Citizenship
If you are not British, you may be eligible to apply for citizenship through naturalisation or registration.
Securing British citizenship may appear daunting, but IHRC Legal is here to simplify the process for you and offer comprehensive guidance and support.
Whether you are looking to gain citizenship for your child or for yourself as an adult, contact us to see how we can help you.
The naturalisation route to citizenship is available to adults who have been granted indefinite leave to remain or settled status.
In order to apply for naturalisation, individuals who have lived lawfully in the UK for five years (or three years if married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen) need to meet a number specific requirements, including residency requirements and the Knowledge of the language and life in the UK requirement.
The requirements can be extensive and complicated, in particular, the requirement to be of “good character”.
If you have a child born in the UK, who is not automatically British at the time of their birth, you can apply for their British citizenship.
A child is entitled to British citizenship by law if after their birth, one or both of their parents obtain settlement or British citizenship.
Additionally, a child is entitled to British citizenship by law if they were born in the UK and have lived in the UK for the first 10 years of their life.
Alternatively, a child can also apply for British citizenship under the discretion of the Secretary of State for the Home Department. A part of such applications, the Home Office must be convinced that the child’s future is in the UK and it is in the their best interests to be registered as British.