Typically, to be eligible for ILR, you will need to meet the following requirements:

• have spent the last five years in the UK, with no breaches over the limit of 180 days in each of the five years;
• proof that you are of good moral character;
• have passed the Life in the UK test;
• proof that you still meet the requirements of your previous visa category at the time of your application; and
• have evidence of your knowledge of the English language at the relevant level for ILR of B1

In some cases, you may not be able to apply for ILR until ten years of continuous residence. Read more about how to apply for ILR after five years to find out more.

The application for naturalisation has many of the same requirements, including the good character assessment, Life in the UK test and five-year residence requirement. You will also need to show you have held ILR for at least a year.

The most common form for applying for naturalisation from ILR is Form AN. You will need to complete this form correctly and include evidence which satisfies every requirement before you submit it. There is a fee of £1,330 for the application which is non-refundable. The application is extensive and time-consuming, requiring exceptional attention to detail. To ensure you do it right first time, you may wish to seek the help of an immigration professional.

Once you have been naturalised, you will be a full citizen of the United Kingdom. This means you will be able to apply for a UK passport and you will be completely free from immigration restrictions across Great Britain.

You may have the opportunity to apply for your passport at the same time as your naturalisation using the Nationality Document Return Service. This service allows you to take your supporting documents to your local authority and copy them for your application. Using this service will allow you to keep your documents while your citizenship application is processing.

Once you have held ILR for at least one year, you can then make your application for British Citizenship. You will also need to show you have lived in the UK for a continuous residency period of five years.

After making the application for naturalisation, the Home Office will inform you that they have received your application within four weeks. The average processing time is about six months.