Gaining your UK permanent residency, settled status or indefinite leave to remain (IRL) is a big step towards gaining full UK citizenship. If you are planning to remain settled and present in the UK, and have been legally in the country for five years, there is a good chance you are eligible to apply for ILR. Once you have had this status for one year, you can apply for your full british citizenship. We breakdown the UK permanent residence journey from getting your Biometric Residence Permit to gaining citizenship through naturalisation in the UK.
To be eligible for British citizenship and a UK passport, you will first need to get permanent residency. For non-EU citizens, this is known as indefinite leave to remain. If you’re an EU citizen, you’ll need to apply for either pre-settled or settled status on your journey to gaining British citizenship.
Gaining your biometric residence permit
If you are planning to stay in the UK for longer than six months you have to apply for your biometric residence permit (BRP) as part of your visa application. If you move to the UK and end up switching visas you can also apply for your BRP from within the UK.
The biometric residence permit acts like an identity card to help migration officers confirm your identity and visa status. Once you are settled in the UK, you can also use your BRP to confirm your identification. You will need this card for your UK citizenship through naturalisation application, so it is part of the long process of becoming a permanent resident in the UK.
BRP cards will include:
- Your name and surname.
- Your date and place of birth.
- Your biometric information, which includes fingerprints, signature, and facial image.
- Your biometric residence permit number.
It may also include:
- Your immigration status and condition to stay in the UK
- Other information about your status, such as public funds benefits and health services
- Your National Insurance (NI) number (if applicable)
How to apply for your BRP in Australia
If you are applying for your UK visa whilst still in Australia, and plan to stay in the UK for more than six months, you are going to need to go to a VFS Global visa application centre to get your biometric information taken and submitted to the UK Home Office.
To find your nearest UK visa application centre visit the VFS Global website.
If your visa application is successful, you will be issued with a vignette in your passport covering the first 30 days in the UK. The Home Office will issue you with a letter covering all the collection details for your BRP card. You are expected to collect your BRP within 10 days of arriving in the UK, as it will be the only proof of your status and entitlements after their 30-day vignette expires.
Please note: If, due to self-isolation and Covid-19, you are unable to collect your BRP, the post office will hold your BRP for 90 days. You must finish your self-isolation first and late collection will not affect your visa status.
How long does it take to get a biometric residence permit?
The biometric residence permit processing time varies between one and four months.
If you need to receive your response in a shorter period, you can pay an extra £800 for the priority service.
If you are a resident returning to the UK after a long absence, your BRP can prove your eligibility for your Resident Return Visa application.
Gaining UK permanent residency through naturalisation
You can gain British citizenship in the following ways:
- By birth
- By descent
- Through naturalisation (if you are over 18)
British citizenship gives you the right to live and work in the UK permanently, without any immigration restrictions.
What are the British citizenship requirements (naturalisation)?
Based on the British Nationality Act, those who wish to apply for naturalisation must meet the following requirements:
- Be over the age of 18
- Have spent at least five years of continuous residence in the UK, with no longer than 450 days outside the UK
- Hold indefinite leave to remain in the UK for at least 12 months
- Cannot have been outside of the UK for more than 90 days in the 12 months prior to the application
- Meet the B1 CEFR level English language requirements (Australians are exempt from this)
- Pass the Life in the UK Test, to show that you are aware of the basics of the British customs, laws and culture
- Not broken any of the UK immigration rules
- Demonstrate and prove that you meet the good character requirement
- Have two referees for your British citizenship application who are known to you for over three years and at least one must hold a British passport
The good character requirements
To qualify for British citizenship, you must demonstrate your “good character”. This means that you must not hold any severe nor recent criminal records. The Home Office will also review any criminal offence committed overseas and UK immigration-related issues. There are several other good character requirements you need to meet, such as lack of traffic offences or filing for bankruptcy. You can see a full list of good character requirements here.
Applying for naturalisation if you are married to a British citizen
As a married partner of a UK citizen, you can apply to become a naturalised citizen of the UK as soon as you have received your ILR, as long as you have been in the UK legally for three years on a valid visa.
To apply:
- You must have lived in the UK for at least three years before the date you submit your application.
- You have not been absent from the UK for more than 270 days during the previous three-year period.
- You have not been outside the UK for more than 90 days in the 12 months before your application.*
*If any of these timelines have been affected by the global pandemic, Covid-19, this will serve as a compelling reason for the exception and will be accepted by the Home Office.
If you’re applying for citizenship for your child
You’ll need to make a separate application for your child.
If your child is under 18 years old, you can apply to register them as British citizen. Registering is a way of applying for British citizenship.
The application process is easier for children – they don’t have to:
- Pass the Life in the UK Test
- Prove their knowledge of English
- Attend the citizenship ceremony
What documents do I need to register for British citizenship?
When applying for British citizenship, it is essential to prepare an adequate portfolio of documents to demonstrate that you meet all the residency requirements. This will help the Home Office evaluate your case and speed up your processing time.
These are the documents that you must send to the Home Office when applying for British citizenship:
- Evidence of your identity and permanent residence status, such as your passport, birth certificate or any valid travel document.
- Your biometric residence permit, residence card or any proof that you hold indefinite leave to remain or EU Settled Status.
- Evidence of your previous immigration status and your right to remain in the UK, including any visa that you held before you settled in the UK.
- Proof that you have taken and passed the English language test and Knowledge of Life in the UK Test. (Australians are exempt from taking the English language test). You will receive a valid pass certificate after completing both the Life in the UK Test and the ESOL language exam. If you have already completed the Life in the UK Test when you obtained indefinite leave to remain, you do not need to resit the exam.
- Evidence of lawful residential presence in the UK during the qualifying period. As a resident of the UK, you must have always respected all the immigration laws.
- Travel details of any period of absence that you have spent outside the UK. To become a British citizen, you need to show that you have not been absent from the UK for more than 450 days during the five-year residence period.
- You must have two suitable referees for your British citizenship application (one must hold British citizenship, and another must be a professional. Read the list of accepted professions. Both referees must not be a relative, solicitor or agent of the applicant, related to the other referee or employed by the Home Office. They need to have known you for at least three years.
What to do if your citizenship application is not successful?
If your citizenship application is successful, you will need to attend a citizenship ceremony. The individual receiving citizenship is required to attend the ceremony by law. At this ceremony, you’ll make an Oath of Allegiance to the UK, promising to respect the rights, freedoms and laws. Then you will be presented with your certificate of British citizenship.
Getting a British passport
You do not automatically get a British passport after gaining citizenship. Once you have your naturalisation certification, you can use this to apply for a British passport.
You will also need a countersignature to confirm your identity, a digital photo and supporting documents.