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 only if you are married or in a civil partnership with someone who is a British citizen. Your eligibility will then depend on your immigration status, residency, good character, and integration into British society. Before you begin your British naturalisation application, you must also meet the following requirements:
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.
When applying for British citizenship by naturalization, it is crucial to provide comprehensive and accurate documentation. The required documents typically include evidence of your marriage with a British citizen, your identity, your immigration status and your continuous residence in the UK. Certain applications might need of some additional documents, especially if there are issues regarding your character, such as a criminal conviction or a previous immigration problem.
Client - Dr & Mrs O08/2024Successful naturalisation for couple
"I just want to say a big thank you to Keelin, Anna and the rest of the team there at Latitude Law Solicitors, for the professional manner in which you handled our British naturalisation applications.
We're fully aware you were working tirelessly and efficiently behind the scene, throughout the process of compilation of our documents, completion and the eventual submission of our naturalisation application. We truly and sincerely appreciate the invaluable contribution you made, that ultimately resulted in a successful naturalisation application for us. You've been exceptional. Please keep up with your great work ethic and dedication to excellence.”
Latitude Law’s specialist team helps many applicants with their citizenship and nationality cases in a wide variety of scenarios. We are used to work with complex application and can provide detailed guidance about how to meet the requirements In your specific circumstances, review and advice regarding the documentation required for your case to have the best chances of success, and prepare the entire application alongside detailed representations explaining how the relevant rules are met.
Applying for citizenship through marriage can sometimes be a stressful and worrying process. So it helps to have reliable legal guidance on board. Latitude Law has a wealth of knowledge in this area of law, allowing us to provide expert support with Home Office policy, case law and the laws that govern citizenship by marriage in the UK. We make sure that we pull out all the stops to ensure your application has the best chance of success.
Thanks to our extensive knowledge of immigration rules, we are able to provide pragmatic advice and meet your needs. We have connections with the Home Office and other immigration authorities so we can advise you with confidence and ensure the entire immigration procedure runs smoothly and efficiently for you and your spouse.
Working with a law firm can be a big decision, which is why we ensure that our clients are at the heart of everything we do. We are a highly driven team that is dedicated to providing clear and reliable immigration advice.
As a boutique law firm specialising in UK-inbound immigration, our experts understand the complexity and uncertainty that constantly shifting citizenship and residence policies create for spouses wanting to be together in the UK with their life partners. Our lawyers can provide up-to-the-minute legal advice on how any changes will impact your application.
We are pleased to be recognised as a leading law firm by the following independent bodies: The Times Best Law Firms 2024, Chambers & Partners 2024, Legal 500 2024 and Who'sWhoLegal 2024. These endorsements from the international legal directories demonstrate our integrity and success in dealing with difficult cases. We are also proud of our 5-star Google reviews from over 150 satisfied clients.
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 you were granted settlement or 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.
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.
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.
Successful applications for British Citizenship by Marriage are dependent on satisfying a number of requirements. Let Latitude Law’s specialist settlement & citizenship lawyers can guide you through the process and ensure that your application has the very best chance of being granted.
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Applicants for UK settlement or citizenship must meet English language and Life in the UK requirements. This includes a B1 CEFR level in English and passing the Life in the UK Test, with exemptions for certain ages and medical conditions.
Latitude Law is a boutique law practice specialising exclusively on UK-inbound immigration law. With offices in Manchester, London and Brussels, our team of expert lawyers is experienced in all aspects of immigration law from helping multinational corporations manage their global talent to guiding entrepreneurs invest & work in the UK; from ensuring frictionless travel for skilled workers fulfilling work commitments to reuniting family members; from securing citizenship to successfully appealing deportation orders.
Our work is recognised by internationally renowned, independent legal directories such as The Times Best Law Firms 2024, Legal 500 2024, Chambers & Partners 2024 and Who'sWhoLegal 2024: meaning you can be confident in our ability to competently and successfully handle your immigration matter, no matter how complex.
