The documents we require for naturalisation applications
This page provides details of the documents you will need to supply to us to support your application for naturalisation.
You should send the original document, not a copy. Your documents will be returned to you by secure post, if you wish your documents to be returned to you by an alternative postal service or by courier you should include a pre-paid delivery envelope with your application.
You should provide translations of any documents not in English.
The documents you need to supply to us will depend on the basis of your application. The list below has been split into five sections; you should make sure you read all the sections that relate to you. If you do not send us all the documents we need, we will write to you to request them; this will delay your application.
We have produced a document checklist (PDF 25K opens in a new window) that you can download to provide you with details of the evidence we require. You should read the information below for details of the types of documents we will accept as evidence.
Documents required for all applications
Evidence of your identity
You should provide one of the following:
- your passport; or
- your nationality identity card; or
- your Home Office travel document; or
- your Home Office entitlement card; or
- your Home Office application registration card; or
- your birth certificate; or
- your photo driving licence; or
- bank, building society or credit card statements issued to you in the last six months.
If you used one of these documents to prove your identity when you took the knowledge of life in UK test, you should supply the same document to support your naturalisation application.
Evidence of knowledge of English and of life in the United Kingdom
If you are applying from within the United Kingdom, you should provide one of the following:
- your certificate of progression from one English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) level to another, with a letter from the college confirming you completed an ESOL with citizenship course; or
- your letter confirming you have passed the life in the UK test, stamped and signed by the test supervisor; or
- your confirmation that you met this requirement in order to obtain settlement.
If you are applying from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, you should contact the Lieutenant Governor for details of the evidence you should supply.
If you are applying from any other country, you should contact your nearest British diplomatic post for details of the evidence you should supply.
Exemption from knowledge of English and life in the United Kingdom requirement
You should provide evidence from your doctor that it is not a temporary condition.
Documents required for applications made on the basis of residence in the United Kingdom
Evidence of lawful residence during the residential qualifying period
- You should provide your passport. If you are unable to provide your passport, you should explain why on page 13 of the application form.
- If you do not provide your passport, you should provide letters from employers, educational establishments or other government departments indicating your presence in the United Kingdom during the qualifying period.
- If your passport is not stamped when you come into the United Kingdom because you:
- have the right of abode in the United Kingdom; or
- are a national of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus or
- a national of Taiwan.
You should send your passport and alternative evidence of residence in the form of letters from employers, educational establishments or other government departments to show your presence in the United Kingdom during the qualifying period.
Evidence that you are free from immigration time restrictions
You should provide:
- your passport showing permission to remain in the United Kingdom permanently; or
- the Home Office letter by which you were given permission to remain in the United Kingdom permanently.
If you came to the United Kingdom as an asylum seeker, you should provide:
- evidence that you were not in the United Kingdom without permission between exhausting your appeal rights and being granted indefinite leave to remain.
If you entered the United Kingdom before 1971 and were not put under immigration time restrictions you should provide:
- evidence of being freely landed as a Commonwealth citizen before 1971 or because you arrived as a child on your parent's passport
Evidence required from European Economic Area and Swiss nationals
Evidence of your nationality
You should provide:
- your passport; or
- your nationality identity card.
Evidence of exercising treaty rights for five years
We require evidence to cover the relevant five-year period. You should provide:
- P60 tax certificates; or;
- an employer's letter confirming employment; or
- a benefits letter confirming job seekers' allowance claimed; or
- a benefits letter confirming incapacity benefit claimed; or
- documentary evidence confirming pension received.
If you are self-employed/business person, you should provide:
- evidence from HM Revenue and Customs confirming you have paid tax over the relevant period
If you are a student, you should provide:
- a letter from the educational establishment confirming that you were enrolled on a course of study throughout the qualifying period; and
- evidence that you have comprehensive sickness insurance cover for you and your accompanying family members.
If you are self-sufficient, you should provide:
- banks statements covering the qualifying period to show evidence of funds; and
- evidence that you have comprehensive sickness insurance cover for you and your accompanying family members.
If you are retired, you should provide:
- evidence that you are receiving a state pension.
If you have been unable to work due to ill health, you should provide:
- a doctor's letter or medical report confirming you have been unable to work. The letter or report should state whether you are likely to be able to return to work.
Documents required for applications made on the basis of marriage or civil partnership to a British citizen
You should provide:
- your partner's passport or birth certificate; and
- your marriage or civil partnership certificate.
Documents required for applications made on the basis of crown service or on the basis of marriage to a British citizen in crown or designated service
You should provide a letter from the relevant employer confirming:
- the date and place of recruitment; and
- the position held; and
- the extent to which it would be in the employer's interest for the application to be granted.
Documents required for applications from self-employed people
If you do not pay tax through Pay As You Earn (PAYE) arrangements, you should provide:
- the most recent HM Revenue and Customs self assessment statement of account.
Application forms
Naturalisation as a British citizen
Terms explained
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Comprehensive sickness insurance
Insurance that will pay for any medical treatment required in the United Kingdom by someone who is not entitled to treatment from the National Health Service. You may have to show you have this insurance in order to be allowed to live in the United Kingdom.
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Crown service
Working in the direct employment by the United Kingdom Government, the Northern Ireland Government, the Scottish Administration or, on or after 21 May 2002, the governments of the qualifying territories. (See Qualifying territory.) This does not include someone who is subcontracted on government projects or in the service of Crown servants, such as Royal Navy laundrymen or teachers working in schools on British bases.
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Designated service
Types of employment with specific employers which the Home Secretary has agreed may be treated the same as Crown service for the purpose of British nationality law. See Chapter 4 of the Nationality Instructions, under Law and policy.
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Educational establishment
A school, college or university.
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Indefinite leave to remain
Indefinite leave to remain (often known as ILR) is permission to stay permanently (settle) in the United Kingdom, free from immigration control.
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Residential qualifying period
This is the length of time a person must have lived legally in the United Kingdom before qualifying to apply for naturalisation as a British citizen or for permanent residence. For naturalisation, the period is five years, or three years if you are married to or in a civil partnershp with a British citizen.