If your partner is a British citizen and you see your future in the UK, you may be considering gaining British citizenship through marriage. This type of naturalisation application is dependent on satisfying a number of requirements, so it’s smart to seek legal help when you begin your application. Latitude Law has helped a wealth of people successfully gain citizenship through marriage, and will be happy to assist you through the process.
You can apply for citizenship by marriage if you are married or in a civil partnership with someone who is a British citizen. You must also:
You must also prove that:
If you’re from the European Economic Area (EEA), you must be able to produce confirmation that you hold permanent residence in the UK in accordance with EEA regulations and have since obtained settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.
If you are married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen, you can apply for British citizenship by 'naturalisation' if you have lived in the UK for at least three years before the date of your application. You should also have been granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK. Keep in mind that immigration rules and policies can change, so it is advisable to consult expert immigration lawyers - such as those at Latitude - for the most current information on how to obtain British citizenship.
You can apply for British citizenship if you're in a civil partnership. The requirements are generally the same as those for people who are married to British citizens. You would typically need to have lived in the UK for at least three years and have indefinite leave to remain or settled status.
For those in an unmarried partnership, the situation is slightly different. Being in an unmarried partnership does not grant you any specific advantages for citizenship applications. You would generally need to meet the standard requirements for naturalisation, which usually include living in the UK for at least five years and having indefinite leave to remain for at least one year before applying for citizenship.
You will require two referees to confirm that you are of good character. One must be a British passport holder over the age of 25; the other must be a professional person, not necessarily British.
A referee cannot be your British spouse or anyone personally related to you. They also cannot be the lawyer who is handling your citizenship application.
After you have made sure you are eligible, you must make an online application to the Home Office. You must provide supporting documentation and pay the relevant fee.
Applications typically take four to six months to be decided; there is unfortunately no priority option available. You are permitted to travel abroad while waiting for a decision on your citizenship application.
If your application is successful, you will be required to attend a citizenship ceremony where you will swear allegiance to His Majesty the King and receive a certificate of British citizenship. Following this, you must send a biometric residence permit (BRP) to the Home Office within five working days. Your solicitor will help you to arrange this. If you fail to send this to the Home Office within this deadline, you may receive a fine of up to £1,000.
The time frame for processing British citizenship applications can vary and is subject to a range of factors, such as the complexity of your case and the current volume of applications. However, it generally takes around three to six months from the time you submit your application to when you receive a decision. This does not include the time it may take to gather all your documents, pass the Life in the UK test, or meet any other pre-application requirements.
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We understand how challenging it can be to navigate the process of obtaining British citizenship by marriage. That is why our team of experienced solicitors, who have many years of experience in immigration law, will do everything they can to help your citizenship application be successful.
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If you are married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen, you can apply for British citizenship once you have lived in the UK for at least three years, and you have been granted settlement or indefinite leave to remain. You cannot apply for British citizenship by marriage living abroad as you must have lived in the UK for five years.
If you are unsure as to whether you meet the criteria for British citizenship listed earlier on this page, call our team today and we will help you to assess your circumstances.
You must have lived in the UK for at least three years when you submit your citizenship application. You are permitted absences of up to 270 days in that three-year period, and 90 days in the last 12 months, although there is discretion to allow longer absences, subject to your circumstances. For example, you may have been stranded outside the UK due to COVID travel restrictions. If your absences are at or above these limits, you should seek expert advice before applying.
To be eligible for British citizenship, you will need to pass the Life in the UK test, and prove that you are proficient in the English language. Those from majority English-speaking countries don’t have to prove English proficiency, but must still pass the Life in the UK test. You can take these tests at any time before you make a citizenship application. The Life in the UK test can be attempted as many times as you like, but each attempt will require you to pay a fee. British language tests will also require you to pay a fee of around £150, depending on the provider.
You will not need to take either of these tests if you are under the age of 18 or over the age of 65, or if you have medical or other grounds for seeking an exemption.
You cannot apply for citizenship if your partner dies before you submit your application as your eligibility relies on your partner’s status. If you hold limited permission to stay in the UK based on your marriage, and your partner dies, you may be eligible to apply for settlement as a bereaved spouse.
The application fee for naturalisation is £1,330.
Our lawyers will provide you with a comprehensive list of supporting documents when preparing your citizenship application. The minimum documents required are typically as follows:
You can apply online or by post once you have received your naturalisation certificate.
If British citizenship is refused by the Home Office, you may be able to request reconsideration of your application, for which a fee is payable. This is an internal Home Office review, and can take many months. You may re-apply, which is often more efficient, if your first application contained errors or missing documents.
If you already have the right to work in the UK, through indefinite leave to remain or another form of visa, you can continue to work while your citizenship application is being processed. Your existing immigration status remains valid until a decision is made on your application.
You can travel outside the UK while your application is being processed, but it is generally not recommended. Leaving the UK for an extended period could raise questions about your commitment to living in the country, which is a requirement for naturalisation. Additionally, you may be called for an interview or be required to provide additional documentation, and failure to do so in a timely manner could harm your application. If you absolutely must travel, speak to our team for advice before making any decisions.
The amount of time it will take you to get UK citizenship will depend on the complexity of your application and circumstances, but could be any length of time between three months and a year, provided you are eligible to begin the application process.
You must be a British citizen to get a British passport, meaning you must first apply for British citizenship and succeed to do so.
Scottish citizenship falls under British citizenship, meaning you cannot apply to be a Scottish national.
As the requirements for obtaining British citizenship by marriage are complex, to ensure success, you should seek specialist advice from an immigration solicitor before you proceed with an application. Latitude Law’s specialist lawyers can advise you about your individual requirements and ensure that your supporting documentation is compliant with the very latest immigration rules.
Get in touch with our legal team today on 0300 131 6767 or fill out our enquiry form and we will get straight back to you. Face your future knowing you have the dedicated support of one of our expert lawyers.
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