Supporting you to make Britain your home
You can apply for British citizenship if you have Indefinite Leave to Remain and have lived in the UK for five or more years, or three years if you are married to a British citizen. We understand the process can be bittersweet; both daunting and exciting. Our experienced immigration law lawyers will take care of this complex process for you, giving you clear guidance, and ensuring that your application is as robust as possible to give you every chance of success.
Commercial
Personal
- Administration of Estates
- Adoption
- Appeals before the First Tier and Upper Tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber)
- Applications to join British or settled residents
- Applying for British citizenship
- Applying for Probate
- Buy to let
- Buying a home
- Changing Your Name
- Civil Partnerships
- cohabitation agreements
- Contentious probate
- Conveyancing
- Court of Protection
- Disputes involving children
- Divorce
- Domestic abuse
- Employment law
- Equity release
- Family Law
- Financial Remedy Proceedings
- Financial settlements
- First registration
- Human Rights applications
- Immigration law
- Indefinite Leave to Remain
- Inheritance Disputes
- Inheritance tax planning
- Landlord and tenant
- Lease extensions
- Litigation and dispute resolution
- Managing a trust
- Military Hearing Loss
- Powers of Attorney
- Prenuptial agreements
- Remortgaging
- Selling your home
- Seperation agreements
- Setting up a Trust
- Transfer of Equity
- Unmarried Couples
- Visitor visas to the UK
- Wills, trust and probate
- Work visas and sponsorship
- Writing a Will
Commercial
- Can you explain the new inheritance tax laws to me?
- What is commercial litigation?
- What do I do about tenants sub-letting?
- How many specialities does your team have?
- How long have you been practising in this field?
- What are the laws on paternity leave?
- Can you help me decide on insolvency for my company?
- Will my trademark stand in EMEA?
- How long does a merger take?
- How do I protect myself from negligence?
- I have a question on property litigation
Personal
- What time should I allow for conveyancing?
- How are assets split in a divorce?
- I think I was unfairly dismissed - can you help?
- What are your main Family Law services?
- Immigration laws have changed - help!
- My landlord has just sold the property - what are my rights?
- I've been served an eviction notice - please help!
- My neighbour is claiming my land - who is right?
- I have tinitus from army service - can I get compensation?
- Can you adivise on probate?
We're here to help you
Applying for British citizenship is an exciting prospect. While Indefinite Leave to Remain gives a non-British citizen the legal right to live and work in the UK indefinitely, British citizenship grants full rights – the same as those of people born in Britain – including a British passport and voting in elections. You will be allocated one of our experienced immigration law lawyers from the beginning to the end of the process, providing you with clarity and reassurance, maximising your application’s chance of success.
The process is thorough, the application instructions must be meticulously followed, and every requirement must be met for citizenship to be granted. The application process includes completing an extensive form and providing proof that you have lived in the UK for five years, or three-years if married to a British citizen. If all the required evidence is submitted, the process typically takes around six months.
Why choose
CWC Solicitors?
Our priority is to ensure your application fulfils all the requirements and is as robust as possible to maximise your chance of success in being granted coveted British citizenship. We are highly experienced in the complexities of immigration law, also in compassion. Our approach isn’t just meticulous but personalised to your particular situation. We know immigration matters can be sensitive and emotionally charged. Through clarity and empathy, we will ensure you feel supported, informed and confident throughout the process.
Frequently asked questions
Still unsure or need something explained properly? Contact us, and we’ll guide you through it.
1. What is British citizenship?
British citizenship grants full rights to a non-British citizen – the same as those of people born in Britain – including a British passport and voting in elections.
2. How is citizenship different to Indefinite Leave to Remain?
Indefinite Leave to Remain gives a non-British citizen the legal right to live and work in the UK indefinitely, but lacks some of the rights of British citizens. British citizenship grants full rights – the same as those of people born in Britain – including a British passport and voting in elections. A person with Indefinite Leave to Remain, remains a foreign national, and can have their Indefinite Leave to Remain status removed if they live abroad for two years, while citizenship is permanent.
3. What evidence to I need to provide to prove my eligibility for British citizenship?
Applicants for British citizenship must have lived in the UK for five years and had Indefinite Leave to Remain for 12 months, or, if married to a British citizen, then applicants must have lived in the UK for three years, and can apply for citizenship as soon as they have Indefinite Leave to Remain – they don’t have to wait 12 months. In addition to providing proof of residency and relationship, applicants need to submit a range of documentary evidence including, proof of identity, proof of continuous residency, proof of English language proficiency, proof of finances, a Life in the UK Test pass certificate and biometrics submission.
4. Do I have to give up the citizenship of my birth country?
While the UK allows dual, or multiple, citizenships, some countries do not allow dual citizenship, so by becoming a British citizen you may have to give up your existing citizenship as dictated by that country. Countries which do not currently allow dual citizenship include India, Japan, China and Singapore. You should check with your country of nationality to confirm.
5. Do I have to take an English language test?
Yes, applicants from countries where English is not the first language will need to prove their knowledge of English by passing a Secure English Language Test at Level B1. In addition, applicants of all countries must pass the separate Life in the UK Test.
6. What are the benefits of employing a solicitor to handle my application?
The application is extensive and has many requirements – including the submission of documentary evidence – which must be accurately fulfilled, in order to be successful. Support from one of our experienced immigration law solicitors will ensure all the requirements are met and will therefore maximise your chances of success.
7. What are the key considerations when making an application?
The instructions for the application must be meticulously followed; the application must be filled in accurately and be factually correct; all requested evidence must be supplied.
8. How long does the process typically take?
The process typically takes around six months if all the requirements of the application are satisfied.
Related services
Indefinite Leave to Remain
Indefinite Leave to Remain grants non-British citizens the right to live and work in the UK permanently, without restrictions. Our experienced immigration law lawyers will take care of this complex process for you with clarity and compassion.
Applications to join British or settled residents
There are different routes for non-British citizens to settle in the UK. One way is if you have immediate family already settled here. Our experienced immigration law lawyers will take care of this complex process for you with clarity and compassion.
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