Jury Service and British Citizenship: What You Need to Know
One of the responsibilities that comes with living in the UK is potential jury service. Whether you are a citizen, hold settlement (indefinite leave to remain), or are on another visa, the rules on who can serve on a jury may affect you. This guide explains.
- Section
- British Citizenship
- Reading time
- 7 min
- Last checked
- 2 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
- You do not need British citizenship to serve on a jury — registration on the electoral roll is key.
- Eligible ages are 18-75, with 5+ years UK residence since age 13.
- You can defer but not easily avoid jury service without a valid reason.
- Your employer must give you time off, and you can claim for lost earnings.
Jury service is a civic duty in England and Wales. You do not need to be a British citizen to be called — anyone on the electoral register who has lived in the UK for 5+ years since age 13 can be summoned. This guide covers eligibility, the process, and practical considerations.
Who Is Eligible for Jury Service
In England and Wales, you are eligible for jury service if:
- You are aged 18 to 75
- You are registered on the electoral roll
- You have been ordinarily resident in the UK, Channel Islands, or Isle of Man for at least 5 years since turning 13
This means Commonwealth citizens and Irish citizens who are on the electoral register can serve on juries, even without British citizenship. Other foreign nationals on the register may also be eligible.
The rules are set out in the GOV.UK jury service guidance.
What Happens If You Are Summoned
If you are summoned for jury service, you will receive a letter from your local Crown Court. The letter tells you:
- When and where to attend
- How long to expect (usually up to 10 working days)
- How to respond (confirm, request deferral, or explain why you cannot attend)
You can be fined up to £1,000 if you do not return the form or do not turn up for your jury service. If you cannot attend on the dates given, you can ask to change the date, but only once.
English Language and Jury Service
Jury service is conducted in English (or Welsh in Welsh courts). If your English is not strong enough to follow court proceedings, understand evidence, and deliberate with other jurors, explain this when responding to the summons. Under the Juries Act 1974, where there is doubt about a person's capacity to act as a juror because of insufficient understanding of English, a judge decides whether they should serve and can discharge the summons.
There is no interpreter provided for jurors — you must be able to participate fully in English. If you need to improve your language skills, see our guide on English language tests.
Employment and Jury Service
If you are employed:
- Your employer must allow you time off for jury service
- Your employer does not have to pay you during jury service (though some do voluntarily)
- You can claim loss of earnings from the court, up to a daily maximum: £64.95 a day for the first 10 days if you spend more than 4 hours at court (£32.47 for 4 hours or less), and £129.91 a day (£64.95 for 4 hours or less) after 10 working days
- You can also claim for travel and for food and drink (£5.71 a day, or £12.17 if you are at court for more than 10 hours)
If you are on a Skilled Worker visa, jury service does not affect your visa. Inform your employer and sponsor about the summons.
Exemptions and Excusals
GOV.UK says you can ask to be excused from jury service in exceptional circumstances, for example if:
- You have a serious illness or disability that prevents you from doing jury service
- You are a full-time carer of someone with an illness or disability
- You are a new parent and will not be able to serve at any other time in the next 12 months
- You are currently living outside England or Wales
- You have already done jury service in the last 2 years
- You are a full-time member of the regular armed forces and your commanding officer certifies that your absence would harm the efficiency of the service (Juries Act 1974, section 9)
Being new to British citizenship or having recently arrived in the UK is not listed as a reason for excusal, as long as you meet the eligibility criteria. See the UK legal system guide for background on how courts work.
After Citizenship
Becoming a British citizen does not change your jury service eligibility if you were already eligible. It may prompt registration on the electoral roll (if you were not already registered), which is what triggers potential summons. Register to vote as part of enjoying your full citizenship benefits.
Related guides:
Questions and answers
Can I be called for jury service after becoming a British citizen?
Yes. British citizens aged 18-75 who have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least 5 years since age 13 are eligible for jury service. You may be summoned at any time after becoming a citizen, as long as you meet these criteria.
Can I do jury service before becoming a citizen?
Yes. In England and Wales, you do not need to be a British citizen to serve on a jury. Anyone aged 18-75 who is on the electoral register and has lived in the UK for at least 5 years since the age of 13 is eligible. Commonwealth and Irish citizens on the register are also eligible.
Can I be excused from jury service?
You can ask to defer (postpone) your jury service once if you have a good reason (such as an operation, an exam, a booked holiday, or your employer will not give you time off), or apply to be excused in exceptional circumstances (such as a serious illness or disability, being a full-time carer, or having done jury service in the last 2 years). Simply being new to the country or recently becoming a citizen is not listed on GOV.UK as a reason for excusal.
Will jury service affect my work?
Your employer must allow you time off for jury service. They do not have to pay you, but you can claim compensation from the court for loss of earnings (up to £64.95 a day for the first 10 days if you spend more than 4 hours at court, rising to £129.91 a day after that). Jury service usually lasts up to 10 working days (2 weeks) but can be longer for complex cases.
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.