British Citizenship Application Requirements

Mar 18, 2025 by Dos team

1. Residency Requirements

To apply for naturalisation, you must have lived in the UK for:

Five years (or three years if married to a British citizen)
No more than 450 days outside the UK in the past five years (or 270 days in three years for spouses)
No more than 90 days abroad in the last 12 months
ILR or settled status must have been held for at least 12 months before applying (unless married to a British citizen)

2. English Language Requirement

You can prove English proficiency through:

A degree taught in English
A Home Office-approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) at B1 level or higher
Exemption if you’re from an English-speaking country

3. Life in the UK Test

A multiple-choice test (£50 fee) covering British history, values, and culture. A 75% pass mark is required.

4. Good Character Requirement

You must not have severe or recent criminal convictions, immigration breaches, or financial

irregularities. This applies to anyone over 10 years old.