From ILR to citizen: ORBIT guides your naturalisation journey.

British citizenship is more than legal status—it’s the culmination of your life in the UK, granting you full rights and belonging. After securing Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), most applicants can apply for citizenship through naturalisation. At ORBIT Legal Consultancy, we simplify this final step, ensuring your application meets all legal standards and reflects your dedication to the UK.

✅ Eligibility Criteria for Naturalisation

To apply successfully, you generally must:

  1. Be 18 years or older

  2. Have been living in the UK for at least 5 years, with no more than 450 days absent during that time, and no more than 90 days outside the UK in the 12 months before applying

  3. Possess Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or settled status for at least 12 months, unless married to a British citizen (in which case you can apply immediately after ILR is granted)

  4. Be of good character—no serious criminal convictions or immigration fraud within the past 10 years

  5. Meet English language requirements (or Welsh/Gaelic) and pass the Life in the UK test (unless exempt)

  6. Be intending to continue living in the UK after naturalisation—taking extended residence outside the UK before or during application is not permitted

🛠️ How ORBIT Legal Consultancy Supports Your Application

  • Eligibility assessment and strategy: We review your ILR date, absences, relationship history, and eligibility exceptions

  • Proof-gathering support: Including passports, payslips, council tax, school records, bank statements, and travel logs to verify residence

  • Form AN preparation: Completing the official application accurately

  • Lifetime compliance: Guidance on NHS surcharges, unpaid debts, and any minor infractions

  • Test and language help: Preparing for the Life in the UK Test and securing appropriate language evidence

  • Ceremony guidance: Explaining what to expect at the citizenship ceremony and how to complete your oath or affirmation

🎯 Typical Timeline

  1. Confirm eligibility, usually after one year of holding ILR (immediately if married to a British citizen)

  2. Complete Life in the UK Test and finalize language documentation

  3. Submit Form AN with supporting evidence

  4. Expect a processing period of up to 6 months, during which you should avoid long absences from the UK

  5. If approved, attend a citizenship ceremony, where you’ll pledge allegiance and receive your certificate

🌟 Benefits of British Citizenship

  • Full right of abode in the UK and ability to live permanently

  • Eligibility for a British passport, offering visa-free travel and diplomatic protections worldwide

  • Freedom to vote, access to public funds, and unfettered right to work or study

  • Ability to pass citizenship to children born abroad (subject to descent rules)

📝 Note & Recent Changes

While there has been political discussion around extending qualification periods for ILR and naturalisation—such as increasing minimum settlement time from five to ten years—as of now, the 5‑year ILR + 12‑month ILR holding requirement remains the standard. No official legal change has been implemented at this time.

📍 Case Insight

“You need to stay in the UK and can only be absent for 90 days in the 12 months before applying…”
Many successful applicants have found that staying fully compliant in the 12 months before application significantly increases approval chances.

Ready to apply for British Citizenship?

Apply Now