Halliday Reeves

Specialist Immigration Solicitors

How Much Does It Cost To Apply For British Citizenship?

How much does it cost to apply for British citizenship?

If you wish to apply for British citizenship, you will need to know how much the application costs are as well as some of the associated expenses.

At Halliday Reeves, we regularly make successful British citizenship applications for our clients. We can advise you as to whether you are eligible to apply, complete the application form on your behalf and compile the paperwork that you will need in support.

We can also discuss the costs with you, to include the application fee payable to the Home Office. If you are considering applying for UK citizenship, please feel free to ring us on 0330 133 7777, email us at enquiries@hallidayreeves.com or fill in our Contact Form.

“I think 5 stars are not enough for the service I got… I got my citizenship certificate in two months and this is amazing…. I’m really thankful to Sabiha for her patience, help , time and availability. She has done a wonderful job. Best immigration lawyer. Thanks very much for everything…”

Applying For British Citizenship

You may be able to apply for British citizenship if you have lived in the UK for five years and you have held either indefinite leave to remain or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme for one year.

If you are married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen, you only need to have lived in the UK for three years. Provided you hold either indefinite leave to remain or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme you can then apply straightaway, without the need to wait a year.

You may also be eligible to apply because of your background, for example, if you have a British parent or parent with British overseas territories citizenship or you are considered British for another reason, including being a British overseas citizen or British protected person.

Eligibility For British Citizenship

You should check that you are eligible before submitting your application and make sure that you have documentary evidence proving this. Eligibility criteria include:

  • You are over 18
  • You have the required standard of English
  • You have passed the Life in the UK test
  • You intend to carry on living in the UK
  • You are of good character
  • You have not breached any UK immigration laws

You need to have been present in the UK on the date exactly five years before the day on which your application is received by the Home Office.

There are also restrictions on the amount of time you can have spent outside of the UK prior to your application. This must be:

  • No more than 450 days during the five years prior to your application or 270 days within the previous 3 years if you are married or in a civil partnership with a British Citizen.
  • No more than 90 days in the previous year

British Citizenship Application Fee

The cost to apply for British citizenship is £1,330 if you are applying because you have indefinite leave to remain or settled status.

If you are applying on the basis of your British nationality, the cost is £1,206 for an adult and £1,012 for a child. If a child turns 18 during the application, an additional £80 will be payable for their citizenship ceremony.

If the application is on behalf of someone who is aged under 18, it is possible to apply for a fee waiver in some cases so that they do not have to pay the citizenship application fee if this is not affordable.

To qualify to apply for a fee waiver, the child or young person and their parent or guardian must be unable to pay the fee because:

  • They do not have a place to live and cannot afford one
  • They cannot afford essentials such as food and heating
  • They do not have enough money to pay the application fee after paying for essentials such as accommodation, food and heating
  • Paying the fee would mean that the child or young person’s needs cannot be met

It is important to send the correct fee as your application will not be processed if you send the wrong amount and you will need to submit your application again.

Other Costs For British Citizenship Application

You will need to pay for a Life in the UK test, at a cost of £50.

If you need to take a secure English language test (SELT) to prove that you have an adequate knowledge of English, you will need to pay the provider’s fee. This may cost up to £250.

If your application includes any documents that are not in English, you will need to provide a certified translation of them. Costs vary but could be around £30 per page.

“My partner and I had a great experience with this firm. We received excellent service from Sabiha who helped us with our immigration matter. She took time to answer all our questions and help complete our application. Sabina followed up with visa application and queries, this enabled us to get the visa we required to visit the UK granted. We have already recommended Sabiha and the firm to friends and family who require immigration support.”

Contact Our British Citizenship Solicitors

If you are applying for British citizenship, our immigration experts can put together your application to give you the best chance of success.

We have offices in Gateshead, Middlesbrough, Wakefield and Nottingham. To speak to one of our expert UK citizenship lawyers, ring us on 0330 133 7777, email us at enquiries@hallidayreeves.com or fill in our Contact Form.

What Documents Are Needed For British Citizenship?

If you have indefinite leave to remain or settled status in the UK, you may wish to apply for British citizenship. This will give you extensive rights to live, work and study in Britain as well as to apply for a British passport.  What Documents Are Needed For British Citizenship?

British citizenship may also be available to you because of your background or parentage. We take a look at the documents that you will need to supply to the Home Office along with your application for British citizenship.

At Halliday Reeves, we specialise in immigration law. Our team have a sound track record of making successful citizenship applications on behalf of our clients. We will work with you to ensure that all of the necessary documents are included to give your application the best chance of being approved.

If you are thinking of applying to become a British citizen, we would be happy to help. To speak to one of our expert UK immigration solicitors, ring us on 0330 133 7777, email us at enquiries@hallidayreeves.com or complete a Free Online Enquiry.

“Good experienced staff and friendly too…. takes care of their clients very well… definitely approachable”

Applying To Become A British Citizen By Way Of Naturalisation

If you wish to apply to become a naturalised British citizen, you will need to meet the following criteria:

  • You are aged 18 or more
  • You have lived in the UK for five years or more prior to applying for citizenship if not married or in a civil partnership with a British citizen.
  • You have lived in the UK for three years or more prior to applying for citizenship if married or in a civil partnership with a British citizen.
  • You have not breached the UK immigration rules
  • You are not subject to any immigration time restrictions
  • You have not spent more than 450 days away from the UK within the previous five years if not married or in a civil partnership with a British citizen or 270 days within the previous three years if you are.
  • You have not spent more than 90 days away from the UK in the year prior to making your application to be a British citizen
  • It is your intention to continue living in the UK
  • You have passed the Life in the UK test
  • You have a good standard of English
  • You are of good character

You will need to send documents in support of some of these points with your application so that the immigration authorities can see that you are eligible.

“Thank you very much for helping me with my Citizenship application. Your services were excellent”

Documents Supporting An Application For British Citizenship

It is important to make sure that all necessary documents are sent to UK Visas and Immigration when you apply for citizenship. If some paperwork is missing, your application is likely to be rejected and you may find it harder to apply a second time.

We can discuss your situation with you and make sure that you include the right documents. These will generally include:

  • Your current passport or EU identity card
  • Expired passports from the previous five/three years
  • Two photographs, which need to be included with details of your referees
  • Details of two referees, one of whom must be a professional and the second must hold a UK passport – you will need to provide their names, addresses, gender, date of birth, phone number, addresses for the previous three years, email addresses and profession. If they hold a British passport, their passport number should also be provided. You should also explain how you know each person – The Referees should also have known the (adult) applicant for at least three years
  • A Biometric Residence Permit showing that you have indefinite leave to remain or a document confirming that you have permanent residence status or settled status
  • Your National Insurance number. If you do not have one, you can apply for this from within the UK by asking HM Revenue and Customs
  • Results of an approved English language test or proof that you hold a degree taught in English or in the UK. Secure English language test (SELT) providers are:
    • LanguageCert
    • Pearson
    • Trinity College London
    • IELTS SELT Consortium
  • A copy of an email confirming that you have passed a Life in the UK test
  • Evidence that you have been present in the UK for the five-year qualifying period (or three years if you are married to a British citizen), such as a letter from your employer, payslips, bank statements, forms P60 and contracts of employment for the whole period where possible. Other documents are acceptable if you are self-employed, not working, a student or a job seeker and we can advise you on what you need to include in this event

Information To Be Provided In Support

You will also need to provide the following information:

  • Details of your parents’ names, dates of birth, town and country of birth and nationality. You should include your mother’s maiden name
  • Your spouse or partner’s name, any previous names, date of birth, town and country of birth, nationality, current address and, where applicable, the date on which they became a naturalised British citizen and their citizenship certificate number
  • A list of the addresses at which you have lived over the previous five/three years
  • Your employment history for the previous ten years, including dates, your occupation and your employer’s name and address
  • Details of your absences from the UK in the previous five years (or three years if you are married to a British citizen), including dates you were away, number of days you were away, where you were and the reason you went

Contact Our British Citizenship Solicitors

If you are applying for British citizenship, our expert British citizenship lawyers can work with you to compile the right documents in support to give you the best chance of approval.

We have offices in Gateshead, Middlesbrough, Wakefield and Nottingham. To speak to one of our expert UK citizenship lawyers, ring us on 0330 133 7777, email us at enquiries@hallidayreeves.com or complete a Free Online Enquiry.

How To Apply For British Citizenship For An EU Citizen

How To Apply For British Citizenship For An EU Citizen

If you are an EU citizen living in the UK, you may want to apply for British citizenship. This would give you the right to live and work in the UK, to apply for a British passport and to leave and return to the UK without restriction.

When making an application to the Home Office for British citizenship, you will need to provide evidence that you are legally settled in the UK and free of immigration restrictions. You will also need to show that you have been present in the UK for the required length of time without absences that could disqualify you.

At Halliday Reeves, we specialise in immigration, including citizenship applications. Our team have extensive experience in securing citizenship for EU clients, including in complex situations.

We can check that you are eligible and make an application to the Home Office on your behalf. We will also make sure that all of the necessary paperwork is included in support. This is important as your application will be rejected if you do not have sufficient evidence to show that you meet all of the eligibility criteria.

If you are from the EU and you wish to secure British citizenship, we will be happy to help. To speak to one of our expert UK citizenship lawyers, ring us on 0330 133 7777, email us at enquiries@hallidayreeves.com or fill in our Contact Form.

“Special thanks for the most professional representation. you (hallidayreeves ) stuck by me through the years. By dealing with this stressful case. I admire the work ethic and most of all the excellent representation.”

Eligibility For British Citizenship As An EU Citizen

To be eligible to apply for British citizenship as an EU citizen, you need to meet the following criteria:

  • You are aged over 18
  • You have settled status in the UK
  • You have lived in the UK for at least five years before the date of your application or three years if you are a spouse or civil partner of a British citizen
  • You have not been absent from the UK for more than 450 days during this five year period or 270 days in the previous three years if you are a spouse or civil partner of a British citizen.
  • You have not been absent from the UK for more than 90 days in the past year
  • You have not broken any immigration laws
  • You have adequate knowledge of English
  • You have passed the Life in the UK test
  • You intend to continue living in the UK
  • You are of good character

Applying For British Citizenship As An EU Citizen

If you satisfy the above criteria, the first step is to put together paperwork proving these points. You can then fill in the application form AN. We can ensure that you have the right documents ready and prepare the application on your behalf for you to submit.

When applying, you must make sure that you were physically present in the UK on the date that falls five years earlier (or three years earlier if you are a spouse or civil partner of a British citizen).
Your application can be made online or by post and you can ask us to complete it on your behalf if you wish.

Supplying Evidence In Support Of Your Citizenship Application

A wide range of paperwork will be necessary to provide evidence of each of the eligibility criteria. For example, you will need to supply your passport where possible to show that you have been present in the UK for the necessary time period.

You must also provide the details of two referees who are prepared to endorse your application. One of these must be a professional person such as a solicitor (but not one whom you have instructed to help you with your citizenship application), an accountant, a civil servant or a minister of religion. The professional can be of any nationality, while the second referee must hold a British passport. Your referees cannot be related to you or to each other.

You will need to pay the Home Office application fee of £1,330 at the time your application is made.

“Confidence in a service always starts from the Introduction stage. Especially with an immigration situation for my partner so important, and slightly complex. I was extremely pleased to find Halliday Reeves possess the skillset for listening, understanding and advising from the initial phone call to the consultation service provided. I spoke to a lady on reception firstly, who took all my information and details. I then received a call back from Eileen (Admin) who was extremely helpful with taking the correct details from me, as on my previous call some of my information I gave was not clear (I had a lot of information to give them!). In addition to accurately taking the information again in a professional manner, Eileen was also very helpful, friendly, and compassionate when hearing my current circumstances.”

Contact Our UK Citizenship Solicitors

If you want to apply as an EU citizen for UK citizenship, we would be happy to hear from you. We can put together the application on your behalf and collate your evidence in support, giving you the best possible chance of acceptance.

We have offices in Gateshead, Middlesbrough, Wakefield and Nottingham. To speak to one of our expert UK citizenship lawyers, ring us on 0330 133 7777, email us at enquiries@hallidayreeves.com or fill in our Contact Form.

 

 

 

 

 

How To Get UK Citizenship

British citizenship will give you the right to live, work and study in the UK on a permanent basis and without any restrictions. If you hold British citizenship, you will also be able to apply for a British passport and spend time out of the country if you wish without losing your status.

Some individuals may automatically be British citizens because of their background or parentage, meaning they can make an application to have their citizenship registered.

For overseas citizens who meet certain eligibility criteria, including holding indefinite leave to remain or settled status, UK or British citizenship can be acquired by way of naturalisation.

At Halliday Reeves, we are immigration experts. If you are considering applying for British citizenship, we can check that you are eligible and advise you of the process to be followed. We will also make sure that your application includes all of the necessary paperwork in support. This can be substantial and if some documents are missing, your application is likely to be rejected.

To speak to one of our expert immigration solicitors, ring us on 0330 133 7777, email us at enquiries@hallidayreeves.com or fill in our Contact Form.

“All went well and I got all the special services you could expect from such a professional organisation. I will 100% advise anyone who is in need of the immigration services with pride”

Eligibility For UK Naturalisation

If you are aged 18 or more and you have lived in the UK with Indefinite Leave to Remain or EU Settled Status for twelve months or more after attaining this status, you may be able to apply for naturalisation as a British citizen.

Unless you are married to a British citizen, the criteria you must meet to be eligible include the following:

  • You are of sound mind and understand the implications of becoming a naturalised British citizen
  • You have lived in the UK for at least five years before the date of your application
  • You were physically present in the UK on the day five years before your application is received by the Home Office
  • You have not breached immigration laws or been convicted of a crime in the UK
  • You are not and have not been for the previous twelve months subject to any immigration time restrictions
  • You have spent no more than 450 days outside of the UK in the previous five years, unless it was because of certain exceptional circumstances
  • You have spent no more than 90 days outside of the UK in the year leading up to your application
  • You intend to continue living in the UK
  • You have passed the Life in the UK test
  • You have the required level of English
  • You are of good character

If you are married to a British citizen, you may be eligible to apply on this basis if the following apply:

  • You have lived in the UK for at least three years before the date of your application
  • You were physically present in the UK on the day three years before your application is received by the Home Office
  • You are not subject to immigration time restrictions
  • You have not breached immigration laws or been convicted of a crime in the UK
  • You have not been outside of the UK for more than 270 days in the three years prior to your application
  • You have passed the Life in the UK test
  • Your English language skills are at the required level
  • You are of good character

Applying For UK Citizenship As An EU Or EEA National

If you are an EU or EEA national and you hold settled status or have indefinite leave to remain, you are entitled to apply for UK or British citizenship.

Submitting an application to become a British citizen

You or your representative will need to fill in form AN to apply to become a British citizen. This can be done online from most areas of the UK or by post.

Your application to become a British citizen will need to be accompanied by paperwork proving that you meet the eligibility criteria. You will also need someone with professional standing to provide a reference on your behalf as well as another reference from a second person.

At the time you submit your application form, you will need to pay the application fee of £1,330. This will usually include the cost of the ceremony at which you will swear an oath of allegiance to the UK if your application is successful. This will often be a group ceremony and if you would prefer a private ceremony, you may need to pay an additional fee.

Thanks for the service I got from HallidayReeeves. I am pleased to say that you’re reliable & easy to work with. Thanks for always updating me every step of the way regarding my case. The relationship between client & you is excellent.”em>

Contact Our UK Citizenship Solicitors

If you would like advice on your eligibility for British citizenship or you would like help with your application, to include putting together documents in support, we will be happy to hear from you.

We have offices in Gateshead, Middlesbrough, Leeds, Wakefield and Nottingham. To speak to one of our expert UK citizenship lawyers, ring us on 0330 133 7777, email us at enquiries@hallidayreeves.com or fill in our Contact Form.

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