Who can be a referee for a citizenship application?

You need two referees. One must be a professional person (such as a doctor, teacher, solicitor, or civil servant) who holds a British or Irish passport. The other can be any person of good standing who holds a British or Irish passport. Neither referee can be related to you or be your solicitor or immigration adviser.

Can a friend be my citizenship referee?

Yes, one of your two referees can be a friend, provided they hold a British or Irish passport and have known you for at least 3 years. The other referee must be a professional person. Your friend must not be a family member or related to you by marriage.

What do referees have to do?

Referees sign a declaration on your application form confirming your identity, that you are of good character, and that the information in your application is correct to the best of their knowledge. The Home Office may contact them to verify their statements. They do not need to attend an interview.

Can my referee live outside the UK?

Ideally, your referees should be UK-based, as the Home Office may need to contact them. However, there is no strict requirement that they live in the UK, provided they hold a British or Irish passport and can be reached for verification. A UK-based referee is strongly preferred.

Citizenship Referees: Who Can Be Your Referee

You need two referees for your citizenship application: one professional person and one person of good standing, both holding British or Irish passports. They must have known you for at least 3 years and cannot be family members. This guide covers who qualifies, what they need to do, and common mistakes.

The Two Referee Requirement

The Home Office requires two referees for every citizenship application. These referees serve as independent verification of your identity and character. The requirements for each referee differ slightly.

The referee requirement is set out in the GOV.UK naturalisation guidance.

Referee 1: The Professional Person

Your first referee must be a professional person. This means someone who works in a recognised profession or holds a recognised position. Examples include:

Doctors, dentists, and nurses
Teachers and lecturers
Solicitors and barristers (but not your own immigration adviser)
Accountants
Civil servants
Police officers
Bank or building society officers
Members of Parliament
Ministers of religion
Social workers

This referee must also hold a current British or Irish passport and have known you personally for at least 3 years.

Referee 2: Person of Good Standing

Your second referee can be any person of good standing in the community. They do not need to be a professional, but they must:

Hold a current British or Irish passport
Have known you personally for at least 3 years
Be over 25 years of age
Not be related to you by birth or marriage
Not be related to your other referee
Not be your solicitor or immigration adviser

This could be a friend, colleague, neighbour, or community member who knows you well and can vouch for your character.

What Referees Need to Do

Your referees will need to:

Sign a declaration on your application form (or a separate referee form) confirming your identity, that you are of good character, and that the details in your application are correct to the best of their knowledge
Provide their personal details including full name, date of birth, passport number, profession, and contact information
Be available for verification. The Home Office may contact them by phone, email, or letter to verify their statements. This is not guaranteed but referees should be prepared for it

Referees do not need to attend an interview or provide written references. The declaration on the form is usually sufficient.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Referee issues are one of the most common causes of delays in citizenship applications. Avoid these mistakes:

Using a family member. No matter how well they know you, family members are not eligible
Using someone who has not known you for 3 years. The Home Office checks this carefully
Using someone without a British or Irish passport. EU settled status or permanent residence cards do not count. The referee must hold an actual British or Irish passport
Not briefing your referees. Make sure they know they may be contacted and understand what they are confirming
Using your immigration adviser. Even if they hold a British passport, they cannot be your referee

Finding Suitable Referees

Many applicants struggle to find referees who meet all the requirements. Here are some suggestions:

Your GP or doctor: If you have been registered with the same GP for 3 or more years, they are an ideal professional referee
Your manager or employer: If they are a British passport holder and have known you for 3+ years
A teacher or lecturer: Particularly if you studied in the UK
A colleague or friend: For the second referee, anyone who meets the requirements
A community or religious leader: If you are part of a religious community or community group

If a Referee Is Contacted

The Home Office may contact your referees to verify their statements. This usually happens by phone or letter. They may be asked:

How they know you and how long they have known you
Whether they can confirm your identity
Whether they believe you are of good character
Whether the information on the form is correct

It is important that your referees answer honestly and consistently with what is on the application. Brief them before you submit your application so they are not surprised by a call from the Home Office.

Changing Referees After Submission

If a referee becomes unavailable after you submit your application (for example, they move abroad, become seriously ill, or cannot be contacted), you should inform the Home Office as soon as possible and provide an alternative referee. This will cause some delay but is better than having a referee who cannot be verified.

To minimise this risk, choose referees who are likely to remain contactable throughout the processing period.

Further Resources

For full citizenship requirements, visit GOV.UK. See our guides on citizenship requirements, the ceremony, applying for a passport, residence calculator, English requirement, and voting rights.