Naturalise as a British citizen

Naturalisation is the most common way for adults who were not born British to become British citizens.

To apply to naturalise as a British citizen, they will have to fulfil the residency requirements, and hold Indefinite Leave to Remain/Permanent Residence. They will also need to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the English Language, and Life in the UK, be of good character, and have the intention to make the UK their home. The good character requirement is mainly based on previous immigration history and an individual’s criminal history.

Although citizenship applications can be complex, our experienced immigration specialists understand the processes, the legal requirements and the issues. Herrington Carmichael will support you every step of the way.

Registering as a British citizen

Whether and when you can register as a British citizen is different depending on who your parents are, when you were born and whether you already have some form of British nationality. There are also different rules if you have previously renounced British citizenship or you are a returning resident.

How we can help

We can guide you through the myriad of rules to establish whether you are eligible to apply in the first place and if you are, we can help you present the required evidence to the Home Office with all the information they need to have a picture of your life in the UK. There are also different rules for children under the age of 18.