Naturalisation and Registration as a British Citizen Pricing
We are committed to providing complete transparency with our pricing for naturalisation applications. When you work with our team, we always work to agree any costs in advance of any case once we have assessed your requirements and the level of work required.
The following information is provided in accordance with the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s Transparency Rules and in order to provide a good estimate of the sort of level of fee you will pay if you were to instruct us to assist with a naturalisation application.
It should be noted that it is possible that there may be further costs that you would need to cover in addition to our fees and we have also provided information on those. Our aim is to ensure you have a comprehensive understanding of what the overall costs may be for your individual application.
Type of work and costs involved
Type of work: Fixed fee naturalisation and registration as British citizen
Costs involved: Average cost of £1,000 to £2,000 plus VAT based on a fixed fee.
On average, this type of work takes approximately between 4 and 8 hours to complete.
The exact number of hours it will take depends on the circumstances in your case. Such as:
- The amount of supporting evidence that we need to consider
- Which language(s) you speak
- Whether you are applying with other dependants
- Complexities such as past refusals, criminal convictions, adverse immigration history
If you are able to provide sufficient evidence at our first meeting and clearly meet the applicable Immigration Rules, the cost is likely to be at the lower end of this range.
All the figures given exclude VAT unless explicitly stated. VAT is charged at 20% unless specifically stated. However, charging VAT in relation to immigration matters may depend on where you live and what immigration permission you have. We will confirm whether VAT (at a rate of 20%) is payable when you instruct us and we can work out if VAT is properly chargeable.
Please note: our fixed fees are non-refundable.
Our fixed fee includes us acting for you in the following key stages:
Initial attendance and discussion of available options
This involves an initial meeting to understand your circumstances and discuss the best pathways to citizenship.
Estimated Timescale: 5 to 10 working days
Assessing the most appropriate course of action and application based on specific circumstances
Evaluating your situation to determine the most suitable application route.
Estimated Timescale: 3 to 5 working days
Advising on requirements of the immigration rules/guidance related to naturalisation and specific evidence
Providing detailed guidance on the necessary criteria and supporting documents.
Estimated Timescale: 3 to 5 working days
Advising on method of submission priority
Discussing the submission process and any available priority services.
Estimated Timescale: Up to 3 working days
Assessing and advising on supporting evidence
Reviewing your documents to ensure they meet the required standards.
Estimated Timescale: 5 to 10 working days
Sourcing and obtaining further evidence. This might include engaging with third parties where permitted, such as medical experts, banks and employers
Estimated Timescale: (depending on the complexity and responsiveness of third parties)
Collating and preparing supporting evidence
Organising all documents and preparing them for submission.
Estimated Timescale: 5 to 10 working days
Preparing detailed representations with index and finalising application submission.
Drafting comprehensive representations and finalising the application for submission.
Estimated Timescale: 5 to 10 working days
Further submission/ providing updates on progress
Submitting any additional information if requested and keeping you informed about the application's progress.
Estimated Timeframe: ongoing, as required.
Advising on outcome of application /implications of status/application and next steps
Informing you of the decision and advising on subsequent steps, such as attending a citizenship ceremony.
Estimated Timescale: Within 10 working days of receiving the decision.
Overall Processing Time:
The Home Office aims to process naturalisation applications within 6 months from the date of receipt.
However you must remember processing times can vary based on individual circumstances. If you can provide sufficient evidence and clearly meet the applicable immigration rules, the costs are likely to be at the lower end of the range.
Additional costs:
- Any Home Office Fees related to the naturalisation process. This is paid to the Home Office directly as part of the application process. You can find an updated list of Home Office Fees here.
- Advice and assistance in relation to appeals for refused naturalisation applications.
- Disbursements paid to third parties.
These fees can range from £15 - £2389 on average for general applications. Home office fees are exclusive of VAT, at the time of writing this article.
Please see the link to the home office page with the list of all fees.
It must be noted that not all immigration cases attract Value Added Tax (VAT). However, if VAT is applicable, 20% will be added to our fees, as well as any expenses or disbursements. All the figures given exclude VAT unless explicitly stated. VAT is charged at 20% unless specifically stated.
Potential expenses and disbursements are listed below:
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as visa fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process. It is not possible to estimate the value of disbursements at this stage as it is dependent on each case. We will let you know as soon as we know the cost of disbursements. Examples of disbursements include the below and are exclusive of VAT:
- Translations from £20 per page
- Interpreting from £25 per hour
- From £20 per hour attendance
- Travel from £15
- Waiting from £15
- Plus travel expenses (will depend on distance)
- Non-standard postage(will depend on quantity)
- Medical reports (will depend on work needed)
- Country reports (will depend on work needed)
- DNA reports (will depend on work needed)
- Printing and photocopying (will depend on work needed)
- Any Home Office fees (You will pay this to the Home Office directly as part of the application process. The fees change as advertised by the Home Office so we will always confirm the fees on the Home Office Website) / Interpreter fees/Independent expert reports. You can find an updated list of Home Office Fees here.
We will let you know as far in advance as possible when these additional fees are due to be incurred.
Please note: some experts and professionals charge VAT and others do not if they are not registered for VAT. If VAT is charged it will be at the standard rate of 20%. VAT is not chargeable to non-UK citizens.
Factors that affect our fixed fees
- The type and amount of supporting evidence that is being considered
- Which language(s) you speak
- Whether any other dependants are included in an application
- Additional issues that may affect an application such as past refusals, criminal convictions and/or adverse immigration history
If you can provide sufficient evidence and clearly meet the applicable immigration rules, the costs are likely to be at the lower end of the range.
Will your fees increase?
This could occur if the work agreed in the fixed terms or quoted hours is exceeded because more work arises or work required was not anticipated. This can happen for several reasons e.g., you require more meetings and work than we had estimated for, or new or further evidence arises requiring consideration and instructions from you. Sometimes new lines of prosecution material arise(s), requiring more extensive work. Delays caused by any matters can also increase time and costs.
How long does work for naturalisation take to complete?
On average, the work involved in a naturalisation application takes 8 hours to reach completion.
Who completes work for naturalisation applications?
Kam Dhanjal (Head of Immigration) supervises Pritesh Davdra and Pritesh Davdra (Immigration Solicitor) supervises Kam Dhanjal. Both are qualified solicitors and accredited (Supervising Senior Caseworker)
How long does it take to make an application for naturalisation?
Timescale to submit an application for naturalisation
Applications for naturalisation from the start of instructions take up to six - eight months on average. The exact time it takes will depend on various factors, including the complexity of applicant's immigration history.
Timescale on return of application for naturalisation
It is not possible to guarantee exactly how long the Home Office will take to process a naturalisation application. You can learn more about the current processing times here.
Please note the anticipated number of hours and fees are an estimate based on the facts above. Each individual naturalisation application is unique, which means the hours and fees can vary from case to case. Our team will be able to give you a more accurate estimate of hours and fees once we have more information about your specific case and what steps need to be taken.
Key stages:
Obtain instructions
This involves engaging with an immigration advisor or solicitor to discuss your eligibility and the application process. The duration for this stage varies based on individual circumstances and the advisor's availability.
Estimated Timescale: 5 to 10 working days
Advise on applicable law and legal requirements and whether you meet the relevant criteria
Your advisor will assess your situation against the legal criteria for naturalisation, such as residency requirements, English language proficiency, and the Life in the UK test. This stage's length depends on the complexity of your case.
Estimated Timescale: Determined on a case by case basis typically 21 to 28 days
Assist you to collate relevant paperwork to support your application
Gathering necessary documents, including proof of identity, residency, and other supporting materials, can take several weeks, depending on how readily available your documents are.
Estimated Timescale: Determined on a case by case basis typically 7 to 21 days
Complete and Submit Application to the Home office
Once all documents are prepared, the application is completed and submitted.
Estimated Timescale: 3 to 5 working days
Biometric Enrolment
After submission, you'll receive instructions to provide your biometric information (fingerprints and photograph).
This must typically be done within 45 days of application submission.
Application Processing by the Home Office
The Home Office aims to process naturalisation applications within 6 months. However, straightforward cases may receive decisions in as little as 1 to 3 months, while more complex cases could take longer.
Liaise with Home Office on your behalf
Your advisor may communicate with the Home Office during the processing period to address any queries or provide additional information.
Advise on the outcome of your application
Once a decision is made, you'll be informed of the outcome.
Citizenship Ceremony
If approved, you'll be invited to attend a citizenship ceremony, which you must book and attend within 3 months of approval. Ceremonies are typically scheduled.
Applying for a British Passport
After the ceremony, you can apply for a British passport, which usually takes 6 to 8 weeks to process.
In summary, from the initial consultation to obtaining a British passport, the entire naturalisation process can take approximately 8 to 12 months, depending on individual circumstances and processing times.