To apply for British citizenship, you must submit your current passport and any old passports that cover the time you've been in the country. This is to prove your residency in the UK, even if you've already done so previously. The Home Office will check for entry and exit stamps in your passport to verify the dates you've stated on your application form. If you don't have a passport with an entry stamp, you can submit other forms of evidence, such as a letter from your employer or education provider with start and end dates.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Reason for passport request | To prove residency in the UK |
Who needs to provide a passport | Migrants applying for citizenship |
Additional documents required | Entry/exit stamps, employer/education provider letter, benefits provider letter, household bills |
What You'll Learn
To prove how long you've lived in the UK
If you're married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen, you'll need to prove that you've lived in the UK for at least 3 years. If you're not married to a British citizen, you'll need to prove 5 years of residence.
To prove your residency, you can provide the Home Office with your current and old passports that cover the time you've been in the country. Check your passport for any entry and exit stamps and ensure they match the dates you've stated on your application. If you don't have a passport with an entry stamp, you can use other forms of evidence, such as a letter from your employer or education provider with start and end dates, or a letter from a benefits provider. You might also be able to use household bills.
It's important to note that you need to prove your residency even if you've done it before, for example, by applying for 'settled status'. Additionally, you must not have been outside the country for more than 90 days in the year before you apply.
The Home Office prefers long-term documentation as proof of residence, as it is easier to establish an unbroken period of continuous residence with fewer documents. Examples of long-term documents include:
- A letter from your employer confirming the duration of your UK-based employment.
- Annual business accounts if you are self-employed.
- A letter from an accredited organisation in the UK confirming your physical attendance at a course and its duration.
- A residential mortgage statement and evidence of mortgage payments.
- A tenancy agreement and evidence of rent payments.
- Annual bank statements covering a 12-month period, showing transactions for at least 6 months in that year.
Short-term documents are also accepted, but more of them are required to establish continuous residence. Examples include:
- A dated payslip for a job in the UK.
- A dated bank statement showing spending in the UK.
- A dated domestic utility bill with your name and UK address.
- A passport stamp showing entry at the UK border (this only covers the month of entry).
Remember, you may need to provide additional documentation if your name has changed during your time in the UK.
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To pass the Life in the UK Test
You can book the test online at least three days in advance, and it costs £50. There are over 30 test centres in the UK, and you can choose where to take your test when you book.
You will need to prepare for the test by studying the official handbook, which is available as a book, an eBook, an e-Learning subscription, or in audio formats. You can also take practice tests online.
If you have a disability, you can make special requests when you book your test, such as requesting extra equipment or help accessing the centre.
You don't need to take the test if you have already passed it or if you have a long-term physical or mental condition that prevents you from taking it.
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To prove English language proficiency
To apply for British citizenship, you must be able to prove your proficiency in the English language. This is a mandatory requirement for applicants aged 18 or above. There are a few ways to do this.
Firstly, you can provide an English qualification at B1, B2, C1 or C2 level. Secondly, you can submit a degree that was taught or researched in English. If your degree is from a UK university, only your degree certificate is required. However, if your degree is from a non-UK university, you will need to submit additional documents, including an Academic Qualification Level Statement (AQUALS) from Ecctis, confirming that your degree is equivalent to a UK qualification, and an English Language Proficiency Statement (ELPS) from Ecctis, confirming that the degree was taught in English.
If you are unable to provide your degree certificate, you can submit an official transcript stating your name, the name of the institution, degree, and confirmation of the award. Alternatively, you can provide a letter from your university, stating why they cannot reissue your certificate and when they will do so, which must include your name, degree, and the date that the degree was or will be awarded.
If you are unable to provide proof of English language proficiency due to a long-term physical or mental condition, you can submit an exemption form completed by a doctor. Additionally, certain nationalities are exempt from providing proof of English language proficiency, including nationals of the British overseas territories, Ireland (for citizenship only), St Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States of America.
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To check your 'good character'
The Home Office requires proof of good character for British citizenship applications. This requirement applies to anyone over the age of 10 who applies for naturalisation or registration as a British citizen. The Home Office will conduct a Good Character Test to assess the applicant's character.
The Home Office will consider a range of factors when determining an applicant's good character. These include:
- Criminal record: The applicant must declare any criminal convictions, both within and outside the UK, including road traffic offences, immigration breaches, illegal work, and fixed penalty notices.
- Financial history: The applicant must disclose any bankruptcy proceedings, unpaid taxes, or debts.
- Immigration status: The applicant must not have overstayed their visa or worked without permission.
- Deception: The applicant must not have provided false information or fraudulent documents to the Home Office or other government departments.
The Home Office will also consider the applicant's referees, who must be individuals of good character themselves and cannot have any criminal convictions in the last 10 years.
It is important for applicants to be honest and disclose any relevant information during the application process. Failure to do so may result in the application being refused, and future applications may be impacted.
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To prove your identity
Your referees should include a person who has 'professional standing'—for example, a civil servant of any nationality—and a person who is a British passport holder and either has professional standing or is over the age of 25. The Home Office has a list of people they accept as referees, called 'acceptable professional persons'. Before you apply, check the list and the rest of the rules for referees in the nationality guidance on the GOV.UK website.
You will also need to submit your current passport and old passports that cover the time you've been in the country. If you have any entry and exit stamps in your passport, check that they match the dates you've said you were in and out of the country on your application. If you don't have a passport with an entry stamp, you'll need other evidence to show you were in the UK, such as a letter from your employer or education provider with start and end dates, or a letter from a benefits provider. If you don't have a passport or travel documents because you're a refugee, the Home Office should accept that you didn't leave the UK after you arrived.
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Frequently asked questions
The Home Office needs to see your current and old passports to prove your residency in the UK. They will check entry and exit stamps in your passport to verify the dates you provided in your application.
If you don't have a passport with an entry stamp, you can provide other forms of evidence, such as a letter from your employer or education provider with start and end dates or a letter from a benefits provider.
If you don't have a passport or travel documents because you're a refugee, the Home Office should accept that you didn't leave the UK after you arrived.