How to become a British citizen

Last reviewed 13 August 2026 · Reviewed by the BritainTest editorial team

Most people become British citizens by naturalisation: you meet a set of requirements, apply, and attend a citizenship ceremony. This guide gives the overview, including who is eligible and where the Life in the UK Test fits in. It is general information, not immigration advice, so always check your own case on GOV.UK.

Who can become a British citizen

To apply for citizenship by naturalisation, you generally need to:

• be 18 or over,
• hold indefinite leave to remain (ILR) or settled status, usually for at least 12 months,
• have lived in the UK for the qualifying period (see below),
• be of good character (for example, no serious or recent criminal record),
• meet the KoLL requirement, and
• intend to continue living in the UK.

The exact rules depend on your route, so check whether you qualify with the eligibility checker on GOV.UK. Settlement usually comes first: our ILR vs citizenship guide explains the order.

Naturalisation is the main route, but not the only one. Some people, most often children, become British by registration instead, and it helps to know the types of British nationality, since only British citizens have the automatic right to live in the UK.

The Life in the UK Test and English

Part of qualifying is meeting the KoLL requirement: passing the Life in the UK Test and meeting the B1 English requirement. If you already met KoLL for your settlement application, you usually do not have to do it again for citizenship. The test is the one requirement you can start on today — you can practise the Life in the UK Test free in the real format.

The residence requirement

You usually need to have lived in the UK for 5 years before applying, or 3 years if you are married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen. There are also limits on how many days you can have spent outside the UK during that time. Because these rules are detailed and can change, check the current requirements on GOV.UK.

How to apply

You apply online on GOV.UK, provide your documents and biometrics, and usually name referees. There is an application fee, and processing can take several months. If your application is approved, you attend a citizenship ceremony, where you make the oath or affirmation and pledge and receive your certificate of British citizenship.

This page explains becoming a British citizen and is for study and preparation only. It is general information, not immigration advice, and does not determine your eligibility for settlement or citizenship. For official rules and any updates, rely on GOV.UK; GOV.UK guidance controls if anything here differs.