When can I become a British citizen?
Enter your visa type and arrival date to see a personalised timeline showing when you can apply for ILR and British citizenship.
If not provided, we will estimate based on your years in the UK.
UK citizenship timeline explained
The path to British citizenship typically follows three stages: qualifying residency on your current visa (usually 5 years), obtaining Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), and then applying for naturalisation after 12 months with ILR.
The Life in the UK test is required for both ILR and citizenship applications. You can take it at any point during your journey, but most people take it shortly before their ILR application.
How long does it take to get British citizenship?
From the point of first arriving in the UK on an eligible visa, the minimum timeline is typically 6 years: 5 years of qualifying residency for ILR, followed by 12 months with ILR before you can apply for citizenship. Processing times add a few more months.
Some routes are faster. Spouses of British citizens may qualify for ILR after 5 years, and refugees may have shorter qualifying periods. EU settled status holders may already count as having indefinite leave.