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Form AN: applying for British naturalisation step by step

Form AN is the paper form for naturalisation as a British citizen; most people apply online. GOV.UK gives the cost as £1,839 (£1,709 plus a £130 ceremony fee), with a decision usually within 6 months and an optional £500 priority service.

Naturalisation is the route by which an adult who is not already British applies to become a British citizen. The Home Office guidance puts it plainly: "naturalisation is not an entitlement". It is a matter of law under the British Nationality Act 1981, and the Home Secretary may naturalise an applicant only if the statutory requirements are met. Applications that fall short are refused and the fee is usually not returned, so the work happens before you press submit.

"Form AN" is the name of the paper application. The guidance says that for a smoother and quicker process, applications should be submitted online, and that Form AN is for people who live in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or a British overseas territory, or who live elsewhere and want to apply by post. The questions, the requirements and the guide are the same either way, so people who apply online still talk about "the AN guide".

This article walks through the Form AN guidance (July 2026) in the order an applicant meets it: the checks to make first, the two residence routes, absences, status, language and Life in the UK, good character, referees, then what happens after you apply. It explains how the rules work and what the Home Office asks for. It does not say whether you qualify, because that turns on dates and documents that only a regulated adviser could see.

Checks the guidance puts before the application

The Form AN guidance opens with three warnings that are easy to skip.

  • Dual nationality. The UK allows it, but your current country might not. The guidance says you "should check whether your country of nationality allows dual citizenship" because some countries do not, and you may lose or have to give up your existing nationality. It adds that if your country still treats you as a citizen you may remain subject to its duties, such as military service. The place to ask is the other country's authorities.
  • No status while you wait. The guidance says: "a nationality application does not provide any immigration status while it is being considered. You must ensure you have valid permission to stay in the UK until you have had a decision on your application and attended your citizenship ceremony."
  • Special schemes. People eligible under the Windrush Scheme are told not to use Form AN. The Illegal Migration Act 2023 citizenship ban is described as not having taken effect after regulations changed the law on 23 July 2024, so applications are considered in the usual way under the guide.

The guidance also says an application can be made by someone aged 18 or over who is of "sound mind", meaning able to understand what naturalising involves. Children under 18 are registered rather than naturalised, which our guide to registering a UK-born child covers.

The two residence routes

There are two statutory routes, and which one an applicant falls under changes the numbers.

Section 6(1): the five-year route. The applicant is not married to, or the civil partner of, a British citizen. The guide lists these requirements:

  • aged 18 or over and of sound mind;
  • lived in the UK for at least 5 years before applying;
  • physically present in the UK on the day 5 years before the application is received;
  • not in breach of immigration laws in the 5-year period (this may be assumed without further enquiry where the applicant holds indefinite leave);
  • free from immigration time restrictions on the date of application and for the 12 months before it;
  • no more than 450 days outside the UK in the 5 years and no more than 90 days in the last 12 months, subject to the discretion described below;
  • intends to continue to live in the UK, or to continue in Crown service or service of a qualifying organisation;
  • has passed the Life in the UK test and can communicate in English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic to an acceptable level; and
  • is of good character.

Section 6(2): the three-year route. The applicant is married to, or the civil partner of, a British citizen on the date of application. The differences: 3 years of residence instead of 5, presence in the UK or Islands on the day 3 years before, free from immigration time restrictions on the date of application only (no extra 12 months), and no more than 270 days outside the UK in the 3 years. The 90-day limit for the last 12 months stays. The guidance says that in this route the intention-to-live-in-the-UK requirement does not apply. The applicant must provide the spouse's or civil partner's current passport or naturalisation or registration certificate, and the marriage or civil partnership certificate. Being in a relationship is not enough: the guide says you "must be married to, or in a formal civil partnership with, a British citizen".

Our guide to citizenship as a British citizen's spouse covers the three-year route in more depth.

The day-one presence test and absences

Two date rules cause most of the avoidable refusals, so the guidance explains them with examples.

Presence on the first day. The applicant must have been in the UK exactly 5 years before the application is received (3 for the spouse route). The guide's own example: "if your application is received on 05/01/2022 you should have been physically present in the UK on 06/01/2017". The date of receipt depends on how you apply: GOV.UK says an online application is received the same day, while a postal one takes longer. If you did not meet the requirement, the guidance says the Home Office "may see if there is another, later date we can use", but that this "does not guarantee that the application will be successful" and the full fee in force on any date used has to be paid.

Absences. Only whole days count. The days you leave and re-enter are not counted as absence: the guide's example is leaving on 22 September and returning on 23 September, which is not an absence. You will be asked for all absences during the period. For the five-year route:

  • up to 450 days in the 5 years is the normal permitted limit;
  • a total of up to 480 days is normally disregarded;
  • up to 900 days is disregarded only if you meet all other requirements and have established your home, family and a substantial part of your estate in the UK. For absences up to 730 days the guide expects residence in the UK for the last 7 years, and for more than that, 8 years, unless the absences came from reasons it lists, such as a Crown or designated service posting, the unavoidable nature of your work, exceptional or compelling occupational or compassionate reasons, or being unable to return because of a global pandemic;
  • the guide says: "Only very rarely would we disregard absences in excess of 900 days".

For the three-year route the figures are 270, 300 and 540 days. In the final 12 months of both routes, 90 days is the normal limit and a total of up to 100 days is normally disregarded. For 101 to 179 days the guide sets conditions: all other requirements met and links with the UK shown through family, a home and a substantial part of your estate, or, where other requirements are not met, Crown service or compelling occupational or compassionate reasons. Over 180 days in the last 12 months would be disregarded only in the most exceptional circumstances.

Evidence of presence. The guide asks for passports covering the period. If you cannot supply a passport, it asks for letters from employers, payslips, P60s or similar. It says the Home Office checks its own records of entry and exit, so you do not need to request them first.

Lawful residence and freedom from time limits

Since the Nationality and Borders Act 2022, the lawful-residence requirement is easier to show. The guide says an applicant "will normally meet this requirement where you have been granted indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK", and that in most cases you only need to show valid indefinite leave. For EEA nationals, evidence of settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme will also normally meet it, including for people who did not hold comprehensive sickness insurance as a student or self-sufficient person. Someone relying on an automatically acquired Withdrawal Agreement right to reside permanently still has to evidence lawful residence throughout the period.

Being free from immigration time restrictions is a separate test. The guide says that on the five-year route the applicant should have been free for 12 months before applying. That means "you may need to wait until you have been in the UK for at least 6 years before you apply". Ways to show it include a 16-digit unique application number for a grant of indefinite leave, a share code from an eVisa, a biometric residence permit (an expired one can only be used until the end of 2026), a passport or Home Office letter, or an Irish passport (Irish citizens are treated as settled from arrival). Our article on when to apply for citizenship after ILR sets out the 12-month rule.

The guide also says you "can no longer apply for citizenship based on permanent residence status acquired under the EEA Regulations before 1 July 2021" and advises submitting an EU Settlement Scheme application before a naturalisation application.

English language and the Life in the UK test

Both are required unless you are aged 65 or over or have a long-term physical or mental condition that prevents you from meeting them, and they are separate requirements. The guide warns: "If you apply without meeting both the language and the Life in the UK requirements, your application may be refused, and your fee retained." Settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme does not remove them: people with it still have to meet both.

Life in the UK test. GOV.UK says it costs £50, must be booked online at least 3 days in advance, and has 24 questions in 45 minutes. The pass mark is 75% or more. You can retake it as often as you like, paying each time. You receive a reference number to enter on the form, and you do not normally send the certificate.

English. The guide lists the ways to meet the language requirement. Any one will do:

  • a Home Office approved English qualification at B1 CEFR or higher from the Secure English Language Test list, taken at an approved test centre and awarded within the two years before the application;
  • earlier success at B1 or above for indefinite leave to remain;
  • a UK bachelor's, master's or PhD taught in English, with the degree certificate;
  • a degree taught in a majority English-speaking country with an academic qualification level statement from Ecctis, or taught in English elsewhere with that statement plus an English language proficiency statement;
  • a UK postgraduate or graduate diploma; or
  • a passport from one of the countries on the guide's majority English-speaking list. For naturalisation this list includes Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United States and Ireland, among others. You still pass the Life in the UK test.

Exemption on medical grounds needs a waiver request form completed by a registered medical practitioner. The guide says illiteracy and long residence are not grounds for exemption.

Good character and referees

Good character is a statutory requirement. The guide describes it as meaning you "must observe UK laws and show respect for the rights and freedoms of its citizens". It lists what you must declare, and the list is wide:

  • all criminal convictions in the UK and overseas, including out-of-court disposals, cautions and non-custodial sentences, fiscal fines, civil judgments, civil penalties under the Immigration Acts and bankruptcy;
  • fixed penalty notices and drink driving, though the guide says fixed penalty notices are not normally taken into account unless unpaid with proceedings, or multiple in a short space of time;
  • any involvement in terrorism, war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide, or being subject to an international travel ban;
  • tax and National Insurance matters, with HMRC possibly asked to confirm; being declared bankrupt, unreasonable failure to pay council tax, fraud against public funds, or an unpaid NHS debt of £500 or more;
  • deception of the Home Office or other departments, such as false information or fraudulent documents; and
  • immigration history. The guide says applications will normally be refused if the applicant entered the UK illegally, or arrived without a required valid entry clearance or electronic travel authorisation having made a dangerous journey, with the Home Office considering whether the entry was outside the person's control.

The guide says to tell the Home Office about anything that might cast doubt, "no matter how long ago it was", and that an untruthful declaration may fail the application with no refund. The Home Office may also use powers to take citizenship away from someone granted it on false information, and a false declaration is a criminal offence. Our article on citizenship refused on good character grounds covers what follows a refusal.

Referees. You need two. One can be of any nationality but must be a professional person, such as a minister of religion, civil servant or member of a professional body. The other must hold a British citizen passport and be either a professional person or over 25. Each must have known you for at least 3 years and must not be related to you or to the other referee, your solicitor or agent on the application, or employed by the Home Office. A referee convicted of an imprisonable offence in the last 10 years will not usually be accepted. The guide notes that giving false information knowingly or recklessly is an offence under section 46(1) of the British Nationality Act 1981.

What it costs and how long it takes

GOV.UK says: "It costs £1,839 (£1,709 to apply and a £130 citizenship ceremony fee)." The fee table dated 8 October 2026 shows no change to the £1,709 application fee and lists the ceremony fee at £130 with a footnote that it is added to the application fee. Other costs on the road to the application are separate: £50 for each Life in the UK test attempt and the fee for an English test where you need one.

  • Biometrics. Fingerprints and a photograph are taken after you apply, with no fee. The guide says you "will usually need to complete this step of the application process within 45 days of submitting your application and failure to do so would invalidate your application".
  • Decision time. The guide says the Home Office aims to conclude applications within 6 months and asks you not to contact it in that time for updates. It will write if it needs more information.
  • Priority service. GOV.UK's faster-decision page lists naturalisation among the applications that can use the priority service when applying online, for £500 on top of the application fee. It says citizenship applications usually take 30 working days with it, and that super priority is not available for citizenship. The fee is not refunded if the application is refused.
  • Travel. The guide says you are free to travel on your valid passport and evidence of status while waiting, but must enrol biometrics when asked and must be able to attend a ceremony within 90 days if approved.

The guide also tells applicants to notify the Home Office of changes such as a new address, marriage or an arrest while the application is pending.

After approval: the ceremony and the paperwork that follows

If the application succeeds and you are 18 or over, you are invited to a citizenship ceremony. The guide says you "must arrange and attend your ceremony within 90 days of receiving your invitation", and that "if you do not attend your ceremony within 90 days without good reason, your application for citizenship will be refused and you will need to re-apply". You become a British citizen at the ceremony, when you swear or affirm the oath of allegiance and pledge, and you are given your certificate. You must keep valid permission to stay until then.

Afterwards:

  • A naturalisation certificate does not let you travel. The guide says you need a British citizen passport or a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode to travel, and that British citizens cannot get an electronic travel authorisation or a new visa.
  • There are no current plans for a digital record of British citizenship, so the guide treats the certificate and the passport as the evidence.
  • If you hold a biometric residence permit, the Form AN guide says to destroy it after the ceremony by cutting it up. The GOV.UK page for ILR applicants instead says to return it to the Home Office within 5 working days of getting your certificate, cut into 4 pieces, or face a fine of up to £1,000. These two instructions differ, so follow the one in your decision or ceremony paperwork and check the current GOV.UK page.
  • An error on the certificate can be corrected on Form RR, sometimes for a fee depending on whose mistake it was.

The guidance also notes that some British citizens hold other rights, such as EU Withdrawal Agreement rights, and may still be able to travel to the UK on their existing passport. Which documents a particular person uses is a question for their own circumstances.

Where people get stuck

These are points the guidance puts weight on, in the order they come up in the process.

  • The first-day presence test, which fails if you were abroad on the exact day five (or three) years before the application is received.
  • The 12 months free of immigration time restrictions on the five-year route, which is counted back from the date of application.
  • Applying before meeting the language and Life in the UK requirements, which can mean a refusal and a lost fee.
  • An English test older than two years. The guide says test results are "only valid for two years from the date the test is taken".
  • Incomplete declarations. Cautions, fixed penalty notices, unpaid debts, civil judgments and children's convictions are all on the list.
  • Referees who do not meet the rules, for example a related person or the adviser handling the application.
  • Ceremony not attended within the 90 days.

The route also depends on other decisions that come first. Fee changes between the application date and a later "valid" date are paid at the later rate. Time spent abroad and the dates of previous visas are easy to get wrong when working from memory.

Finding a regulated adviser

The Form AN guide says nationality advice may be given only by a person who works for an organisation registered with, or exempted by, the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA, formerly the OISC), or who is authorised by a designated professional body such as a solicitor or barrister, and that providing it otherwise is a criminal offence. GOV.UK explains how to find an immigration adviser and how to check they are registered.

The Migratio directory lists IAA-registered advisers (with their level) and SRA-regulated solicitors, each with their regulator and registration number. Migratio is not regulated by the IAA or the SRA and does not give immigration advice. This page explains how the rules work; it does not tell you what to do in your case.

Questions people ask

Is Form AN the same as the online British citizenship application?

They are the same application on two routes. The AN guidance says applications should be submitted online for a smoother and quicker process, and that Form AN is for people in the Channel Islands, Isle of Man or a British overseas territory, or who want to apply by post.

How much does the Form AN application cost?

GOV.UK gives £1,839: £1,709 to apply plus a £130 citizenship ceremony fee. The Life in the UK test is a further £50 per attempt, and a priority service costs £500 more where it is offered. The 8 October 2026 fee table shows the fees unchanged.

How long does a naturalisation application take?

The Home Office aims to conclude applications within 6 months of receiving them. The priority service, £500 extra for online applications, usually gives a decision within 30 working days, though not if extra checks are needed.

Can I travel while my citizenship application is being decided?

The guidance says you are free to travel on your valid passport and evidence of immigration status, but you must enrol biometrics when asked, usually within 45 days, and your status must remain valid until the ceremony. A citizenship application gives no immigration permission by itself.

Do I have to attend a citizenship ceremony?

If you are 18 or over, yes. You must arrange and attend within 90 days of the invitation, and it is the oath and pledge at the ceremony that make you a British citizen. Exemptions are rare and need evidence.

How long must my English test be valid for Form AN?

The guide says an approved English test result is valid for two years from the date the test is taken, and must be on the approved list and taken at an approved centre. Other routes to meeting the requirement include a UK degree or a passport from a listed country.

Sources

Last checked 2026-10-10.

Related guides

  • British citizenship cost: £1,709 plus £130 ceremony — Applying to naturalise as a British citizen costs £1,709, and a £130 citizenship ceremony fee is added, so £1,839 in total. Registering a child costs £1,000. The Life in the UK Test is £50 and the optional priority service is £500 more, according to GOV.UK and the Home Office fee table of 8 October 2026.
  • When you can apply for citizenship after ILR — Under section 6(1) of the British Nationality Act 1981, most people must have held indefinite leave to remain for 12 months and have lived in the UK for 5 years, been in the UK on the exact day five years before the Home Office receives the application, and not been outside it for more than 450 days in the 5 years or 90 days in the last 12 months. People married to a British citizen use a different route.
  • Citizenship as a British citizen's spouse: 3 years — A person who is married to, or the civil partner of, a British citizen can naturalise under section 6(2) of the British Nationality Act 1981 after 3 years in the UK, once they have indefinite leave to remain and without the 12-month wait that applies on the five-year route. The fee is £1,839 and the other requirements, such as good character and the Life in the UK Test, still apply.
  • British citizenship refused on good character grounds — Good character is a legal requirement for naturalisation. The Home Office guidance (version 7.0, 30 April 2026) lists what normally leads to refusal: a custodial sentence of 12 months or more, deception, illegal entry and some recent immigration breaches. There is no right of appeal; you can ask for reconsideration (form NR, £513) or make a new application with a new fee.
  • ILR absences: the 180-day rule explained — For most routes to indefinite leave to remain, the Rules say you must not have been outside the UK for more than 180 days in any 12-month period, counted on a rolling basis for permission granted since 11 January 2018. A short list of absences does not count, and time on long residence before 11 April 2024 follows older limits.
  • Is my UK-born child British? Form MN1 explained — A child born in the UK is automatically British if, at the birth, a parent is a British citizen or settled in the UK. Otherwise the child may be entitled to register on Form MN1 for £1,000 once a parent becomes settled or British.
  • How to check a UK immigration adviser is registered — In the UK only a "qualified person" may give immigration advice: an IAA-registered adviser, a solicitor, barrister or chartered legal executive, or someone working under their supervision. Ask for the regulator and registration number, then check it yourself on the IAA Adviser Register or the SRA Solicitors Register.