Completing the application form

This page provides details of how to fill in the registration application form UKM. Before you fill in the application form you should read the eligibility section to make sure you meet the requirements. If your application is rejected because you do not meet the requirements, your fee will not be refunded.

You must fill in the form in block capitals using a black or dark-blue pen. Please enter all dates as dd-mm-yyyy, for example 29-04-2000.

You need to complete all sections of the application form.

You should make sure you sign and date the application form before you send it to us.

The application form UKM has four sections. You should complete all sections that are relevant to your application. The information below highlights the most important parts of each section.

Section 1 - personal information

You should complete this section as fully as possible. If you are applying for registration at the same time as your husband, wife or civil partner, you will each need to complete separate application forms.

The information you provide in this section will be used on your certificate of registration so you should make sure your name, and place and date of birth are entered correctly. We are only able to change your certificate in exceptional circumstances.

If you are successful in your application you will need to attend a citizenship ceremony to be presented with your certificate. Ceremonies will normally be held by a local authority near where you live. If you would like your ceremony in another area you should enter the name and address (including the postcode) of its local authority in part 1.17.

Section 2 - good character

You should complete this section as fully as possible. You must provide details of all criminal convictions including road traffic offences, but not fixed-penalty notices unless they were given in court. Fixed-penalty notices include parking and speeding offences. Drink-driving offences must be declared.

You do not need to provide details of any convictions which are 'spent'. Information on how a conviction becomes spent can be found in the section on good character.

You should provide details of any offence for which you may go to court or are awaiting a hearing in court. This includes if you were arrested for an offence and are waiting to hear if you will be charged. If you are living in Scotland, all recent civil penalties must be declared.

If you have had any involvement in terrorism you should declare it. You must also declare if you have been involved in any crimes in the course of armed conflict including crimes against humanity, war crimes or genocide. Further information on these crimes can be found in the section on good character.

Section 3 - referees and identity

You must include a recent passport photograph of yourself, clipped or stapled to the space provided. The photograph must show the whole of your face. It should not be covered by your hair (except a beard, sideburns or a moustache), a scarf or traditional dress. You should not be wearing dark glasses, a hat, a hood, a cap or a scarf.

Your application must include details of two referees. The referees should have known you personally for at least three years. One referee should be of professional standing such as a doctor, minister of religion, civil servant or a member of a professional association such as an accountant or a solicitor. See the list of Acceptable professional persons. The other referee must be a British passport holder. Both referees must be:

• aged 25 years or over; and
• not related to you; and
• not related to the other referee; and
• not your solicitor or agent representing you with this application; and
• not employed by the Home Office.

The referees must not have any unspent convictions.

Section 4 - declaration by applicant

You must read this section in full and answer all the questions. You must sign and date the completed application form. If you are unable to sign the application form, you must make a mark or fingerprint and ask one of your referees to sign to confirm it is your mark or fingerprint.

If the applicant is not of sound mind and you are acting on his or her behalf you should sign to indicate your responsibility for the accuracy of the information. You must provide a covering letter to support the application explaining who you are and why the applicant cannot act on his/her own behalf. You must also provide confirmation from the applicant's doctor.

Convictions for criminal offences may become 'spent' after specified periods of time from the date of conviction if there are no further convictions during that time. Spent convictions will  be disregarded for certain purposes. They will not normally be taken into account when assessing whether someone is of good character. Convictions that are not yet spent are known as unspent convictions and will be taken into account when assessing good character.