one consultation with a Glasgow immigration adviser. We confirm the right naturalisation route, audit residence and good-character risk, and lay out a clear action plan.
From £150 + VAT
Application Package
Full end-to-end Form AN preparation. We prepare every document, draft the cover letter, complete the form, and submit on your behalf. Includes ceremony coordination.
From £700 + VAT
Document Check
Already prepared your application? Our advisers review the completed Form AN and every document before you submit, with a written checklist of any gaps.
From £300 + VAT
Refusal Review and Re-Application
If your naturalisation was refused, we review the refusal letter, advise on whether reconsideration or fresh application is the right path, and rebuild the application.
From £500 + VAT
UK Naturalisation Requirements 2026
Naturalisation is decided against the British Nationality Act 1981 and current Home Office policy. The eligibility tests vary slightly between section 6(1) (standard route) and section 6(2) (spouse route), but the core requirements are residence, immigration status, language, knowledge of life, and good character.
Residence requirement
- Section 6(1): 5 years lawful residence in the UK ending on the date of application
- Section 6(2): 3 years lawful residence in the UK ending on the date of application
- You must have been physically present in the UK exactly 5 years (or 3) before the date the application is received
Absence limits
- Section 6(1): no more than 450 days outside the UK across the 5-year period; no more than 90 days in the final 12 months
- Section 6(2): no more than 270 days outside the UK across the 3-year period; no more than 90 days in the final 12 months
- The Home Office may exercise discretion in your favour for limited excess absences if circumstances justify
Immigration status requirement
- Section 6(1): you must have held ILR (or settled status) for at least 12 months at the date of application
- Section 6(2): you must hold ILR (or settled status) at the date of application; no separate 12-month wait
- You must not have been in breach of immigration rules at any time during the qualifying period
Knowledge of language requirement
Naturalisation requires English at CEFR B1 level in speaking and listening (rising to B2 from 26 March 2027). If you already met B1 to qualify for ILR, you do not need to take a fresh test. Acceptable evidence includes:
- An approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) at B1 or higher within validity
- A degree taught in English with Ecctis confirmation if non-UK
- Citizenship of a majority English-speaking country
- The English evidence accepted at your ILR application (carries forward)
Knowledge of life in the UK
You must have passed the Life in the UK test. The pass certificate is valid indefinitely once issued, so the same certificate accepted for ILR is accepted for naturalisation. Applicants over 65 are exempt.
Good character requirement
The Home Office must be satisfied that you are of good character. There is no statutory definition; the test is applied through extensive policy guidance. Common refusal grounds include unspent criminal convictions (UK or overseas), serious civil judgments, tax non-compliance with HMRC, immigration breaches at any time during your UK residence, and adverse director or insolvency records.
⚠️ Important: Good-character refusals are the most common reason naturalisation applications fail, and the £1,630 fee is non-refundable. We always audit the good-character position before recommending an application. Call us on 0141 496 0321 if you have any concern about your record.
Intention to live in the UK
Section 6(1) applicants must show their principal home is in the UK and they intend to keep it that way. Section 6(2) applicants are exempt from this test. Both groups must, however, be in the UK on the date of application.
Documents Required for Form AN
The Form AN application is decided on the strength of the supporting documents. The Home Office expects a complete bundle covering identity, residence, language, knowledge of life, and good character.
Identity
- Current passport plus all passports covering the qualifying period
- Biometric Residence Permit (or eVisa screenshots if BRP has expired)
- Birth certificate
- Marriage or civil partnership certificate (section 6(2) applicants)
Residence and absences
- Schedule of every trip outside the UK during the qualifying period with dates, destinations, and reasons
- Boarding passes, travel itineraries, or stamps for each absence
- Council tax bills, tenancy agreements or property deeds covering the qualifying period
- Utility bills for evidence of continuous UK address
Language and knowledge
- SELT certificate at B1 or higher (within validity), or qualifying degree certificate plus Ecctis statement
- Or passport showing qualifying nationality
- Life in the UK test pass certificate (no expiry once issued)
Referees
- Two referees: one of professional standing (doctor, solicitor, teacher, engineer, etc.); one British citizen who has known you for at least 3 years and is not a relative
- Each referee completes a section of Form AN with their identity verification
Good character supporting documents
- HMRC self-assessment statements covering the qualifying period (where self-employed)
- P60s for each tax year covering the qualifying period (where employed)
- Police certificates from any country lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years (where applicable)
- Disclosure of any cautions, fines, civil judgments, or tribunal decisions in the application form
How to Apply for Naturalisation
Form AN is submitted online through the gov.uk service. The process moves through five practical stages.
Stage 1: Eligibility audit and timeline
We confirm whether section 6(1) or 6(2) applies, audit your residence and absences against the 450-day or 270-day rule, and check good-character risk. We agree a target submission date.
Stage 2: Evidence build
We send a personalised checklist by category and start collecting documents. You assemble identity, travel, and language evidence; your referees complete their sections of Form AN. We chase what is missing.
Stage 3: Form AN preparation
We complete the online Form AN, draft your supporting cover letter (particularly important if any good-character discretion is needed), and label every document for upload.
Stage 4: Submission and biometrics
We submit the form, pay the application fee and biometric component, and confirm your biometric appointment at UKVCAS Glasgow on Bath Street. Documents are uploaded in advance through UKVCAS or on the day at the centre.
Stage 5: Decision and ceremony
The Home Office issues a decision, typically within 6 months. If approved, you receive an invitation to attend a citizenship ceremony within 90 days. Glasgow ceremonies are held at the City Chambers on George Square. You become a British citizen at the moment of taking the oath of allegiance, and receive your certificate at the ceremony.
Naturalisation Costs and Processing Times 2026
Naturalisation has two Home Office charges: the application fee and the citizenship ceremony fee. Adviser fees are separate.
| Cost | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Form AN application fee | £1,630 | Per applicant; subject to 6-7% rise from 8 April 2026 |
| Citizenship ceremony fee | £80 | Paid to local register office before ceremony |
| Biometric enrolment | Included | Captured at UKVCAS appointment |
| UK passport (after ceremony) | £88.50 to £100.50 | Online standard service |
Total Home Office cost (excluding passport): approximately £1,710 per applicant. Children registering separately on Form MN1 are charged a different fee. Fee waivers are not generally available for naturalisation.
Processing times in 2026
Standard naturalisation processing is up to 6 months. Cases referred for further checks (good character, residence verification, tax) can take 12 months or longer. There is no priority service for naturalisation, unlike most other immigration categories.
What happens after the ceremony
You become a British citizen at the moment of taking the oath. From that point you can apply for a UK passport (typically processed in 3 to 6 weeks), vote in UK general elections, and leave and re-enter the UK without restriction. You may also wish to formally renounce or retain your previous nationality, depending on the rules of that country.
Read our guide to ILR (the step before citizenship)
Frequently asked questions
Most ILR holders apply 12 months after ILR was granted. If you are married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen, you can apply immediately upon receiving ILR (the 3-year residence test runs in parallel). We diary every Glasgow client's eligibility date and start preparation 3 months before.
Section 6(1) is the standard route for adults with ILR who are not married to a British citizen: 5 years residence, 12 months free of time restrictions, plus the other tests. Section 6(2) is the spouse route: 3 years residence including ILR (no separate 12-month wait after ILR), plus the other tests. Both use Form AN.
Section 6(1): no more than 450 days outside the UK in the 5-year qualifying period, and no more than 90 days in the final 12 months. Section 6(2): no more than 270 days outside the UK in the 3-year qualifying period, and no more than 90 days in the final 12 months. The Home Office can use discretion to disregard limited excess absences.
The Home Office checks criminal record (UK and overseas), immigration compliance, tax compliance with HMRC, civil judgments, and any history of bankruptcy or company directorship issues. Recent unspent convictions or a poor compliance record are common refusal grounds. We audit good-character risk at the advice stage.
The UK does not require you to renounce your existing citizenship. Whether you can hold dual nationality depends on the rules of your other country. Some countries (such as India and Singapore) automatically remove citizenship when you naturalise elsewhere; others (such as Pakistan, Australia, and Canada) permit dual nationality. Confirm with your country's consulate.
You receive a letter inviting you to attend a citizenship ceremony within 90 days. Glasgow ceremonies are held at the City Chambers and typically run weekly. You take an oath or affirmation of allegiance and a pledge of loyalty, sing the national anthem, and receive your certificate. You are a British citizen from the moment of the ceremony, not before.
Children may register as British citizens under separate provisions (Form MN1 most commonly), often at the same time as a parent's naturalisation. Eligibility depends on whether the child is settled, born in the UK, or born overseas, plus the parent's status. We assess each child's case alongside the parent's Form AN.
You can apply for a British passport immediately after the ceremony. Standard passport processing is around 3 to 6 weeks. We help clients gather the necessary references and supporting documents so the passport application goes in within days of the ceremony.