Do you need legal support to
SilverOak Solicitors are here to advise and support you at every step of your legal journey. Get in touch with us now to book your immigration consultation and begin the stress-free application process.
For immigration services, we provide competitive Fixed Fees, always with your best interests in mind.
Do you need legal support to
apply for British Citizenship?
SilverOak Solicitors are here to advise and support you at every step of your legal journey. Get in touch with us now to book your immigration consultation and begin the stress-free application process.
For immigration services, we provide competitive Fixed Fees, always with your best interests in mind.
British Citizenship Services
Applying for British Citizenship can be challenging when you don’t speak English as a first language. This page talks you through all the things you need to know in order to apply for British Citizenship.
When making the UK your new home, the aspiration to obtain British Citizenship may naturally arise. Achieving this milestone involves following the legal guidelines and formalities that make the process official. Whether you’re considering naturalisation, exploring citizenship through descent, or looking to upgrade your settled status, our immigration team is here to provide personalised assistance at every step.
How to obtain British Citizenship
Become a British citizen through naturalisation
Obtain citizenship through descent
Be born a British citizen (even if you are abroad)
Become a British citizens through marriage
Upgrade your settled status to become a British citizen
Process your citizenship application in 3 easy steps with us:
1. Get in Touch
Let's chat about your immigration matter. The consultation fee is £75+VAT for 30 minutes. Our warm and friendly immigration experts will provide you with personalised advice, tailored just for you. We're here to make your immigration journey easy - discuss your case and provide you with all the information on your options. Call 020 8578 7778.
2. Build Your Case
Your immigration matter is in capable hands. If you choose to proceed with your matter, we'll deduct the consultation fee from your service cost. We'll guide you on the required documents, timing, and fees, handle the processing of your application, and ensure all necessary paperwork is completed and submitted to counterparties and courts. Let us take care of the entire process for you!
3. Success
Remove the stress by having our immigration lawyer by your side. Let our immigration experts handle all the legal work for you. We will keep you updated every step of the way resulting in a successful outcome.
How to Apply for British Citizenship
There are five main ways you can apply for citizenship in the UK
Citizenship Through Naturalisation
Naturalisation is the process of becoming a British citizen because you have lived here for a number of years. Similar to settled status, obtaining citizenship through naturalisation means acquiring citizenship through means of an exam. You may need to prove you have a good working knowledge of the English language before the home office will accept your application. Proving naturalisation is easier when you have a lawyer to represent you.
Citizenship Through Descent
Either your parents or your grandparents must be born in Britain/British citizens for you to achieve citizenship using this method. Again, proving you have relatives in the UK requires documentation, which requires a lawyer working on your behalf.
Born into Citizenship in the UK
If you or your children were born here in the UK, you achieve citizenship status by default. You are also automatically a British citizen if one of your parents is British or settled within the UK. If neither of your parents is a British citizen and you are born on the UK while they are on holiday here, this does not automatically make you British. It only applies to those with settled status. We can help guide you through the rules of being born into the British empire.
British Citizenship Through Marriage
Marrying a British citizen should give you grounds to take up residence here in Britain. In this instance, your spouse or potential spouse must have been a citizen for three years or more. There are still lots of rules for married new citizens. Seek our advice to help navigate them safely.
UK Citizen Through Settled Status
Settled status, also called indefinite leave to remain. It allowed pre-existing European and other non-UK settled residents leave to remain in the country before the law changed. If you have lived in the UK since before Brexit and you applied for settled status, you should gain citizenship through indefinite leave to remain. If you missed the cut off for declaring yourself in the UK, our lawyers can help you protect your rights.
Competitive Prices with No Hidden Fees
Rest assured, our competitive prices are fair and fixed with no hidden fees. Contact us today to schedule your consultation with one of our immigration experts. The consultation fee is £75+VAT for 30 minutes. If you decide to proceed with your matter, the consultation fee will be deducted from the service fee.
The benefits of booking an immigration consultation
Embark on your path to success with our expert guidance
Understanding Options
We want to assure you that you are never obligated to use our services. We understand that your matter is important to you, and during the consultation, we provide information to help you make an informed decision.
Personalised Guidance
During your immigration consultations we will provide you with personalised advice tailored to your specific circumstances. Our professional immigration experts can assess your situation and provide guidance based on current immigration laws and regulations.
Clarifying Complex Processes
Immigration processes can be complex and involve extensive paperwork. Our experts can simplify these processes, guiding you through the application steps, required documents, timing, costs, and any potential obstacles.
Preventing Costly Mistakes
Professional guidance can help you avoid common mistakes that could lead to delays or rejections in the immigration process. This proactive approach can save you time, money, and potential frustration.
Assessment of Eligibility
Our immigration experts can assess your eligibility for different immigration paths, and discuss the requirements you need to meet to qualify for your matter. This evaluation helps to increase the likelihood of a successful application.
Get in touch with one of our immigration experts
We make it easy for you to speak with our immigration experts
Use the online chat on our website
Call us on 020 8578 7778
E-mail us contact@silveroaksolicitors.com
Visit us at our office. We are open Monday-Friday 9am - 5.30pm
When you first contact us, we will ask for some initial details. You can be assured that everything you discuss with us will be completely confidential, and any information stored by us will be in accordance with UK data protection regulations.
Read recent client reviews
We have excellent reviews on Review Solicitors and Google
Why choose SilverOak Solicitors?
Personal injury, housing disrepair, and immigration experts
Fixed rates
Our immigration services are based on Fixed Rates. You will know about all costs upfront, so there are no surprises.
Highly Experienced
Our highly experienced solicitors and consultants have secured millions of pounds in compensation.
Excellent Client Care
You’ll have a dedicated file handler and senior solicitor working on your case so you won’t need to speak to lots of different people.
SRA Regulated Law Firm
We are a trustworthy SRA regulated law firm and member of The Law Society.
What is citizenship?
By definition, gaining citizenship of a country means that you become a permanent resident. It is the mark of complete acceptance for immigrants and refugees. Becoming a British citizen is a coveted title in many parts of the world due to the opportunity to own your own home and find frequent, reliable work. The UK welcomes over 100,000 new citizens every year.1 With so many people applying for British citizenship, hiring one of our immigration lawyers can greatly improve your chance of success.
1Home Office, 2021: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-year-ending-june-2021/summary-of-latest-statistics
Why do you need an immigration solicitor?
Citizenship is a complex process that can take months of your time. Besides being a lengthy process, the UK government will expect you to file all of the necessary paperwork at the correct time. Failing to supply the correct paperwork will hold back your application. We have extensive experience in helping clients meet the requirements and therefore obtain citizenship as a family. When you operate alone, it is incredibly difficult to have all the family’s applications align at the same time.
Who is eligible for a British Citizenship?
There are multiple ways in which you can be eligible to become a British citizen. If you are born in the UK then you are automatically a British citizen. This might mean that immigrants or people with refugee status could give birth in the UK and that baby would automatically be a British citizen by right of birth. There are lots of other ways to apply for British citizenship. You might apply because you are marrying a British person or because you settled in this country prior to the UK’s departure from the EU.
The UK government may deem you unworthy of entering the UK if you are not of ‘good character,’ are not a resident in the UK, of if they have insufficient knowledge about your life.
If you have a history of trouble with the law in your home country, then you absolutely need an immigration or citizenship lawyer to help you remain in the UK.
Life in the UK Test
The Life in the UK Test is an important step for individuals seeking settlement or British citizenship. This examination consists of 24 multiple-choice questions. This test assesses your knowledge of British traditions, history, customs, and institutions. It is designed to ensure that candidates have a comprehensive understanding of life in Britain. The exam covers a wide range of topics, including historical events, government structure, cultural practices, and societal norms. To prepare for the test, applicants are encouraged to study the official handbook: Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents, and utilise official practice materials.
The passing score is 75%, requiring a correct response to at least 18 questions. The test, lasting approximately 45 minutes, must be booked online through the official government website, and results are provided immediately after completion. A pass certificate is issued upon success, while failing the test necessitates a seven-day waiting period before retaking. The test fee is payable during the online booking process. Successfully passing the Life in the UK Test is not only a requirement for settlement or citizenship but also a valuable opportunity to deepen your connection with the country you are making your home.
Everything you need to know about Life in the UK Test >
How long does application for a British Citizenship take?
Although the British Government aim to answer all applications for citizenship within 6 months, unfortunately this is not always the case as high volumes of applicants can slow down the process.
Our immigration lawyers act on your behalf to communicate with the home or foreign office which gives you a far better chance of successfully becoming a UK citizen without unnecessary delays.
In most instances, we operate on a Fixed Fee basis for working on your case. This means that we will agree our fees with you before we start the case and they will not change. Please note that our quoted prices are only for our professional services fees. Our prices do not include any payments that need to be made by you to a third party such as the Home Office, Court Service, UK Visa and Citizenship Application Service (UKCAS), experts or interpreters if required.
In some circumstances, the fees may be lower or higher than the prices listed below depending on the nature/complexity of the matter, whether the applicant has been refused previously and the anticipated amount of time involved. Should an uplift be needed, that will be agreed before the work is undertaken and the reason/s for it explained.
All professional fees include time for preparation and submission of immigration applications, submissions and appeals. The fees include: remote and in-person client meetings, consideration of documents, the taking of instructions and providing advice on the options available, law & procedure, documentary requirement, likely timescales, corresponding with other parties/experts/the Home Office/courts, keeping you updated and preparing and submitting the application/submissions/appeal as appropriate.
Our fees also cover alerting you to any changes in the law which may have an impact on your circumstances during the course of your matter. Should urgent and/or “out of hours” work need to be undertaken, an uplift may be applied which we would agree with you.
