British Citizenship

**princessnicki** · 5 Aug 20, 07:54 PM

has anyone applied for British Citizenship/ Naturalisation? What was the total cost? How long did the process take? Is it better to get an immigration solicitor to do it?

loldis · 5 Aug 20, 09:44 PM

Yes. It's quite straight forward if you're in one of the qualifying categories, shouldn't need a solicitor as it's not really any more than filling in an ESTA.

It was a few years ago now but if I remember correctly, I applied in January and it was approved in March. You then have to wait for the next ceremony at your nearest eligible town hall, I got lucky and there was one the following week. Then applied for my passport and had that back a few weeks later. So about three months all up, which was pretty quick. Standard guidance is six months.

It's just over �1300 for the application itself, plus extra costs for the ceremony, test, etc. Probably �1500 all up. But it may be more depending on your current status - I'm non-EU originally so I had to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain before citizenship, which was at least that price again.

**princessnicki** · 6 Aug 20, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by loldis

Yes. It's quite straight forward if you're in one of the qualifying categories, shouldn't need a solicitor as it's not really any more than filling in an ESTA.

It was a few years ago now but if I remember correctly, I applied in January and it was approved in March. You then have to wait for the next ceremony at your nearest eligible town hall, I got lucky and there was one the following week. Then applied for my passport and had that back a few weeks later. So about three months all up, which was pretty quick. Standard guidance is six months.

It's just over �1300 for the application itself, plus extra costs for the ceremony, test, etc. Probably �1500 all up. But it may be more depending on your current status - I'm non-EU originally so I had to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain before citizenship, which was at least that price again.

thank you so much for the info, it's for my husband he is originally from South Africa but has been here since 1999 with ILR.

**sparklegirl** · 6 Aug 20, 10:55 AM

gov.uk/apply-citizenship...eave-to-remain

Here you go prices are on there. Its really up to you if you use a solicitor but most applications are relatively straightforward if you can say yes to all criteria. Its not actually too bad a process despite the horror stories. Bear in mind the press never report the positive and well processed decisions only the ones that go catastrophically and wildly wrong. Good luck!

**princessnicki** · 7 Aug 20, 08:44 AM

Originally Posted by sparklegirl

gov.uk/apply-citizenship...eave-to-remain

Here you go prices are on there. Its really up to you if you use a solicitor but most applications are relatively straightforward if you can say yes to all criteria. Its not actually too bad a process despite the horror stories. Bear in mind the press never report the positive and well processed decisions only the ones that go catastrophically and wildly wrong. Good luck!

thank you, I am hoping it should be straight forward as he has no criminal record or debt etc and he has lived here long enough, I think he is a bit apprehensive about the living in UK test (I would struggle with that to be fair)

loldis · 7 Aug 20, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by princessnicki

thank you, I am hoping it should be straight forward as he has no criminal record or debt etc and he has lived here long enough, I think he is a bit apprehensive about the living in UK test (I would struggle with that to be fair)

When I took it, it was multiple-choice and most of the questions had one really obvious answer for people who've been living here for any length of time. Things like "When is Christmas Eve?" and "Who is the Queen married to?".

There were only a handful where it was a 50/50 shot. Mostly the historic date related ones, since I didn't study British history at school. Not that I'd really remember most of what I did study anyway.

Pass rate is 75% IIRC, so it's no big deal if he gets a few of the trickier ones wrong.

ETA: I just did a practice test online for fun and still passed. I haven't looked at that book since the day before I took the test for my ILR which was about 10 years ago!

**princessnicki** · 7 Aug 20, 02:12 PM

Originally Posted by loldis

When I took it, it was multiple-choice and most of the questions had one really obvious answer for people who've been living here for any length of time. Things like "When is Christmas Eve?" and "Who is the Queen married to?".

There were only a handful where it was a 50/50 shot. Mostly the historic date related ones, since I didn't study British history at school. Not that I'd really remember most of what I did study anyway.

Pass rate is 75% IIRC, so it's no big deal if he gets a few of the trickier ones wrong.

ETA: I just did a practice test online for fun and still passed. I haven't looked at that book since the day before I took the test for my ILR which was about 10 years ago!

ahh brilliant thank you that's good to know, I thought it was all really hard history questions

5 Aug 20, 09:44 PM	#2
	5 Aug 20, 09:44 PM loldis Imagineer
loldis Imagineer Join Date: May 17 Location: Sussex	Yes. It's quite straight forward if you're in one of the qualifying categories, shouldn't need a solicitor as it's not really any more than filling in an ESTA. It was a few years ago now but if I remember correctly, I applied in January and it was approved in March. You then have to wait for the next ceremony at your nearest eligible town hall, I got lucky and there was one the following week. Then applied for my passport and had that back a few weeks later. So about three months all up, which was pretty quick. Standard guidance is six months. It's just over �1300 for the application itself, plus extra costs for the ceremony, test, etc. Probably �1500 all up. But it may be more depending on your current status - I'm non-EU originally so I had to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain before citizenship, which was at least that price again.