British Citizenship by Marriage

You can apply for UK citizenship by marriage if you're married to a British citizen or a person settled in the UK and have lived in the UK for at least 3 years.

You can apply for British citizenship as soon as you have Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or “Settled Status” in the UK. You do not need to wait for 12 months after ILR.

If you need assistance with any type of British citizenship application, our immigration and UK nationality solicitors can provide legal advice and help.

1. British Citizenship by Marriage
2. What are the requirements for UK citizenship through marriage?
3. British citizenship by marriage documents needed
4. How long does it take to become a British citizen through marriage?
5. UK citizenship processing time after biometrics
6. How can we help with your British citizenship application?

What are the requirements for UK citizenship through marriage?

To be eligible for British citizenship through marriage, you must meet the following requirements:

• Age: You must be at least 18 years old to apply for British citizenship.
• Residency: You must have lived in the UK for at least three years before the date of your application and have held Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or permanent residence status.
• Marriage: You must be married to a British citizen or a person settled in the UK. This means that your spouse must hold ILR or permanent residence status in the UK.
• Language requirements: You must demonstrate your knowledge of the English language. You can meet this requirement by passing an approved English language test, having an academic qualification taught in English, or being a national of a majority English-speaking country.
• Knowledge of life in the UK: You must pass the Life in the UK test, which assesses your knowledge of British customs, history, and government.
• Good character: You must be of good character, which means that you must not have a serious or recent criminal record, and your conduct must not raise any public concern.

You must meet all other eligibility requirements depending on your circumstances. Speak to our expert immigration solicitors for legal advice and eligibility assessment.

British citizenship by marriage documents needed

To apply for British citizenship by marriage, you will need to provide the following documents:

• You need to provide your passport or travel document to prove your identity. If you have changed your name, you will also need to provide evidence of the name change.
• You will need to provide evidence that you have been living in the UK for at least three years. This could include utility bills, bank statements, or council tax bills.
• You will need to provide evidence to prove your knowledge of English.
• You will need to provide the Life in the UK test certificate.
• You will need to provide a marriage certificate to prove that you are married to a British citizen or settled person.
• You will need to provide a copy of your spouse's British passport or other proof of their settled status in the UK.

Above is a general list of supporting documents. You might need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances.

How long does it take to become a British citizen through marriage?

To be eligible to apply for British citizenship through marriage, you must have lived in the UK for at least three years. If you meet the eligibility requirements, you can apply for naturalization as a British citizen.

UK citizenship processing time after biometrics

Home Office usually take 6 months to process a British citizenship application once you attend your biometrics appointment at the visa application centre. However, it may take longer depending on the complexity of the matter.