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British Nationality – Naturalisation Application Lawyers

Updated: 6 December, 2023

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For many UK immigration visa holders, getting British nationality is the culmination of many years of hard work and sacrifice. It is a dream come true.

Becoming British gives you access to living and working in the UK without any restrictions and worry that these rights will laps if you stay away from the UK for too long.

We understand how stressful this process can be and how important it is for you to succeed at the first attempt. With immigration and nationality fees soaring year by year, a failed application is not only an emotionally taxing outcome but also can be financially burdening. Let our experienced immigration lawyers help you succeed.

How RVS Solicitors Can Help You Apply For British Citizenship

At RVS Solicitors, we understand how important it is for you to gain British Citizenship, and we will advise you from the beginning of your visa application how to best achieve your goal.

With your case being handled by our expert team of British nationality lawyers, you can rest assured that all the technicalities of successfully applying for British citizenship and the complex legal issues that often surround British nationality are taken care of.

The in-depth knowledge of the process of our specialist British Nationality lawyers, and our commitment to understanding you and your circumstances will enable us to submit an application that gives you the very best chance of success.

Our expert immigration law team can assist a wide range of applicants in their naturalisation application. We have helped numerous individuals in acquiring British Citizenship, irrespective of which category they come from. In particular, we have a wealth of experience in dealing with applicants coming from:

Frequently Asked Questions About British Citizenship Applications

What is British nationality?

British nationality is your ultimate link to the UK. Those who gain British nationality can travel in and out of the country freely and can work and live in the UK without restriction. British nationals can also vote, obtain a passport and access public funds.

At RVS Solicitors we can advise and represent clients on all six different types of British nationality:

British citizenship
British Overseas Territories citizen
British overseas citizen
British subject
British national (overseas)
British protected person

How do I become a British citizen through naturalisation applications?

To become a British citizen through naturalisation, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:

be over 18 years
be of ‘good character’
continue to live in the UK
pass the Life in the UK Test
meet the English language requirements
have been in the UK for at least five years and have Indefinite Leave to Remain or an EEA Permanent Residence Card
spent no more than 450 days outside the UK during those five years
spent no more than 90 days outside the UK in the last 12 months
have not broken any immigration rules

What is the ‘good character’ requirement for British Citizenship Applications?

Statute does not define the requirement of ‘good character’. The Good Character: National Policy Guidance, states that an applicant will not normally be judged to be of good character if any of the following apply:

they have not respected and/or are not prepared to abide by the law, e.g. they have been convicted of a crime, or there are reasonable grounds to suspect (i.e. it is more likely than not) they have been involved in crime
they have been involved in or associated with war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide, terrorism, or other actions that are considered not to be conducive to the public good
their financial affairs are not in appropriate order, e.g. they have failed to pay taxes for which they are liable
their activities are notorious and cast serious doubt on their standing in the local community
they have been deliberately dishonest or deceptive in their dealings with the UK government
they have assisted in the evasion of immigration control
they have previously been deprived of citizenship

Factors such as having a criminal conviction will not automatically bar a person from obtaining British Citizenship; however, Home Office guidance states “a person who has not respected and/or is not prepared to abide by the law is unlikely to be considered of good character”.

For instance, if you have received a custodial sentence of 12-months or less, you will not be considered eligible for British Citizenship until seven years have passed since the end of your prison term.

If you have been found guilty of a crime, but a non-custodial sentence has been given (i.e. a fine or community sentence), your application for British Citizenship will not be considered until three years have passed.

Similarly, if you have lived in the UK as an overstayer at any point in the past 10 years, or even have been in the UK as an EU national, but failed to meet the relevant requirements of that time (ie being a qualified person, having a Comprehensive sickness insurance where relevant etc), you are likely to face a refusal, unless strong representations are made in support of your application.

If you are in doubt about whether you will pass the ‘good character’ requirement, please come and talk to us. Our team has dealt with numerous matters that had elements of complexity due to Character requirement.

We understand life is not always black and white, and that oftentimes things can derail from the initial plan. Our expert immigration solicitors can quickly establish your position and can write a detailed, persuasive covering letter to the Home Office explaining your situation.

What are the requirements in terms of naturalisation applications for the spouse of a British citizen?

If you are the spouse of a British citizen, the same eligibility requirements which are outlined above apply for gaining British Citizenship.

However, instead of only being able to apply after residing in the UK for at least 12 months following your grant of Indefinite Leave to Remain, you will be able to apply as soon as you have the settled status, provided you meet the rest of residential requirements.

Furthermore, as a spouse of a British National, you will not be required to show residence in the UK for five years, you will be eligible to apply for British Citizenship relying in three years residency only.

You must show that you have not spent more than 270 days outside the UK in those three years.

Do I have to attend a British citizenship ceremony?

British citizenship ceremonies are not compulsory; however, many people like to take part to celebrate their naturalisation.

Ceremonies are organised by local councils and there is one likely to be near you. You can invite two guests, and the cost is £80. If you’re not living in the UK, you can ask to have your ceremony at the embassy or consulate in the country you’re living in.

How we can help with British Nationality matters

At RVS we understand the complex mechanisms that make an application for British citizenship successful. Our in-depth knowledge of the process, and our commitment to understanding you and your circumstances will enable us to submit an application that gives you the very best chance of success.

We are a modern, progressive, efficient law firm that gets positive results while respecting your valuable time. Where we differ from most traditional law firms is that we tailor our services to your immigration law needs.

Not only do we provide a bespoke service, we care for the lives of our clients, and their families, and we do everything we can to make the process as easy as possible.

To this end, you will have our direct contact information, and we will always make ourselves available to speak to you, if you have a question, would like an update, or would like to discuss any other matter.

With us managing your case, you can relax in the knowledge that we will handle all of the matters of your case and that it is in the best possible hands, allowing you to focus on your life, business, studying, and/or family.

To find out more about how we can assist you with obtaining British Citizenship or other British nationality matters, please contact our London office on 020 3372 5125 or complete our online form to make an appointment.