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There are different ways to apply for British citizenship, including ‘naturalisation’. Check your eligibility to apply.

Check if you're automatically a British citizen - it depends on where and when you were born and your parents' immigration status.

• Overview

  If you or your parents were born in the UK, you might automatically be a…

• Born in the UK or a British colony before 1 January 1983

  You’re usually a British citizen automatically if you were born in the UK.…

• Born in the UK between 1 January 1983 and 1 October 2000

  Whether you’re a British citizen depends on where your parents were from…

• Born in the UK between 2 October 2000 and 29 April 2006

  Whether you’re a British citizen depends on where your parents were from…

• Born in the UK between 30 April 2006 and 30 June 2021

  Whether you’re a British citizen depends on where your parents were from…

• Born in the UK from 1 July 2021 onwards

  Whether you’re a British citizen depends on where your parents were from…

• Born outside the UK or stateless

  If at least one of your parents is a British citizen You might…

• Your parents' immigration status when you were born

  If you were born in the UK after 31 December 1982 and your parents were…

Apply for British citizenship if you have indefinite leave to remain (ILR) - form AN, who's eligible, fees and how to apply.

• Eligibility and fees

  You can apply for citizenship if you’ve lived in the UK for 5 years and…

• How to apply

  There are 2 ways to apply for British citizenship by naturalisation. You…

• Apply for your children

  You must apply separately for your children. You can apply to ‘register’…

• After you’ve applied

  You’ll usually get a decision within 6 months - some applications can take…

• After you get your certificate

  You must send your biometric residence permit (BRP) back to the Home…

The different types of British nationality explained - British citizen, British overseas territories citizen, British overseas citizen, British subject, British national (overseas), British protected person

• Updated: 1 January 2010

How to apply for British citizenship if you're a British overseas citizen, protected person, subject, national or overseas territories citizen - who's eligible, fees and where to send your application.

Apply for British citizenship if you have a British parent - who's eligible, fees and how to apply

NCS works with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport .

• Updated: 14 February 2023

Apply for British citizenship if you're married to, or in a civil partnership with, a British citizen - form AN, who's eligible, fees and how to apply.

Apply for British citizenship if you were born in the UK - who's eligible, fees and how to apply