Applying for British nationality may be stressful and time-consuming. At My Legal Services we are committed to professionally assisting all our clients. Your case will be processed by an experienced lawyer, who will assess your situation and advise you on how to proceed in meeting the eligibility requirements to become a British citizen and be fully represented.
Hire one of our specialists to ensure you meet the relevant eligibility requirements to ensure your application does not get refused. Get in touch with My Legal Services by calling 02037 324 736 or 07957 154 057 or make an enquiry online to find out if you qualify to become a British national.
British Citizenship Guidelines:
You can become a British citizen either by birth or you can apply for naturalisation if you are aged 18 or over. To be eligible to become a British national, you need to prove that you have been in the UK on Indefinite Leave to Remain, Permanent residence or EU Settled Status in the UK.
To learn more about how to get ILR or settled status in the UK, you can get in touch with our team of professional immigration lawyers here at My Legal Services.
What are the British Citizenship requirements?
Based on the British nationality act, those who wish to apply for Naturalisation must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Be over the age of 18
- Have spent at least 3 or 5 years of continuous residence in the UK
- Have held Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK for at least 12 months – depending which route you qualify
- Meet the level English language requirements (unless exempt).
- Pass the Life in the UK Test, to show that you are aware of the basics of the British customs, traditions and culture.
- Not have been in breach of any UK immigration rules.
- Demonstrate that they meet the Good Character requirement.
- The “Good Character” requirement
To qualify for British citizenship, you must demonstrate your “good character”. This means that you must not hold any severe nor recent criminal record. That said, at My Legal Services we have deal with complex nationality cases including applicant’s with past criminal convictions to assess whether the application should be submitted to the Home Office. The Home Office will also review any criminal offence committed overseas and UK immigration-related issue. On the other hand, the UKVI will take into accounts any contributions that you may have made to society. The Home Office can also exercise discretion in certain applications.
How can I become a British citizen by Naturalisation?
Naturalisation is the process by which you can apply for British Citizenship. To be eligible, you must be 18 years old or over and satisfy certain conditions. You must not have any serious or recent criminal record nor have broken any UK immigration laws during your time in the UK. Most importantly, you must have lived in the UK as a settled person (holding Indefinite Leave to Remain). There are two routes to apply either on the basis of your marriage or in your own right. You must also meet additional requirements, including you are of Good character, absences, meet the English language requirements, have never broken UK law, including immigration breaches and length of residence in the UK.
Before you apply for naturalisation, you must also ensure that you meet additional requirements. Your total number of absences from the UK must not exceed a specific time frame, especially during the last year of your qualifying period, when you cannot spend more than 90 days outside the UK. It is also essential to satisfy the English language requirements unless you are exempt.
To apply for British citizenship, you can complete the relevant Home Office naturalisation form. The application process usually takes from 2-4 months, sometimes a lot quicker. If your application is approved, you will receive an invitation to attend a Citizenship ceremony to obtain your Certificate of Naturalisation and can then apply for a British passport.
We can also guide you through the other steps;
- What are the Immigration routes for British Citizenship registration?
- What documents do I need to register for British Citizenship?
- British Citizenship Application Assistance
Conclusion:
At My Legal Services, our Immigration Solicitors in London can help you through each step of your British nationality case. After assessing your eligibility, your dedicated lawyer will complete your application form to the best standard. This includes performing a full document check to ensure that your portfolio of evidence is adequate. We can also prepare a Letter of Representation to support your case.
Call us on 02037 324 736 or 07957 154 057 or book an appointment at our office to get started on your application.