VisaConnect Logo
Logo VisaConnect

British Citizenship

→ UK Immigration and Visa Advice → BRITISH CITIZENSHIP AND UK PASSPORT

Table of Contents

British Citizenship

There are several routes to applying for British citizenship (also known as Naturalisation), depending on your situation. If you qualify through more than one way, you can choose which applies best to you.

Permission to Stay

While your application is being processed, you need valid permission to remain in the UK. This includes indefinite leave to remain (ILR), settled status, or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme. The deadline to apply for EU Settlement was 30 June 2021, but you may still be able to apply if you have valid reasons.\

Born in the UK

Being born in the UK doesn’t automatically make you a British citizen; eligibility depends on when you were born and your parents’ status. Check if you’re eligible based on your circumstances.

Married to a British Citizen

If you’ve lived in the UK for the last 3 years and are married or in a civil partnership with a British citizen, and you have ILR or settled status, you can apply for citizenship immediately.

Have ILR or Settled Status

  • Typically, you can apply for ILR after 5 years of residence.
  • After obtaining ILR, you usually need to wait 12 months before applying for citizenship.
  • Irish citizens can apply after 5 years of residence.

EU Settlement Scheme

  • If you have settled status, you can apply after 12 months of holding it.
  • If you have pre-settled status, you can apply after 5 years of residence, and then wait another year to apply for citizenship (unless married to a British citizen).

Other Citizenship Eligibility Routes

  • Having a British parent or other British nationality.
  • Being stateless or having renounced citizenship.
  • Special circumstances like being a descendant of a Chagossian or qualifying under the Windrush Scheme (if you or your parent arrived in the UK before 1973 and have lived there continuously).

 

British National (Overseas) Visa

If you're from Hong Kong SAR and hold British national (overseas) status, you and your family can apply for a BN(O) visa to live in the UK.

Who Can Apply for BNO Visa?

  • Hong Kong residents who are British nationals (overseas)
  • The child of a BN(O) if born on or after 1 July 1979
  • Family members, including partners, children under 18, and certain adult dependents, can also apply alongside or later.

Stay Duration and Extensions

  • You can stay for 2.5 or 5 years
  • You can extend your visa multiple times
  • After 5 years, you may be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain (permanent residency)

BNO Visa Costs

  • Application fee: £206 for 2.5 years, or £285 for 5 years
  • Healthcare surcharge: approx. £2,588 for 2.5 years, or £5,175 for 5 years.
  • You must show you can support yourself and your family financially during your stay.

BNO Visa Application Process

  • Apply online from outside or inside the UK
  • Prove your identity with a passport or travel document
  • Provide evidence of your residence, finances, and relationship with family members
  • TB test certificates may be required depending on where you apply from.

Path to Settlement and Citizenship

  • After 5 years of residence, you can apply for indefinite leave to remain
  • Once settled, you can apply for British citizenship after 1 additional year
  • Family members can also apply for citizenship if eligible

Who Can Apply for UK Passport?

  • You must be a British national
  • You need to be 16 or older (or will be within 3 weeks)
  • You’ve never held a UK passport before, including passports issued before 1 January 1994
  • You can use your child’s passport until it expires, even if you're over 18
  • An adult passport is valid for 10 years.

Documents for UK Passport

  • Original birth or adoption certificates (or official copies)
  • If born outside the UK, additional evidence based on circumstances, such as parents’ UK status or naturalisation certificates
  • Documents not in English or Welsh need certified translations
  • Supporting documents will be returned separately.

Applying by Post

  • Fill in the application form and attach two passport photos (one signed)
  • A countersignatory must confirm your identity and sign one photo
  • Send your application and documents using the pre-paid envelope or visit a Post Office with the Passport Check and Send service
  • Expect a longer processing time than the Online Application

After Applying for Passport

  • You may be called for an interview to verify your identity, including online video options
  • Your new passport will be sent by courier or recorded delivery