• Quick facts about the test
• ‘Knowledge of language and life’ requirement for skilled workers
• Who needs to take the test - Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
• Who needs to take the test - Citizenship
• Spouses and partners
• Are there new books for 2012?
• What to study for the test
• I’ve passed my test. What are the next steps?
• Citizenship applications summary

 

 

• Your choices for studying for the Life in the UK test
• 7 top tips from people who have passed the Life in the UK test
• Study Techniques and Tips
• Difficult Chapters
• Life in the UK Study Checklist

 

 

• Book Your Test

 

 

• Applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
• Absences during your qualifying residence period for ILR
• Fees for settlement (ILR) applications
• Using the Settlement Checking Service (SCS)
• Applying for citizenship
• Absences during your qualifying residence period for citizenship
• Fees for citizenship applications
• Using the Nationality Checking Service (NCS)
• About your Citizenship ceremony
• Applying for your passport

Applying for citizenship

Once you have passed the Life in the UK test, you can start the process of completing your application for citizenship.

Completing your Citizenship Application

There are many different Citizenship Application forms available, however most applications are for naturalisation, and so use the AN Form. You can download a copy of the British Citizenship Application form AN (pdf, 108KB) here. If your application is non-standard then check the list of all available forms.

Be careful that you correctly submit your application. It is not possible to get a refund for incorrect applications. Thousands of citizenship applications are rejected each year for reasons that could have easily been avoided. Download this free Home Office guide (pdf, 197KB) to ensure you fill your application form correctly.

Submitting your Citizenship Application

There are two ways that you can submit your application. The traditional method has been to post your application to the Home Office for processing. This requires you to send valuable documents with your application.

An alternative way of sending your application is to use the Nationality Checking Service (NCS). The service has two benefits:

1. Your application is checked to make sure it has been completed correctly and that all required supporting documentation is attached.
2. Valuable documents (such as passports) are photocopied and returned.

This service is offered by many local councils and is very popular. It should cost about £40 to submit your application using the service. The NCS is not available in every area - check to find out if it is offered in your area.

Waiting Times

Note that these are not official statistics or agreed response times, and must be used as guidance only.

The Home Office advises that you should not to make any non-urgent travel arrangements until your passport(s) or travel document(s) have been returned.

The waiting times for citizenship applications varies according to individual circumstances and other factors, including the number of applications under consideration at a particular time. At the moment the Home Office are working to the standard that they will make a decision on 95% of applications within six months.

General information about the application process, fees and the citizenship ceremony can be found on the UK Border Agency website.