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Fees
12 Fees are payable on application and must be sent with the application.
The current fees are set out in the accompanying fees leaflet.
Dealing with the application
13 An acknowledgement is sent by the Home Office when an application is received. Enquiries are made into every application and may include an interview with the applicant by the police or other representative. The time taken to deal with an application varies according to individual circumstances and with the number of applications on hand at any time.
Dual nationality
14 People who are naturalised as British citizens may, as a result, lose or be at risk of losing their existing nationality or citizenship. This depends upon the law of the country concerned. If information is required in any individual case, enquiries should be made of the authorities of the country concerned before the application for naturalisation is made.
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Notes
An applicant's knowledge of the language does not have to be extensive, but must be good enough to deal with everyday situations. An ability to read or write the language is not essential. The Home Secretary may waive the need to fulfil the language requirement if the applicant is old or physically or mentally handicapped.
2 For the purpose of this leaflet the United Kingdom means England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
3 Periods spent in the United Kingdom
(a) while exempt from immigration control (for example as a
diplomat or as a member of visiting forces) or
(b) in any place of detention (such as a prison) following a conviction or under the powers of the immigration laws (or while unlawfully absent from such a place)
do not count towards the residence requirements.
This leaflet has no legal authority as an interpretation of the British Nationality Act 1981 or of the Regulations made under it, and is intended merely as a guide.
Home Office
Nationality Division
Lunar House
Wellesley Road
Croydon CR9 2BY
Priated by PSIF at HMP Norwich 11/89
Leaflet BN/
First published 1982 Second edition, March 1984
Third edition, November 1989
Fourth edition, February 1990
HOME OFFICE
Information about naturalisation as a British citizen
British Nationality Act 1981
The grant of naturalisation is at the discretion of the Home Secretary, who may if he thinks fit naturalise a person who meets certain requirements. These are set out in section 6 of, and Schedule I to, the British Nationality Act 1981 and described below.
1 An applicant must meet the requirements set out in part A of this leaflet unless he or she is married to a British citizen. An applicant who is the husband or wife of a British citizen need meet only the requirements set out in part B of this leaflet.
A Requirements
2 The applicant must
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V
be aged 18 or over and not of unsound mind; and be of good character; and
have sufficient knowledge of the English language (or Welsh or Scottish Gaelic) (see note 1); and
intend if naturalised to have his home or (if he has more than one) his principal home in the United Kingdom. (The applicant may, however, live abroad if he intends to enter into, or continue in Crown service (working directly for the government of the United Kingdom) or in employment with an international organisation of which the United Kingdom is a member, or in service in the employment of a company or association established in the United Kingdom); and
meet the residential requirements set out in paragraphs 3 and 4 below, or the alternative requirement described in paragraph 5.
3 The residential requirements are that
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the applicant was in the United Kingdom (see note 2) at the beginning of the five year period ending with the date the application is received; and
in that five year period he or she was not outside the United Kingdom for more than 450 days (see note 3); and
in the last 12 months of that five year period he or she was not outside the United Kingdom for more than 90 days; and
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