Guidance and regulation

For visa or citizenship applications, you may need to prove your knowledge of English by passing a secure English language test (SELT).

• From: UK Visas and Immigration
• Updated: 22 April 2024

A collection of the current Immigration Rules.

• From: Home Office
• Updated: 11 April 2024

These documents explain what successful applicants for naturalisation as a British citizen should expect following their decision.

• From: Home Office
• Updated: 11 May 2023

• Citizenship ceremonies: guidance notes (English and Welsh)

  The final part of becoming a British citizen is for you to attend a…

• Information for British nationals: care of certificates of registration and naturalisation

  Applying for a British passport Your certificate of registration or…

Information about fees for citizenship and right of abode applications and payment slip.

• From: UK Visas and Immigration
• Updated: 10 April 2024

Guidance to register a child under 18 as a British citizen.

• From: UK Visas and Immigration
• Updated: 4 October 2023

Information about what it means to have indefinite leave to remain (ILR) in the UK, also known as settlement.

• From: UK Visas and Immigration
• Updated: 4 November 2021

Immigration staff guidance explaining how to calculate the 5 year continuous lawful period in the UK requirement for an applicant.

• From: UK Visas and Immigration
• Updated: 23 December 2022

Guidance to apply for a certificate of entitlement proving you have the right to live and work in the UK.

• From: UK Visas and Immigration
• Updated: 22 June 2023

Immigration staff guidance on how to consider applications for naturalisation as a British citizen.

• From: UK Visas and Immigration
• Updated: 23 August 2023

This page provides information about some of the actions you may need to take if you are a UK national living abroad and you are returning to the UK permanently.

• From: Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and 1 others
• Updated: 29 March 2021

Immigration staff guidance on assessing the good character requirement in nationality applications.

• From: UK Visas and Immigration
• Updated: 31 July 2023

Immigration staff guidance on nationality law and common problems you might encounter with applications.

• From: UK Visas and Immigration
• Updated: 16 May 2023

These full terms and conditions explain the applicant’s obligations and what they can expect when booking and taking the Life in the UK Test.

• From: UK Visas and Immigration
• Updated: 9 March 2022

Immigration staff guidance on the registration of a minor as a British citizen by entitlement and discretion.

• From: UK Visas and Immigration
• Updated: 24 August 2023

Use this questionnaire if you are from Iran, and you applied for asylum between 28 June 2022 to 7 March 2023.

• From: Home Office
• Updated: 13 March 2024

Immigration staff guidance for considering applications from people who have been victims of domestic violence.

• From: UK Visas and Immigration
• Updated: 4 April 2024

Immigration staff guidance on whether an individual has an automatic claim to British citizenship.

• From: UK Visas and Immigration
• Updated: 21 November 2023

Immigration staff guidance on the knowledge of language and life in the UK requirement.

• From: UK Visas and Immigration
• Updated: 24 November 2022

Immigration staff guidance on how to consider applications from people applying on the basis of long residence in the UK.

• From: UK Visas and Immigration
• Updated: 11 April 2024

Nationality instructions about how UK Visas and Immigration decides on applications from sex offenders.

• From: UK Visas and Immigration
• Updated: 8 January 2008