British Citizenship & UK Naturalisation Solicitors

We are specialist British citizenship solicitors in London and Croydon, recognised as one of the leading law firms for British citizenship and UK naturalisation applications.

Becoming a naturalised British citizen can open up many doors, such as allowing you to permanently live and work in the UK free from immigration restrictions and procedures.

We can offer you bespoke advice and a friendly, personal service that you can trust. Consultations can take place online at your convenience.

Like other immigration matters, applying for British citizenship can be a long and complicated process.

However, with the right support, you have the best possible chance of achieving a positive outcome.

Contact our British citizenship solicitors in London

For expert advice about becoming a British citizen, arrange a free telephone consultation with one of our British naturalisation solicitors at one of our offices in London or Croydon.

Our British citizenship lawyers’ expertise

Our team have achieved the Law Society Immigration and Asylum Law Accreditation and the Immigration Law Advanced Accreditation for our nationally recognised expertise.

We have also been highly ranked in the South East by prestigious client guide, the Legal 500.

Specialists in complex nationality cases

BHD’s team of specialist lawyers is led by two of the most experienced practitioners in this field. The team are also proud to work alongside leading counsel in this niche area.

Our team have acted in many landmark cases in this area, including:

• R (on the application of Johnson) (Appellant) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Respondent) [2016] UKSC 56 – BHD Solicitors, led by Senior Partner Paul Turner, successfully challenged the deportation of Johnson by Judicial Review in the High Court. The Secretary of State then challenged this decision and won in the Court of Appeal. However, our client appealed to the Supreme Court, which declared that this part of the British Nationality Act 1981 was incompatible with the Human Rights Act.
• KV Sri Lanka v SSHD [2018] EWCA Civ 2483 – Examining the treatment of evidence of international instruments, the Court of Appeal allowed our appeal against a decision of the Upper Tribunal that rejected KV’s appeal against deprivation of British Nationality on statelessness grounds.
• R (Teh) v Secretary for the Home Department [2018] EWHC 1586 (Admin) – British Overseas Citizens renounced their Malaysian citizenship in the mistaken belief that this would make them eligible for full British Citizenship and settlement in the United Kingdom.
• R(Eric Erron Johnson) v SSHD [2014] EWHC 2386 (Admin) – The High Court reviewed a decision to deport a foreign criminal, following questions surrounding discrimination under Article 8 and rules on ineligibility and British Nationality.

British citizenship by naturalisation

Naturalisation is the method by which a foreign national who is settled in the UK may acquire British citizenship.

For most people, becoming a citizen by naturalisation is not overly complicated. However, it is important to note that the Home Office may choose to refuse an application for naturalisation even where the applicant meets all the legal requirements for British citizenship.

If an application for citizenship, either by registration or naturalisation, is refused, there is no right of appeal and any application fee paid to the Home Office is not refundable.

So, it is advisable to seek professional legal advice from a UK based firm of solicitors that has experience of naturalisation and British citizen visa requirements before you apply for British citizenship.

British citizenship by registration

There are many circumstances under which a person may be entitled to register for British citizenship. Registration is a simpler method of acquiring citizenship than naturalisation, but only certain people are eligible.

Currently, registration is normally reserved for children under 18 in the following circumstances:

• Children born in the UK where a parent obtains British citizenship or indefinite leave to remain after the child is born.
• Children born in the UK and living in the UK until the age of 10.
• Children born to a British father who is not married to the mother.
• Certain children born outside the UK to a British citizen.
• Children under 18 who are adopted outside the United Kingdom by British citizens.
• Children for whom the Secretary of State is willing to exercise her discretion to grant nationality.

Adults may also be entitled to be registered as British Citizens in some circumstances, such as people who have no other nationality.

Frequently asked questions about British citizenship and UK naturalisation

What are the main routes to obtaining British citizenship?

• As a right by operation of the law.
• By ‘naturalisation’ at the discretion of the Home Office.
• Through ‘registration’, for example, if you are under 18 years old or are stateless.

Whichever method you use, this area of law is highly complex, and there are detailed rules and requirements to be met.

We will provide advice about the process you will need to go through, breaking down the steps into plain, understandable language.

What are the requirements for naturalisation as a British citizen?

To qualify and to apply for naturalisation as a British citizen, a foreign national living in the UK must obtain settled status either through:

• Marriage or civil partnership to a person settled in the UK; or
• Length of residence in the UK.

However, there are additional requirements which must be met, such as:

• You must be at least 18 years old.
• You must have indefinite leave to remain (or permanent residence or settled status if you are from the EU, EEA or Switzerland).
• You must intend to live permanently in the UK.
• You must be of good character, including not having a criminal record or being bankrupt.

You will also be required to show that you have sufficient knowledge of the English language and sufficient knowledge about life in the UK.

How long do I need to have lived in the UK before I can apply for citizenship?

To apply for UK citizenship through naturalisation, you usually need to have lived in the UK for at least 5 years.

You must also have held indefinite leave to remain (ILR) or settled status for at least 12 months before applying, unless you are married to a British citizen, in which case the 5-year requirement may differ.

How much does it cost to apply for British citizenship?

It costs £1,735 to apply for British citizenship, which includes the £130 citizenship ceremony fee.

What is the current processing time for British citizenship applications?

As of 2025, UK naturalisation processing typically takes around six months from a complete application submission.

Straightforward cases may be decided in three to five months, while more complex ones can take up to nine to 12 months.

There is no paid priority service for British citizenship applications, unlike some visa routes.

What are the benefits of becoming a British citizen?

There are many advantages to becoming a British Citizen, especially if you intend to live permanently in the UK, including:

• You can live permanently in the UK without any restrictions or extra hoops to jump through.
• You can work in the UK without restrictions.
• You will have access to free healthcare on the NHS.
• You can apply for a British passport.
• You will have the right to vote.
• You can pass down the right to British citizenship to your children.

Do you need a lawyer to apply for UK citizenship?

The process of applying for UK citizenship is a long and extremely complicated process, so the help of a specialist immigration lawyer is essential.

We live and breathe immigration applications and procedures, so we know exactly what steps to take to give you the best possible chance of achieving a positive outcome.

Without the help of a solicitor, there is a good chance that there will be errors or missed steps in your application that could result in your application for British citizenship being refused. If your application is refused, there is no right of appeal.

Our team will ensure that all documentation is completed to the highest degree of accuracy with no room for errors or unnecessary delays.

Why choose our UK citizenship lawyers?

We have over 30 years’ experience helping people become British citizens

Our experience speaks for itself. Over the years, we have carved out our role as one of the UK’s leading firms of British citizenship solicitors. We put the needs of our clients first and work tirelessly to give them the best chance of achieving a fair outcome.

We provide bespoke advice with a personal touch

Every individual is different, so we tailor our advice to suit every person’s needs. We understand how confusing, stressful and emotionally draining going through immigration processes can be. As well as providing the UK citizenship advice you need, we are here to provide emotional support and ensure that you understand exactly what is going on at all stages of the process.

We are responsive and proactive

Your experience with us is just as important as the results we achieve. We ensure that we are always available during office hours to pick up the phone or answer your emails; no concern is too small or insignificant, so if you have a question about your case or the citizenship process, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

We offer proportionate and flexible fees for British citizenship advice

We know that costs are likely to be a major consideration for you. We will be completely open and honest about our British citizenship fees so you can start the process with a full understanding of how much it is likely to cost.

For a detailed breakdown of our fees, visit our Fees & Funding page. For a tailored quote, please get in touch with our friendly immigration team.

Contact our solicitors for British citizenship in London

For expert advice about becoming a British citizen, arrange a free telephone consultation with one of our British naturalisation solicitors in London or Croydon.