Nationality/Citizenship
Becoming a British citizen is a significant life event. It will not only give you the opportunity to apply for a British passport but also to participate fully in the British society.
There are different ways you can become a British citizen:
- By birth to a parent who is a British citizen or a settled person in the UK
- By descent if one of your parents is a British citizen otherwise than by descent (for example by birth, adoption, registration or naturalisation in the UK). British citizenship by descent is only transferable to one generation down from the parent who is a British citizen otherwise than by descent, if the child is born abroad;
- By naturalisation;
- By registration;
- By adoption
The most common way to acquire British citizenship is by naturalisation. In order to succeed, you have to be over 18 years of age, be of good character, meet the knowledge of English and life in the UK requirements, meet the residency requirement and intend to live in the UK permanently.
If you are applying as a spouse or civil partner of a British citizen, different requirements apply. You cannot include any time spent in the UK when you’re exempt from immigration control (for example as a diplomat or member of visiting armed forces) as part of the 5 year requirement.