Personal action plan

Become a British citizen

0 of 0 done

You have already passed one of the two hard requirements, the Life in the UK test. The main gate now is holding settled status / ILR for 12 months plus 5 years' residence within the absence limits. If you meet those, you can apply now and usually be a citizen in about 6 to 9 months.

Timing depends on one thing: when your settled status / ILR started. Held it 12+ months (and residence and absences are within the limits)? You can apply now. Under 12 months? The earliest you can apply is when it reaches 12 months, unless you are married to a British citizen, in which case there is no 12-month wait and the residence bar is 3 years, not 5.
1

Check you qualify

Eligibility
Hold ILR or settled status for 12 months
You need indefinite leave to remain or EU settled status, held for at least 12 months before you apply. No 12-month wait if you are married to a British citizen.
12 months0 if spouse
5 years' residence in the UK
Lived in the UK for the 5 years before applying (3 years on the spouse-of-a-British-citizen route).
5 years3 if spouse
Absences within the limits
No more than 450 days outside the UK across the 5 years, and no more than 90 days in the last 12 months (270 days over 3 years on the spouse route). Slight overages can be exercised with discretion.
450 days / 5yr90 / last yr
18+, good character, intentions
Aged 18 or over, of good character (no serious or recent offences, tax and immigration compliant). The "intentions" test is about your main home being in the UK when you apply, not a lifelong commitment, once you are a citizen you can live anywhere without losing it, and it does not apply on the spouse-of-a-British-citizen route. Do not make a false declaration; if your genuine plans are uncertain, take proper immigration advice.
2

Knowledge & language

Requirements
Life in the UK test
Done, passed 4 Sep 2026. Keep the pass reference safe; it is quoted on the application. gov.uk
Passed ✓
English language (B1)
Prove B1 English, or be exempt: a UK degree, or a degree taught in English (Ecctis confirms non-UK ones), or a national of a majority-English-speaking country, or ILR granted on a B1 basis. A UK PhD taught in English satisfies this, keep the certificate; confirm it counts for your application.
B1UK degree exempts
3

Gather your evidence

Documents
Pin down your absence dates
List every trip out of the UK over the 5 years, with dates. A free Home Office Subject Access Request for your travel history is the reliable way to reconstruct this (about a month to arrive); supplement with passport stamps and boarding passes, as exit records can be incomplete. How to request it
SARfree~1 month
Passports and status proof
Current and previous passports covering the 5 years, your eVisa or settled-status share code, and proof of residence across the period.
Line up two referees
Two people who have known you 3+ years: one a British citizen who is a professional person, the other a professional person or a British passport holder aged 25+. Neither can be a relative, your solicitor, or someone working for the Home Office.
2 refereesknown 3+ yrs
4

Apply

Application
Apply online (Form AN)
Complete the online naturalisation application on gov.uk. Check eligibility first, then apply. gov.uk apply
Form ANonline
Pay the fee
£1,839 in total: £1,709 to apply plus a £130 citizenship ceremony fee.
£1,839
Give your biometrics
Book and attend a UKVCAS appointment (photo and fingerprints), or use the ID Check app if you are offered it.
UKVCAS
5

Decision & ceremony

Outcome
Wait for the decision
A decision usually arrives within 6 months, often sooner.
up to 6 months
Attend the citizenship ceremony
Within 3 months of approval, take the oath (or affirmation) and pledge, usually at your local council. You become a British citizen that day.
within 3 months
Apply for a British passport
After the ceremony, once your naturalisation certificate is returned, apply for a UK passport.
after ceremony
Dual citizenship is fine. The UK allows it, and Sweden has allowed dual nationality since 2001, so becoming British does not cost you your Swedish citizenship.
Personal action plan. Not legal advice. Rules and fees change, always confirm on the official gov.uk pages (Guide AN) before you rely on anything here. Progress is saved on this device.