British Citizenship After EU Settlement Scheme: Complete Guide
If you hold EU settled status, becoming a British citizen is a natural next step for many. This guide explains the requirements, timeline, and process for EU nationals applying for British citizenship in 2026.
- Section
- British Citizenship
- Reading time
- 10 min
- Last checked
- 3 September 2026
- Source
- The published Immigration Rules and GOV.UK guidance, linked throughout this guide.
- Rowan does not
- Look at your own case, tell you which route to choose, or say what the Home Office will decide. This guide shows the published rules and where to read them.
In short
- EU settled status counts as settlement (ILR) for citizenship purposes.
- Apply for citizenship 12 months after receiving settled status, or as soon as you have it if your spouse or civil partner is a British citizen.
- The UK allows dual citizenship — you do not need to give up your EU nationality.
- Pre-settled status holders must upgrade to settled status first.
EU settled status holders can apply for British citizenship by naturalisation after holding settled status for 12 months. The process is largely the same as for other holders of settlement (indefinite leave to remain, or ILR). Dual citizenship is permitted by the UK. This guide covers every step for EUSS holders.
EU Settled Status and Citizenship
The EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) granted settled status (equivalent to ILR) to EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals living in the UK before 31 December 2020. If you hold settled status, you are on the same footing as anyone with ILR when it comes to applying for British citizenship.
Pre-settled status is not the same as ILR. If you hold pre-settled status, you must first obtain settled status before you can apply for citizenship.
Requirements for Naturalisation
To apply for British citizenship as an EUSS settled status holder, you must:
- Have held settled status for at least 12 months (this wait does not apply if your spouse or civil partner is a British citizen)
- Have been resident in the UK for the 5 years before your application
- Not have been absent for more than 450 days in those 5 years
- Not have been absent for more than 90 days in the final 12 months
- Pass the Life in the UK test
- Meet the English language requirement (B1 level or above)
- Meet the good character requirement
If you are married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen, the residence requirement is 3 years rather than 5, the absence limit over those 3 years is 270 days, and you can apply as soon as you have settled status: the 12-month wait does not apply. See our guide on citizenship for spouses.
Dual Citizenship
The UK permits dual citizenship. Becoming British does not require you to renounce your existing nationality. However, some EU countries do not allow dual citizenship or have restrictions:
- Countries that generally allow dual citizenship: France, Italy, Portugal, Ireland, Poland, Romania, and Germany (since its nationality law changed on 27 June 2024, German nationals no longer need permission to keep German citizenship when taking another nationality)
- Countries with restrictions: Netherlands (exceptions exist), Austria, Spain (complex rules)
Check with your country's embassy in the UK before applying. Losing your EU nationality would mean losing your EU free movement rights, which may be important to you.
The Application Process
The citizenship application process for EUSS holders is the same as for other applicants:
- Use the online application on GOV.UK
- Pay the application fee (currently £1,839: £1,709 to apply plus the £130 citizenship ceremony fee)
- Provide your identity documents, settled status details, and evidence of residence
- Attend a biometrics appointment
- Wait for a decision (usually within 6 months)
- Attend a citizenship ceremony
For details on documents needed, see our citizenship documents checklist.
Benefits of Citizenship vs Settled Status
You may wonder whether citizenship is worth it when you already have settled status. Key differences:
- Voting: British citizens can vote in all UK elections. Citizens of other EU countries cannot vote in general elections (unless they are also Irish, Cypriot or Maltese citizens). In England, EU citizens can vote in local elections only if they have had permission to be in the UK continuously since 31 December 2020, or are citizens of Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal or Spain.
- Passport: A British passport gives you visa-free access to many countries.
- Deportation: British citizens cannot be deported. Settled status holders can be deported in certain circumstances.
- Passing citizenship to children: British citizens can pass citizenship to children born abroad.
- Absence rules: Settled status is lost after 5 years in a row outside the UK, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man (4 years for Swiss citizens). Citizenship cannot be lost through absence.
For a full comparison, see our citizenship vs ILR guide.
Next Steps
The published timeline is 5 years of residence to get settled status, then 12 months holding it, so the earliest point for a citizenship application is usually 6 years after arrival. See the published requirements guide, prepare your documents, and apply online.
Related guides:
Questions and answers
Can I apply for British citizenship with EU settled status?
Yes. EU settled status counts as indefinite leave to remain (settlement) for citizenship purposes. You can apply for naturalisation 12 months after receiving settled status, provided you meet the residence, good character, and language requirements. If your spouse or civil partner is a British citizen, you can apply as soon as you have settled status.
Do I need to give up my EU citizenship to become British?
No. The UK allows dual citizenship. Becoming British does not require you to renounce your EU nationality. Whether your EU country allows dual citizenship is a separate question — check with your country's embassy.
Does pre-settled status count toward citizenship?
Pre-settled status does not count as settlement (indefinite leave to remain), so you cannot apply for citizenship directly from pre-settled status. You must first upgrade to settled status (which requires 5 years continuous residence), then wait 12 months before applying for citizenship.
How long does the citizenship application take for EUSS holders?
GOV.UK says you will usually get a decision within 6 months, the same as for other citizenship applications, though some applications take longer. You can check current processing times on GOV.UK.
This guide is general information about published immigration rules. It is not advice about an individual application under s.82 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, and Rowan is not regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority. Immigration rules change several times a year. For advice on a particular situation, contact an adviser authorised by the Immigration Advice Authority or an immigration solicitor. Always check GOV.UK for the authoritative current rules.