The requirement
Most applicants for British citizenship must be of good character. The Home Office does not define it exactly, but it examines your criminal record, your history with the immigration system, your financial conduct, your honesty and whether you have complied with the law. The requirement applies to adults and to children aged 10 and over.
What the Home Office looks at
- Criminal record. Convictions and cautions, in the UK and abroad. A custodial sentence can bar an application for a long time. Lesser sentences are weighed against the passage of time.
- Immigration history. Overstaying, working without permission, entering illegally, and above all deception, such as false documents or false statements in an earlier application.
- Financial soundness. Bankruptcy, unpaid tax and the failure to pay what is due, including some fines and penalty charge notices.
- Honesty and openness. Whether you have been truthful with the Home Office, and whether you tell it what it needs to know.
- Other conduct. Involvement in terrorism, war crimes or extremism, notably, but also breaches of the law more generally, including repeated driving offences.
Candour matters
You must disclose what you are asked about, and the form asks widely. A failure to disclose, even of something minor, can be treated as deception and can be worse than the underlying fact. We recommend preparing a full disclosure and a short explanation, with supporting documents, before applying.
Past immigration breaches
Many applicants worry about a past overstay or a period without permission. The Home Office treats these seriously, but it does not treat all breaches alike: a short overstay long ago, with an explanation and a good record since, is very different from a recent breach or a pattern. Where the breach is long ago or minor, an application can often succeed. Where it is recent or serious, the better course may be to wait. We assess each history individually.
If you are refused
There is no appeal against a naturalisation refusal, and the fee is not refunded. You can ask for reconsideration on Form NR (£513, refunded if the decision is overturned), or apply again. It is often wiser to take advice before applying than after a refusal, as a refusal stays on your record and can colour later applications. See reconsideration requests.
