How to Get United Kingdom Citizenship

Person is the spouse or civil partner of a citizen and has been resident in the UK for 3 years. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation.

Descent (born in country)

Person is born in the UK to a citizen.

Descent (born abroad)

Automatic acquisition of British citizenship by descent if person is born abroad to a citizen who acquired citizenship otherwise than by descent or is in the public service.

Descent (born abroad)

Entitlement to register as a British citizen if person is a minor whose parent acquired citizenship by descent and has resided at any time in the UK for 3 years: entitlement while child is minor. The parent's own British parent must have acquired citizenship otherwise than by descent. Other conditions: good character if person is over 10 years old. Person may not be an ineligible person ex Illegal Migration Act (i.e. due to irregular entry) OR person is a minor whose parent is a citizen by descent and the child and both parents (unless one is dead or divorced) live in the UK for a period of three years and both parents consent (unless one parent has died). Other conditions: good character if person is over 10 years old. Person may not be an ineligible person ex Illegal Migration Act (i.e. due to irregular entry)

Birth in country

Person is born in the UK to a parent who is resident there without immigration restrictions.

Birth in country

Person is born after 1 July 2021, parent was granted indefinite leave under paragraph EU2 of Appendix EU to the UK immigration rules before 1 July 2021 or would have met eligibility requirements before that date, and parent is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom.

Birth in country (acquisition after birth)

Person is born in the UK, is 10 years or older and resided in the UK during the first 10 years after birth (maximum absence from the UK for 90 days any one year). Other condition: good character.

Birth in country (acquisition after birth)

General discretion to register any minor. Person may not be an ineligible person ex Illegal Migration Act (i.e. due to irregular entry)

Birth in country (acquisition after birth)

Child born in UK whose parents become settled (permanent residents) during minority may apply to register.

Birth in country (acquisition after birth)

Child born in UK whose parent joins armed forces during minority may apply to register.

Person is a minor who is born in the UK and whose parent acquires citizenship or becomes settled in the UK. Other conditions: good character if person is over 10 years old.

Person is a minor who is adopted by a citizen.

A person who is married to a British citizen at the time of application needs only three years' lawful residence and indefinite leave to remain (compared to five years residence and one years ILR for other applicants). Thus, a person who meets those criteria and who is married to a British citizen at the time of application can apply under this section even if that was not the basis for their admission.

Person has previously renounced citizenship. Entitlement to register if the person has done so in order to obtain citizenship of another country. In other cases registration depends e.g. on person's intention to reside in the UK. Other condition: good character. Special rules for citizens with restricted citizenship rights (from former UK colonies). Person may not be an ineligible person ex Illegal Migration Act (i.e. due to irregular entry)

Person would have been able to become British citizen but for historical legislative unfairness (e.g. gender discrimination or birth out of wedlock), an act or omission of a public authority, or exceptional circumstances relating to the person.

Foundlings

Person is a newborn child born in the UK of unknown parentage.

Otherwise stateless (born in country)

Person is born in the UK, under the age of 22, has been stateless since birth and resident in the UK for 5 years (maximum absence from the country for a total of 450 days).

Stateless persons

Person is born abroad to a citizen, a citizen with restricted citizen rights, or a former UK subject, has been stateless since birth and resident in the UK for 3 years (maximum absence from the UK for 270 days).

Person has served the UK, an international organisation of which the UK is a member, or a company or association based in the UK, for 5 years. Other condition: good character.

Person is a citizen with restricted citizen rights or a former UK subject, and served the UK in colonial times.