Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) removes your visa’s time limit, but it isn’t citizenship — you’re still a foreign national with settled status, not a British passport holder. Naturalisation is the separate, final application that gets you there. It has its own residence rules, its own absence limits (stricter in the run-up year than for ILR itself), and its own fee, which has risen sharply in recent years. Here’s what applies in 2026.
Who is eligible to naturalise
You can normally apply to naturalise as a British citizen once you meet all of the following:
- Settled status held for 12 months: you must have held ILR, settled status, or indefinite leave to enter for at least 12 months before applying — unless you’re married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen, in which case you can apply as soon as you get ILR, with no 12-month wait.
- 5 years’ UK residence: you must have been in the UK exactly 5 years before the date the Home Office receives your application (3 years if applying via the spouse/civil partner route).
- Absence limits: no more than 450 days spent outside the UK during the full 5-year qualifying period, and no more than 90 days outside the UK in the final 12 months before you apply. Going over either limit is one of the most common reasons applications are refused or delayed, so total up your travel history carefully before applying.
- Age: 18 or over.
- Good character: assessed against Home Office naturalisation guidance — this covers criminal convictions, immigration breaches (including any past overstays or deception), financial conduct such as unpaid tax or bankruptcy, and involvement in matters of national security.
- Knowledge of English: evidenced via an approved English test at B1 CEFR level or above (or exemption — e.g., a degree taught in English, or nationals of certain majority English-speaking countries), unless you’re over 65 or have a qualifying long-term physical or mental condition.
- Life in the UK test: a pass certificate is required from everyone aged 18–64 who isn’t otherwise exempt, covering UK history, traditions, and everyday practical knowledge.
- Intention to keep living in the UK (or working for the Crown, an international organisation, or a UK-based company, in specific circumstances).
Fees (2026)
Naturalisation costs £1,839 in total for most adult applicants — made up of a £1,709 application fee plus a £130 citizenship ceremony fee (the ceremony is mandatory; you’re not a citizen until you attend it and take the oath/affirmation). There’s no separate charge for the biometric enrolment appointment. Because Home Office fees change periodically, check the live fee before applying at gov.uk/apply-citizenship-indefinite-leave-to-remain.
The process, step by step
- Check your eligibility and absence days using your travel history — the Home Office counts every day outside the UK, so reconstruct your trips from passport stamps, boarding passes, or bank/card statements if you don’t have a clean record.
- Book and pass the Life in the UK test (if not exempt) at an approved test centre — this must be done before you apply, and the pass certificate is submitted with your application.
- Apply online via the UKVI “apply for citizenship” service, uploading your ILR/settled status evidence, passport, English test certificate, and Life in the UK pass letter.
- Biometrics appointment to confirm your identity.
- Decision — the Home Office states most straightforward applications get a decision within 6 months, though complex cases (particularly where absences are close to the limit, or character issues need review) can take longer.
- Citizenship ceremony — the final legal step. You take an oath of allegiance (and, for some applicants, a pledge), receive your certificate of naturalisation, and only then are you a British citizen — you can apply for a British passport straight after.
People who don’t need the 12-month wait
If you’re married to, or in a civil partnership with, a British citizen, you can apply for naturalisation as soon as you’re granted ILR — there’s no requirement to hold settled status for a full year first. You still need to meet the 3-year residence and absence-day rules that apply to this route, which are shorter than the standard 5-year track.
Common reasons applications are refused or delayed
- Exceeding the 90-day absence limit in the final 12 months — a frequent trap for applicants who travel for work or family shortly before applying; count backwards from your intended application date, not forwards from your ILR grant.
- Undeclared minor offences, including some driving convictions and cautions, which the good character assessment weighs even when the conviction is old or spent under some circumstances.
- Tax or National Insurance discrepancies — self-employed and company-director applicants in particular should make sure HMRC records match what’s declared on the form.
- Gaps in evidence of continuous residence, especially for applicants who changed address or visa category multiple times during the qualifying period.
FAQ
Do children automatically become British citizens when a parent naturalises? No — children generally need a separate registration application (Form MN1), though the process and fee differ from adult naturalisation and depend on the child’s age and where they were born.
Can I hold dual nationality? The UK allows dual citizenship, but you should check whether your country of origin permits it — some countries require you to renounce your original nationality on taking another.
What if I’m just short of the 5-year residence requirement? You generally can’t apply early — wait until you’ve accrued the full qualifying period, since applying prematurely results in refusal (and you don’t get the fee back).
Does time on a visa before ILR count toward the 5 years? Yes — the 5-year period runs from your actual UK arrival/visa start date, not from when you were granted ILR, provided your residence was continuous and lawful throughout.
This is general preparation guidance, not legal advice. Naturalisation decisions turn on the specifics of your residence and immigration history — confirm your position against current Home Office guidance at gov.uk or with an immigration adviser before applying.
If you’re still working toward ILR and want help tracking your absence days and document timeline along the way, join the VisaMet waitlist for early access to our AI assistant.