British Citizenship by Marriage

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:

• Proof of your identity, such as your passport
• Your biometric residence permit (BRP)
• Evidence of passing the Life in the UK and English Language tests
• Proof of your spouse’s identity and citizenship
• Your marriage or civil partnership certificate

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.