British citizenship

To become a British citizen you will need to apply for British Nationality. This page provides everything you need to know about becoming a British National or applying for Right of Abode.

Citizenship ceremonies

There have been important changes to the way British citizenship is granted to people applying to register or naturalise. Under the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, we expect successful applicants to attend citizenship ceremonies held in their local communities.

This new arrangement applies to all applications we receive on or after 1 January 2004. At the citizenship ceremony, new citizens make an oath or affirmation to Her Majesty the Queen and a pledge of loyalty to the United Kingdom. After this the citizen receives a certificate.

Visit the UK Border Agency website

Latest news

If you wish to make a request for information to Nationality Group you should do so in writing to:

FOI requests
Nationality Group
PO Box 306
India Buildings
Water Street
Liverpool
L2 0QN

Alternatively you can e-mail your requests to FOI.Nationality@ind.homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Telephone numbers for the application forms unit have changed to 0151 672 5472 and 0151 672 5473.

If you send your application to us today, the expected times for a decision are as follows:

• Naturalisation 8.07 months
• Adult registrations 2.67 months
• Registration of minors 6.37 months
• Registration of stateless 2.07 months
• Other registrations 4.89 months
• Renunciations 2.52 months
• Right of Abode applications 10 weeks
• Minor registration 6.37
• Average times for all applications 7.34 months (as of end of October)

Please note that these are average times only. Some applications may take longer to decide. If you obtain an acknowledgement letter confirming that we have received your application please accept we are dealing with your application as quickly as possible.

Please contact Nationality Group in urgent cases only. A lot of enquiries can slow down decision times.

If you applied before January 2004 and you have not yet had a decision, you may be assured that your application is now with a caseworking team. We hope to notify you of the outcome within the next few months.

If you wish to apply for British citizenship and you plan to travel abroad within 12 weeks of making an application, you should not send in original passports or travel documents with your application. You may send in copies of documents certified by a solicitor. Each page of a passport must be copied.

It is important that you contact us in writing if you change your address.

Return of passports

If you want us to return your passport or other documents urgently, you should contact us
by using one of the methods below, making clear the latest date that you need the documents back.

You may:

• Fax us on 0151 237 5400
• Email us at nationalityenquiries@ind.homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
• Write to us at:
  Home Office Nationality Group
  PO Box 285
  3rd Floor
  Reliance House
  Liverpool
  L69 2UF
  You should mark your envelope "REQUEST FOR THE RETURN OF DOCUMENTS"

You can contact Nationality Group by telephone on 0845 010 5200. Our lines are very busy, particularly at peak times (between 9am -10am and 12pm - 2pm).

You should only telephone if your need is urgent. Routine calls stop us from making decisions. We appreciate your patience.

Contact us

If you wish to make a request for information to Nationality Group you should do so in writing to:

Write to us:
FOI requests
Nationality Group
PO Box 306
India Buildings
Water Street
Liverpool
L2 0QN

Telephone us
0151 672 5472
0151 672 5473

Email us FOI.Nationality@ind.homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

This page was last updated on 19 June 2009