Applying for British citizenship: all you need to know
In the last year, we have had several requests relating to British citizenship. It really is a hot topic at the moment, so we have decided to put together a guide to answer the following questions:
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Do I need British citizenship?
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Why are so many people applying for British citizenship right now?
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How much does it cost to get British citizenship?
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What do I need to do to get British citizenship?
Let’s get started!
Do I need British citizenship to live and work in the UK?
Obviously, the answer is no. You don’t need British citizenship to remain in the UK. In fact, most foreign nationals living in the UK don’t have British citizenship.
Under the current rules…
If you have lived and worked in the UK for 5+ years, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) which gives you settled status. This means you have the right to stay in the UK permanently, with no time limit on your stay.
If you have lived in the UK for less than 5 years, there are various visas you can apply for which will give you all the documentation to live and work in the UK.
Which means: in theory, you have no need to apply for British citizenship if you want to have a long term future in the UK.
So…
Why are so many people applying for British citizenship now?
I have spoken with many people who have applied or are applying for British Citizenship. The reason seems to be down to peace of mind.
Foreign nationals who have built their lives here (who have their work and career here, who maybe have bought a property here, who maybe have children in schools here etc) want to make sure they are fully protected from any possible future changes in the rules.
I personally don’t think there will be any dramatic changes to the way things are now and applying for British Citizenship is probably an unnecessary precaution.
That said, I’m deliberately avoiding any concrete predictions on this. Who knows what the political landscape will be like in five or ten years. I also totally understand the need for peace of mind.
How much does it cost to get British citizenship?
There are a few costs to pay to get British citizenship:
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Language test (B1 level): £150.00*
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Life in the UK test: £50.00*
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Naturalisation fee: £1,605.00*
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Citizenship ceremony £130.00*
Total: £1,935.00*
*These costs are as of January 2026
I will explain more about each of these steps in the answer to the next question.
How do I get British citizenship?
There are three things you need to do to get British citizenship:
1) Take a language test
This is a speaking and listening test which lasts about 15-minutes. The test takes the form of an informal conversation where you will have to answer questions about your life, work, background, future plans etc.
You will be expected to prove that you can communicate in English to a B1 (Intermediate) level. If you want to know what your level of English is, our company offers free English level assessments. Just contact me.
There are a few providers who offer the test, I recommend booking it through LANGUAGE CERT. They have test centres all around the country. If you are London-based (like a lot of my connections are), the test centres are located in Holborn and Croydon.
The test costs £150.00 to book.
You can book the test here:
https://selt.languagecert.org/?utm_source=google&utm_source_platform=Google+Ads&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=REL_202012_LQ_SELT_PERF_GSN_BRAND_UK_ALL_&utm_id=11909691041&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=11909691041&gbraid=0AAAAACeJc8p9Fzkw5uHyAZhXrXhnteMHo&gclid=CjwKCAiA64LLBhBhEiwA-Pxgu3Lm5EwkZacg0kbnVvQXFlB5RgM94_2ntofE5rEJ5Lm-tf1jQdy3phoCq8kQAvD_BwE
Advice for the speaking and listening test:
If you are a competent English speaker, this test will just be a formality and nothing you need to prepare for.
If your English level is lower, I would advise scheduling a couple of one-to-one sessions with an English trainer who can check if you are test ready and do a few practice speaking and listening tests with you before the real thing. This way, you can do the necessary work to get your English up to the required level and you will take the test feeling more confident and pass it first time.
2) Take the “Life in the UK” test
The “Life in the UK” test is a 24-question test about the UK’s customs and history which needs to be booked via the Gov.UK website.
The test is multiple choice, with 4 options per question. You need to score 18/24 to pass the test.
There are test centres all around the country. In the London the test centres are located in Stratford, Lewisham, Hammersmith, Southgate, Ilford, Hounslow and Tooting.
The test costs £50.00 to book.
You can book the test here:
https://www.gov.uk/life-in-the-uk-test
Advice for the Life in the UK test:
You do need to study for this test. Some of the questions will be easy and obvious, for example, “What day is Christmas Day celebrated on in the UK?” Some of the questions you probably won’t know the answer to unless you prepare and study in advance, for example, “Which monarch built the Tower of London? (The answer is William The Conqueror, if you were wondering).
There are various books and apps to help you study for the test. In my opinion, the best way to prepare is by taking online practice tests, and studying your mistakes.
Here is a link to a website where you can access 40 practice tests for free:
https:/lifeintheuktestweb.co.uk
3) Apply for British citizenship by naturalisation
The administrative side of applying for British citizenship involves completing an online form on the GOV.UK website:
https://www.gov.uk/apply-citizenship-indefinite-leave-to-remain/how-to-apply
To submit the application, there is a fee of £1,605.
Once you have submitted the application, there will be the usual background checks. You will also need to provide the details of two people from the UK who can serve as character references. The usual rules apply (no family members, no one who has been convicted of a criminal offence in the last 10 years etc…)
There is also a fee of £130.00 for the citizenship ceremony.
The citizenship ceremony will be held at your local town hall or register office. It involves a welcome speech, taking an Oath of Affirmation of the Crown and Pledge of Loyalty to the UK. You will then receive your Certificate of Naturalisation. You can have up to two guests present at the ceremony. Depending on the venue, refreshments such as tea, coffee and biscuits may or not be provided!
General advice on British citizenship
1) Beware of false information
There’s a lot of false information and predictions about the direction the UK will take regarding these areas in the future. Make sure you receive accurate information and don’t believe rumours.
The best resource to get reliable information is the visas and immigration page on the GOV.UK website which has all the information you need about whatever your situation is: whether you have just moved to the UK, or have lived here for 20 years:
https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration
2) Beware of scams
Unfortunately, there are plenty of fake websites for booking tests and applying for British citizenship through naturalisation. Before paying any money, make sure the company is legitimate. For test bookings, see above for our recommendations. For the naturalisation process, this can only be done via the GOV.UK website.
3) Feel free to contact us with any questions
We know navigating the process of British citizenship can be overwhelming and we are always happy to help with any questions you might have.
If you are unsure about the language requirements for the citizenship process, we provide a free level assessment service to help you see where your English is in relation to where it needs to be for the test. We also provide training sessions to make sure you are fully prepared for any of the tests.
You can reach Matthew on the email and phone number below:
matthew@theenglishway.co.uk
+44(0)7713940908
