British Citizenship
Oracle Solicitors dedicated immigration team deal with applications for British Citizenship (also known as naturalisation) on a regular basis and therefore we have the expertise necessary to assist you.
Should you have any questions about your eligibility or require help with your application, call us today for swift and effective support.
How to Apply for British Citizenship
Naturalisation
- Be aged 18 or over
- Be of sound mind & good character
- Intend to continue living in the UK
- Have sufficient knowledge of life in the UK
- Be able to acceptably communicate in English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic
- Meet the residential qualifying period of five years (three for spouses/civil partners of a British citizen)
The deadline for EU Settlement Scheme was 30th June 2021. If you have EU Settlement Status then you must live in the UK for 12 months following receiving settled status.
Registration
You may instead be able to register as a British citizen although there are various complicated categories here including if you are a British Overseas Territory citizen, you have previously given up your citizenship, you are a person who is stateless or a child under 18. Each category has different requirements that must be met.
Immigration Time Restrictions
When applying for British citizenship you must be free from immigration time restrictions on the day you make your application which often means having gained settled status before you apply.
Good Character Requirement
Any applicant aged 10 or over must be of good character to apply for British citizenship. Essentially this means that you must show respect for the rights and freedom of the UK, have observed its laws and fulfilled your duties and obligations as a resident. The UK Border Agency carry out criminal and financial checks.
Sound Mind Requirement
Applicants must satisfy the full capacity requirement when applying for British citizenship (although in some cases this may be overlooked). This means that you are able to make your own decisions and understand the step you are taking.
Dual Nationality
To become a British citizen you do not need to renounce your existing citizenship as many countries let you have dual nationality. If you are a national of a country who does not allow this, your country of origin may regard you as having lost your existing nationality or refuse to recognise your new nationality. If you are currently a British citizen you do not normally lose this status if you become the citizen of another country unless the new country requires you to give up your British nationality.
Proving British Citizenship
Once you have obtained British citizenship you are free from UK immigration control and you are able to apply for a British passport. This is the most acceptable evidence of British citizenship although, alternatively, you may be able to apply for a nationality status document if you do not have the right documentation to apply for a passport.
British nationality law and applications for British citizenship can be complex, it’s important that you seek the correct advice as mistakes can damage your chances of a successful outcome.
Ronald Sempebwa is a highly experienced lawyer with over 18 years’ experience, his career has seen him work for both in the public sector representing...
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London WC2B NH
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Our Fees
Our charges will be based on the time actually spent by the solicitors and other staff in respect of any work which they do on your behalf.
Our current hourly rates are set out below:
- Senior Solicitors – £400 (All figures exclude VAT)
- Solicitors – £300 (All figures exclude VAT)
- Trainee Solicitors, Paralegal – £150 (All figures exclude VAT)
The work we carry out on your immigration case can take several hours, therefore we understand some clients prefer fixed fee costs. We will provide you with a fixed fee of £ 250 + VAT at the initial consultation (if you prefer this option).
If you wish to proceed with hourly rate fees you can expect on average to pay the following dependant on the fee-earners hourly rate.
Visit our immigration fees page for more info.
How long does a visa application take?
We will normally be able to submit your application within 4 – 8 weeks of you instructing us, but we will let you know at the earliest opportunity if it is likely to take longer than this.
We cannot guarantee how long the Home Office will take to process your application. Read the current processing times.
For an informal discussion regarding your case, or to book an appointment with our Immigration team, please call us now on 020 3051 5060.