Naturalisation Application in the UK
Information Pack for Afghans on the ARAP and ACRS schemes
A practical guide for Afghan ARAP/ACRS case holders and other adults who may qualify for British citizenship. This guide is for general information only and is not legal advice.
Introduction
Naturalisation is the process by which an adult who is not already a British citizen applies to become a British citizen. If the application is approved, the applicant will be invited to attend a citizenship ceremony, where they make the required oath or affirmation and receive their certificate of British citizenship. In this guide, USPUK provides a clear, step-by-step overview for eligible people while keeping the information practical and easy to follow. For Afghan ARAP and ACRS case holders, having ILR is an important part of eligibility, but applicants must also satisfy the residence, absence, language, Life in the UK and good character requirements.
Who can usually apply
Most adult applicants on the standard route need to meet the following requirements:
Be aged 18 or over.
Hold ILR, settled status, or another immigration status that means you are free from immigration time restrictions.
Have lived in the UK for the required qualifying period, usually 5 years.
Have normally held ILR for at least 12 months before applying, unless you are married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen.
Meet the residence and absence rules.
Meet the English language requirement, unless exempt.
Have passed the Life in the UK Test, unless exempt.
Meet the good character requirement.
Intend to continue living in the UK and make the UK your future home.
For ARAP/ACRS case holders: people granted ILR under these schemes may be able to apply for British citizenship after 5 years in the UK, subject to meeting the existing naturalisation requirements. The exact date you can apply will depend on your individual circumstances, including your date of arrival in the UK and your travel history.
Residence, absences, and timing
You must normally have lived in the UK for at least 5 years before the date of your application and meet the lawful residence requirements.
You must have been physically present in the UK exactly 5 years before the Home Office receives your application.
For the standard route, you normally need to have been free from immigration time restrictions for 12 months before applying, unless you are married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen.
Absence limits normally apply: no more than 450 days outside the UK during the 5-year period and no more than 90 days outside the UK in the last 12 months.
Keep a full travel log with departure dates, return dates, countries visited and reasons for travel. Check the dates carefully against your passports and other records before submitting your application.
Documents and information to prepare
Before starting your online application, prepare the information and documents below so that you can complete it carefully and accurately.
Item and Why it matters
Passport or travel document: Used for identity and, where relevant, to show your travel history.
Proof of ILR or settled status: Shows that you are free from immigration time restrictions.
5-year address history: The form asks where you have lived during the qualifying period.
Travel history: Needed to confirm absences from the UK and total days outside the UK.
Life in the UK Test pass number: Used to confirm that you have passed the Life in the UK Test.
English language evidence: Evidence that you meet the English language requirement, or evidence that you are exempt.
Two referees: Adult naturalisation normally requires two eligible referees.
Any relevant supporting documents: Examples include name-change papers, marriage certificates, or short explanations for unusual issues.
How to apply
Apply online for British citizenship by naturalisation through GOV.UK: Enter your personal details, immigration history, residence history and good character information carefully. Check names, dates, addresses and passport details against your supporting documents.
Pay the application fee: Check the current naturalisation fee on GOV.UK before applying, as fees can change. The current total fee is £1,839.
Provide your biometrics: After you apply, follow the Home Office instructions about providing your fingerprints and photograph, if required.
Upload supporting documents: Provide the documents required for your application, which may include your passport or travel document, evidence of ILR or settled status, Life in the UK Test details, English language evidence and referee declarations.
Attend any appointment you are asked to attend: Follow the instructions you receive about what documents you need to bring.
Wait for a decision: GOV.UK says applicants usually get a decision within 6 months, although some cases take longer.
After submission and approval
Once you have submitted your application and provided your biometrics, if required, the Home Office may contact you for more information. Check your email regularly and make sure your contact details are kept up to date.
Respond quickly if the Home Office asks for extra documents or clarification.
Keep copies of your application, payment confirmation, document uploads, and referee declarations.
If your application is approved, you will receive a decision and an invitation to attend a citizenship ceremony. Follow the instructions in your invitation to arrange your ceremony.
You must normally attend the citizenship ceremony within 3 months of receiving your invitation from the Home Office.
At the ceremony, you take the oath or affirmation of allegiance and receive your certificate of British citizenship.
After you attend your citizenship ceremony, you should destroy your BRP in accordance with the Home Office instructions.
A British passport is usually the next travel document to apply for, but the citizenship certificate itself is not a travel document.
Stage and Suggested action
3-6 months before eligibility: Gather identity documents, travel history, residence evidence, and referee details.
Before you apply: Book and pass the Life in the UK Test and complete the English language requirement, unless exempt.
When you are ready: Submit form AN carefully and pay the fee.
After submission: Follow the instructions for biometrics and supporting documents, and respond promptly to any Home Office request.
After approval: Follow your citizenship ceremony invitation and, after becoming a British citizen, apply for a British passport if required.
Good character and referees
The good character requirement may take into account criminal convictions, cautions, driving offences, immigration history, unpaid debts to government bodies, deception and any failure to disclose relevant information
Answer every question honestly and provide complete information. If you are unsure about something that may affect your application, seek advice from a qualified and regulated adviser before applying rather than guessing.
Adult naturalisation applications normally require two referees. One referee must be a person of professional standing and can be of any nationality. The other referee must normally hold a British citizen passport and be either a professional person or over 25 years old. Both referees must have known you personally for at least 3 years.
A referee must not be related to you or to the other referee, be your solicitor or agent representing you in your citizenship application, or be employed by the Home Office. Make sure both referees meet the Home Office requirements and are willing to complete the referee declaration.
Common mistakes to avoid
Applying before you have completed the residence period.
Applying before you have held ILR long enough, where the 12-month rule applies.
Not checking that you were in the UK exactly 5 years before the Home Office receives your application.
Forgetting to list trips outside the UK.
Using referees who do not meet the rules.
Leaving out criminal, driving, immigration, or financial issues that should be declared.
Submitting documents that do not match the application form.
Relying on friends, social media, or rumours instead of official guidance.
Final preparation checklist
Check your immigration status and the date your ILR was granted.
Check your 5-year residence period and absence days.
Prepare for and pass the Life in the UK Test, unless exempt.
Prepare English language evidence, unless exempt.
Collect identity, residence, and immigration documents.
Choose suitable referees and confirm they are willing to help.
Review any possible good character issues before applying.
Check the latest fee and official GOV.UK guidance.
Get qualified advice if your case is complicated.
Where to get help
The most reliable source is the latest official GOV.UK guidance.
If you need immigration advice, use a qualified and regulated immigration adviser, solicitor, or other authorised organisation.
Community organisations can provide general information, but they should not give legal advice unless they are authorised to do so.
Annexes: Use these notes to prepare the main naturalisation application. They are written as quick reminders, not legal advice.
Life in the UK Test
The Life in the UK Test is a computer-based test with 24 multiple-choice questions. You book it online through GOV.UK, bring the same ID you used for booking, and you need to score 75% or more to pass. If you do not pass, you can rebook and try again, but you must pay each time.
Official link: Book or review the test | Test day information
English language B1
For naturalisation, you normally need to show sufficient knowledge of English at B1 level or above, unless you qualify through another accepted route such as an eligible degree or because you are a national of a majority English-speaking country. Check the Home Office guidance to confirm which evidence is required for your qualification or test.
Official link: Approved English test guidance | Degree evidence guidance
Referees
Most adult naturalisation applications require two referees. One referee can be of any nationality but must be a professional person. The other referee must normally hold a British citizen passport and be either a professional person or over 25. Both referees must have known you personally for at least 3 years. Referees must not be related to you or to each other, be your solicitor or agent representing you with the application, or be employed by the Home Office.
Official link: Form AN guidance - referees
Good character
The good character requirement means the Home Office will look at convictions, cautions, immigration history, deception, and any other information that could affect your application. Be honest about everything, even if it happened a long time ago. Recent guidance also says that citizenship applications made after 10 February 2025 that include illegal entry will normally be refused.
Official link: Form AN guidance - good character | Good character policy guidance
Other useful item: documents and timing
Before you submit the application, make sure you also have your passport or travel document, proof of ILR or digital status, address history, travel history, and any extra documents that match unusual facts in your case. It also helps to keep copies of everything you upload, plus your payment and application reference numbers.
Official link: Main Form AN guidance
If you need, these notes can be inserted into a full annex page or kept as a standalone quick-reference sheet.
Important Reminder
Immigration and citizenship rules can change. Always check the latest information and book any tests or applications through official UK Government websites (GOV.UK).
This guide is for general information only and is not legal or immigration advice. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, USPUK cannot accept responsibility for decisions made based on this information. If you need advice about your individual circumstances, seek guidance from a qualified immigration adviser or solicitor.
USPUK Afghan team is ready to assist you.
For further information, feel free to reach out to us https://www.uspuk.org/selectlanguage-nav-1.
*Information last undated on 20.08.2026
**The content in this pack is for informational purposes only. It is not professional advice. Seek guidance from relevant experts or authorities for specific concerns or decisions.