Having a settled status in the UK is the final step before gaining British citizenship. It is the most crucial step that defines whether you are eligible enough for British citizenship or not.

One mistake and you could lose the chance to apply for British citizenship. Before you begin making British citizenship applications one must ensure that you abide by all the rules of immigration throughout the period of your stay in the UK.

When can you apply?

You can apply for British citizenship if you have continuously lived in the UK for a period of 5 years or more or have any of the following for 12 months or more :

• Indefinite Leave to Remain(ILR) in the UK
• UK settled status
• Indefinite Leave to Enter to the UK

As an exception, you may not need 12 months time if you are eligible on the basis of a UK spouse visa.

Additional information 

• Your age must be above 18 years
• On the day when the UK Home Office receives your application you should have completed your 5 years of stay in the UK
• You are never a defaulter while living in the UK- you possess a good character and a sound mind
• You have passed the knowledge of life and English in the United Kingdom
• You have good intentions to stay in the UK
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Additional residency prerequisites

You must prove that you have stayed in the UK for 5 continuous years before making the decision to apply.

You cannot add any time spent in the UK as a diplomat, government official, member of a diplomat’s staff of household, or a member of the armed forces.

Time calculation on your application

The Home Office checks whether you have spent any time outside the UK is included within permissible limits or not. 

• You are not allowed to spent time outside the UK for more than 450 days in last 5 years prior to your application
• Stayed outside the UK for more than 90 days in last 12 months
• You have never stayed illegally within the UK or travelled illegally to the UK

Application and processing time

The application has to be made online with the fee. The application costs £1,330 to apply and £19.20 to get your fingerprint and scanned photographs. You will be asked to do this after you have applied. You will have to take appointment at the nearest UK visa and application centre at your convenient date and complete the application.

You should be present in the UK exactly  5 years before you make the Home Office receive your application. The British Home Office will reject your application if you do not prove this information.

You can also take support of UK immigration solicitors, A Y & J Solicitors to help you assess your application with their bespoke immigration and visa services and consultation. 

You can apply for UK citizenship for your child as well.

You can register citizenship for your child if they were born in another country, or before you had ILR status in the UK. It costs £1,012 for child applicants. 

Decision on your applicationIt takes about 6 months for the decision to come out so you must be patient and do not leave the country. The Home office may ask you for additional documents, if the need arises depending on the complexity of your case. Once your application is successful, you will have to plan a citizenship ceremony where the Home Office will award you British citizenship and you need to take an oath of allegiance to abide by all UK laws as a good citizen. Checkout here Top 10 Immigration Lawyers in London UK