Shabana Bukhari 
In today’s blog, readers will learn how to apply for British citizenship Application in Reading with our comprehensive guide. Find requirements, steps, and tips for a successful application process in this blog.
What is British citizenship?
British citizenship is legal status in the UK granted to persons that meet certain eligibility criteria. Citizenship allows you to live and work in the UK free from any immigration restrictions. You may also apply for a British passport allowing you to come in and out of the country at any time.
There are many ways of acquiring British citizenship which are discussed in various Henleaze Law blogs. Some include birthright, naturalisation, or descent. Below, we will be discussing the requirements for these respective ways of acquiring British citizenship.
Requirements for British citizenship
Birth
The first route to obtaining British citizenship is being born in the UK.
For this route you must also consider your date of birth as there are slightly different requirements:
- After 1st January 1983.
At the time of your birth one of your parents must also have either settled status (ILR or EU Settlement Scheme) or British citizenship.
- Before 1983.
The requirement above is not necessary.
If your child automatically acquires British citizenship at birth you can apply for a UK passport: Getting your first adult passport: Who can apply – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) or apply for an immigration status letter (Form NS): Nationality Services Base Product (visas-immigration.service.gov.uk).
If your child does not automatically acquire British citizenship at birth you can apply for it, there are different forms depending on whether:
- You are under 18 years old.
Use Form MN1: MN1 (visas-immigration.service.gov.uk).
- You lived in the UK until the age of 10.
Use Form T: Nationality – Form T (visas-immigration.service.gov.uk).
For more information, please follow this link: Apply for citizenship if you were born in the UK: Who can apply – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Adoption
The second route to obtaining British citizenship surround adopted children, if either:
- It is compliant with the Hague Convention and at least one of the parents (adopter(s)) is a British citizen habitually resident in the UK.
This option is for those adopting a child from overseas.
- Or the court orders the adoption and at least one of the parents (adopter(s)) is a British citizen.
If one of the above applies, then no citizenship application is needed, and a parent may apply for a British passport: Getting your first adult passport: Who can apply – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
If neither applies, then a British citizenship application in reading is needed, and the Home Office have discretion on this matter.
Descent
The third route to obtaining British citizenship is by descent. You must take notice of the following requirements:
- Firstly, you are not eligible for citizenship by descent if your British parent obtained their own citizenship by descent. They must have obtained citizenship ‘otherwise than by descent’ (birth, registration, adoption, naturalisation).
- Secondly, you may be eligible if your parents or grandparents obtained citizenship ‘otherwise than by descent’ at the time of your birth.
- Thirdly, the above depends on where you were born and your parents immigration status at that time:
- Born on or after the 1st of July 2006
- Born between 1983 and June 2006
- Born before 1983
If you have automatic British citizenship by descent you can apply for a UK passport: Getting your first adult passport: Who can apply – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) or apply for an immigration status letter (Form NS): Nationality Services Base Product (visas-immigration.service.gov.uk).
If you do not automatically acquire British citizenship by descent, you can apply/register for it. Select the correct application form depending on your date of birth discussed above: Nationality – UKF (visas-immigration.service.gov.uk).
Naturalisation
- Time spent living in the UK.
For those married to British nationals this must at least 3 years and for the rest of applicants this must 5 years. A record needs to be kept of the time you spent outside the UK to show that this does not exceed the prescribed number of days which is no more than 450 days overseas in the last 5 years and no more than 90 days in the last year.
If you are not married to a British national, you must also possess one of the following for 12 months:
- Indefinite leave to remain in the UK (ILR).
- ‘Settled Status’ (alternatively ‘indefinite leave to remain under the EU Settlement Scheme’)
- Indefinite leave to enter the UK (which is permission to move to the UK permanently from abroad)
- You must be over 18 years old.
- You must prove your (spoken and written) knowledge of English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic.
- You must have taken and passed the ‘Life in the UK test’.
- You must be of good character.
- Provide details of 2 referees.
Apply online for a quicker process: Apply online (form AN) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Or through post using a Form AN: form-an-06-2022.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)
Steps for an online British citizenship application in reading.
Step 1: Use the respective forms above depending on how you wish to obtain British citizenship.
Step 2: Upload supporting evidence.
Step 3: Pay the respective applications fees.
Step 4: For an application to naturalise as a British citizen, you must book a biometric appointment with the UKVCAS which will cost £19.20.
Step 5: The Home Office will decide in around 6 months’ time on the success of your application which you will be notified of in writing.
- If you are successful in gaining British citizenship by naturalisation, you must book and attend a citizenship ceremony which you can read about here: citizenship ceremony.
- If you are unsuccessful in gaining British citizenship, there are several options:
- Submit a new application.
- Reconsideration of your original application.
- Judicial review.
Tips for a successful process of British citizenship application in reading
For a successful British citizenship application in reading process, it is imperative that you receive advise on what is the best route to obtaining this status.
Also, when completing the online application ensure you disclose all relevant information and that you upload all supporting documents. Otherwise, if the Home Office does not receive full disclosure of your current status they will refuse your application.
FAQs about British Citizenship Application in Reading
Why do I need supporting documents?
You need supporting documents because this is what the Home Office bases your suitability and credibility on when applying for British citizenship. They are evidence that applicants meet the criteria discussed in previous blogs. Submitting the correct documents are key because if you fail to do this your application may be rejected or returned unprocessed, costing you time and money. With this checklist you will receive successful results quickly.
How long does an application for British citizenship take?
Home Office processing times for British citizenship by naturalisation applications are estimated on their guidance to take 6 months.
What are some of the benefits to acquiring British citizenship?
Some of the benefits to acquiring British citizenship include the right to live in the UK permanently, access to free medical care through the NHS, right to work and study, right to vote, a British passport and the right to claim state benefits.
Am I able to travel overseas once submitting my British citizenship application in reading?
Yes, you can travel overseas once submitting your application for British citizenship. But ensure that you are meeting the continuous residence requirement discussed above. Also, you must provide biometric information within 45 days from submitting your application so ensure that you are able to be in the UK to undertake this task.
How much does an application for British citizenship by naturalisation cost?
It costs £1,330 and a fee of £80 must also be paid for a citizenship ceremony if your application is successful
Is it possible to lose British citizenship?
Yes. The Home Secretary can remove it if the application was untruthful and inaccurate.
How can Henleaze Law help?
Henleaze Law can tell you which necessary documents you have forgotten to include and how the Home Office will exercise its discretion when examining your application.
Am I exempt from taking either the ‘Life in the UK Test’ or securing the English language requirement?
Yes, you may be exempt if you are over the age of 65 and suffer from a long term physical or mental health condition.
Summary
In this blog readers have acquired knowledge on how to apply for British citizenship in Reading, including the respective requirements, steps, and tips for a successful application process.
Please contact our Reading based expert team of immigration lawyers at Henleaze Law on 0117 908 4625 for legal assistance with British citizenship application in reading. We will discuss what is the best citizenship application for you, and what documents we need from you as part of compiling your evidence bundle.
