Referees for British citizenship: who can sign your form
A naturalisation application must be endorsed by two referees who have known you for at least 3 years. One referee can be any nationality but must be a professional person; the other must hold a British citizen passport and be either a professional person or over the age of 25. Choosing the wrong referee is one of the most common reasons applications are delayed, so it pays to get this right before you submit form AN.
- Two referees are required for every adult naturalisation application.
- Referee 1: any nationality, but must be a professional person.
- Referee 2: must hold a British citizen passport, and be either a professional person or over the age of 25.
- Each referee must have known you for 3+ years.
- Neither can be a relative, related to each other, your solicitor/agent on the application, or a Home Office employee.
Who can be referee 1
Referee 1 can be a person of any nationality, but they must be a professional person. GOV.UK's Form AN guidance lists examples including a minister of religion, a civil servant, or a member of a professional body such as an accountant or a solicitor. In practice this also covers people like doctors and teachers — the key test is recognised professional standing, not a specific job title.
This referee does not need a British passport. That requirement applies only to your second referee, which is where many applicants get confused.
Who can be referee 2 — the British passport rule
Referee 2 must be the holder of a British citizen passport. On top of that, they must be either a professional person or over the age of 25. So if your second referee is, say, a 40-year-old neighbour with a British passport, they qualify on age even without a profession. A 23-year-old British passport holder would not qualify unless they are also a professional person.
Both referees must have known you personally for at least 3 years. A long acquaintance who is a relative will not do — the relationship test still applies.
Who cannot be your referee
The restrictions matter as much as the qualifications. According to GOV.UK, each referee must not be:
- related to you
- related to the other referee
- your solicitor or agent representing you with this application
- employed by the Home Office
The Home Office will also not usually accept a referee who has been convicted of an imprisonable offence during the last 10 years. Checks may be carried out to confirm referees do not have unspent convictions, that they are qualified to act for you, and that their signatures are genuine — so an ineligible or dishonest referee can stall the whole application.
The single biggest pitfall is choosing a referee who does not actually meet the rules — most often someone who has not known you for the full 3 years, a relative, or a second referee without a British passport. An ineligible referee can delay your application by weeks while the Home Office requests a replacement. Confirm both referees qualify before you submit.
How referees work in the online AN process
Most people now apply for naturalisation through the online form AN service. During the application you enter each referee's details, and the system guides your referees through confirming your identity and endorsing your application — the modern equivalent of the old paper countersignature. Your referees should be ready to confirm how long they have known you and to vouch for the photo and details you provide, so let them know in advance that they will be contacted.
Referees are just one piece of a naturalisation application. You will also need to meet the residence and good character requirements, prove your English, and — for most applicants — pass the Life in the UK test. For the bigger picture, see the British citizenship guide.
What to do if you cannot find a referee
If you are struggling, widen your thinking before you panic. A qualifying professional could be a doctor, teacher, accountant, social worker, civil servant, minister of religion, or another member of a professional body. Long-standing employers, professional contacts and community leaders are often overlooked. Just remember the relationship and 3-year rules apply to all of them.
If you genuinely cannot find an eligible referee, contact the Home Office or take independent immigration advice rather than submitting someone who does not qualify. It is far better to delay than to have the application rejected.
While you sort your referees, you can keep your test prep on track with realistic practice on britpass.app. For more on timing, read when a referee can sign your citizenship form, and to gather everything else you need, see the documents required to apply for British citizenship.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Always check the latest GOV.UK guidance for your circumstances.