Citizenship for Spouses of British Citizens

The Spouse Route to Citizenship

British nationality law provides a faster path to citizenship through naturalisation for people who are married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen. This is set out in Section 6(2) of the British Nationality Act 1981.

The key advantages over the general naturalisation route are:

• A shorter residency requirement: 3 years instead of 5
• No requirement to wait 12 months after receiving ILR
• A more generous absence allowance: 270 days over 3 years instead of 450 days over 5 years

These benefits recognise the close connection to the UK that comes through marriage to a British citizen.

Eligibility Requirements

To apply for citizenship as a spouse under Section 6(2), you must:

1. Be aged 18 or over
2. Be married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen
3. Hold Indefinite Leave to Remain, EU Settled Status, or another form of settled status
4. Have been resident in the UK for at least 3 years before the date of your application
5. Not have been absent from the UK for more than 270 days in those 3 years
6. Not have been absent for more than 90 days in the 12 months before your application
7. Have passed the Life in the UK test
8. Meet the English language requirement
9. Be of good character

Note that you must still be married at the time of application. If your marriage has ended through divorce or your spouse has passed away, you apply under the general route (Section 6(1)) instead, which requires 5 years of residence and 12 months of ILR.

The Full Timeline

Here is how the journey from Spouse visa to citizenship typically works:

• Year 0: Arrive in the UK on a Spouse visa (valid for 33 months).
• Year 2.5: Apply to extend your Spouse visa (for another 30 months).
• Year 5: Apply for ILR using SET(M).
• Year 5+: Once ILR is granted, apply for citizenship immediately (no 12-month wait). You will have had more than 3 years of residence by this point.

In practice, the citizenship application takes about 6 months to process. So the total time from first arrival to holding a British passport is approximately 5.5 to 6 years.

The ILR Step

You cannot skip ILR and go straight to citizenship. ILR is a prerequisite. Most people on the Spouse visa route apply for ILR after 5 years using the SET(M) form.

The ILR application requires you to meet the financial requirement again, provide evidence of your ongoing relationship, and pass the English language requirement at B1 level (higher than the A1 level required for the initial Spouse visa).

The ILR fee is £3,226. See our ILR cost breakdown for details.

Counting Your Absences

The absence limits for spouses are:

• No more than 270 days absent from the UK in the 3 years before your application
• No more than 90 days absent in the 12 months immediately before your application

These are calendar days, not working days. The day you leave the UK and the day you return both count as days of absence. Keep accurate records of your travel dates.

If you have exceeded the limits, you can still apply and ask the Home Secretary to exercise discretion. This is more likely to be granted if the excess is small and there were good reasons for the absences (such as a family emergency). However, significant excess will usually result in refusal.

Good Character for Spouses

The good character requirement applies to all citizenship applications, including those by spouses. You must disclose any criminal convictions, cautions, or other matters that may affect your character assessment.

Being married to a British citizen does not give you any advantage in the good character assessment. The same standards apply as for any other applicant. See our citizenship refusal reasons guide for more information.

What If Your Marriage Ends?

If your marriage ends before you apply for citizenship, you cannot use the spouse route. You will need to apply under the general naturalisation route (Section 6(1)), which requires:

• 5 years of residence instead of 3
• 12 months of ILR before applying
• No more than 450 days absent in 5 years

If your marriage ends after you submit your citizenship application but before a decision is made, you should inform the Home Office. The application may still be considered under Section 6(2) if you were married at the date of application.

If your marriage ends before you have received ILR, this could also affect your immigration status. You may be able to remain on the family route as a victim of domestic violence or in the interests of any children. Seek legal advice if you are in this situation.

The Application Process

The application is made using Form AN, the same form used for all naturalisation applications. The form is completed online.

You need to provide:

• Your passport and your online immigration status (eVisa)
• Your marriage or civil partnership certificate
• Your partner's British passport or naturalisation certificate
• Life in the UK test pass notification
• English language evidence
• Details of two referees
• Details of your absences from the UK

The fee is £1,709, and the citizenship ceremony costs a further £130, so £1,839 in total. A decision usually takes up to 6 months. If approved, you attend a citizenship ceremony to receive your certificate of naturalisation.

Cost Summary

The total cost of the journey from Spouse visa to citizenship:

• Initial Spouse visa: £2,064
• Healthcare surcharge for the initial visa (33 months): £3,105
• Spouse visa extension: £1,407
• Healthcare surcharge for the extension (30 months): £2,587.50
• ILR application: £3,226
• Citizenship application and ceremony fee: £1,839 (£1,709 plus £130)
• First British passport: £102 online
• Total: approximately £14,330

This does not include the Life in the UK test fee (£50), English language test fees, or any legal fees. For a detailed breakdown, see our Spouse visa cost breakdown and citizenship fees guide.

Questions and answers