On 10 February 2025 the Home Office published significant changes to its Good Character Requirement guidance. These changes came into immediate effect.
To register or naturalise as a British citizen, adult applicants and children aged over 10 years old must meet the Good Character requirement.
Previously, the Home Office guidance stated that it will normally be appropriate to refuse naturalisation in cases where the applicant entered the UK illegally in the past 10 years of making the application. The guidance used to say:
“Where you are not disregarding immigration breaches relating to lawful residence, if a person has previously entered the UK illegally, it will normally be appropriate to refuse the application for citizenship if the illegal entry is confirmed as having occurred in the preceding 10 years.”
The updated Good Character guidance states that applicants who entered the UK without a valid visa, i.e. illegally, will be refused regardless of the time that has passed since entry. The updated guidance now says:
“Any person applying for citizenship from 10 February 2025, who previously entered the UK illegally will normally be refused, regardless of the time that has passed since the illegal entry took place.
Any person applying for citizenship before 10 February 2025 where illegal entry is a factor, will continue to have their application reviewed to determine whether that immigration breach should be disregarded for the purpose of the character assessment.”
Additionally, the Good Character guidance has now included a new section about applicants who used clandestine means/ did not use the proper way to enter the UK:
“A person who applies for citizenship from 10 February 2025 who has previously arrived without a required valid entry clearance or electronic travel authorisation, having made a dangerous journey will normally be refused citizenship.
A dangerous journey includes, but is not limited to, travelling by small boat or concealed in a vehicle or other conveyance. It does not include, for example, arrival as a passenger with a commercial airline.”
This change means that an applicant who arrived in the UK without a valid visa and who made a dangerous journey to the UK, such as via small boat or hidden in a vehicle or other ways, will normally be refused citizenship.
Please note that there may be caveats or exceptional grants to registering or naturalising as a British Citizen.
If you’re unsure how this update may affect your chances of obtaining British citizenship or need further advice on your application, please do not hesitate to contact IHRC Legal.
We also have a guide with tips on improving your chances of success.
This information was correct at the date of publishing.
