Completing the application form

This page provides details on how to fill in the naturalisation application form AN. Before you fill in the application form you should read the information on eligibility 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 should 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.

If you would like help completing the application form you may use the services of a solicitor or other advisor. You should make sure the advisor you use is registered with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC).

If you would like to make sure you have completed your form correctly, many local authorities in the United Kingdom run a nationality checking service. For a small fee the authority will check your completed form, supporting documents and application fee before sending your application on to us for consideration.

The application form AN is split into six sections. Some sections of the form must be completed by everyone applying for naturalisation. Other sections should only be completed if they are relevant to your application. The information below highlights the most important parts of each section. A full guide on what is required in each section is provided in the leaflet naturalisation as a British citizen - a guide for applicants.

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 need to complete separate application forms.

The information you provide in this section will be used on your certificate of naturalisation. You should make sure your name, place and date of birth are entered correctly and match the details shown in your passport or identification documents. You must note any discrepancies on page 13 of the application form. 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 within 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 that local authority in part 1.19.

Section 2 - residence requirements

You should complete this section as fully as possible. Parts 2.1 and 2.2 are very important to your application. In order to meet the residence requirements, you must have been in the United Kingdom for at least five years (three years if you are married to or the civil partner of a British citizen).

Section 3 - 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 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 these crimes can be found in the section on good character.

Section 4 - crown service

You should complete this section only if you are applying on the basis of your own crown service or your husband?s, wife?s or civil partner?s crown or designated service if they are a British citizen.

Section 5 - 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 a person of any nationality who is of professional standing such as a 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 holder of a British citizen passport and either a professional person or aged 25 years or over.

Both referees must be:

• 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.

If you are living outside the United Kingdom and do not know a British citizen who can act as a referee, a commonwealth citizen or citizen on the country in which you are living may sign the form provided:

• he/she is of professional standing in that country; and
• he/she has known you for three years; and
• the British diplomatic post where you will be making your application considers his/her signature to be acceptable,

The referees must not have any unspent convictions.

Section 6 - 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 their own behalf. You must also provide confirmation from the applicant?s medical practitioner.

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.