What is it?

British citizenship in technical terms is confirmation of your right of abode in the UK. In plain English, it confirms your right to live in the UK without the need to hold a visa.

British citizenship will enable you to live, work and travel freely in the UK and Europe. There are also many other countries where British citizenship allows holders to enter without needing to obtain a visa first.

Holding British citizenship entitles you to vote in national elections and to the protection of the British Consul when travelling abroad and, while the UK's future in the European Union is in doubt, British citizenship is a valuable guarantee of European nationals' right to stay in the UK should the country vote to leave.

How do I get British citizenship?

You may be able to apply for British citizenship if you:

• are over 18, of sound mind and good character;
• have held indefinite leave to remain (permanent residence) for 1 year;*
• have lived lawfully in the UK for at least 5 years with absences below 450 days during that time;* and intend to make the UK your main home.*
• Please note that the rules are different for applicants married to British citizens.

Since December 2014 the Home Office has placed much greater emphasis on the good character of British citizenship applicants and is looking back beyond the most recent 5 years lawful residence. Our British citizenship solicitors will assess your good character before submitting an application on your behalf.

How do I apply for British citizenship?

You can obtain British citizenship by applying to the Home Office to naturalise as a British citizen. You will need to produce evidence of your identity, your residence in the UK and your good character. As accredited specialist British citizenship solicitors we will ensure that your application is presented properly with detailed legal representations.

With the application fee for a standard British citizenship application standing at £1005, it is important that you receive professional and reliable legal advice.

Can I lose British citizenship?

If you naturalised or registered as a British citizen, you can lose your British citizenship if you obtained it by deception or withheld relevant information in your application. You can also have your British citizenship revoked if you engage in serious criminal acts or terrorist related activities.

Start your successful journey to British citizenship. Speak to one of our accredited British citizenship solicitors today. You can contact us on +44(0)20 7038 3980, via our online contact form or info@rlegal.com or at our central London offices.