https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... y-guidance
Illegal entry
Any person applying for citizenship from 10 February 2025, who previously entered
the UK illegally will normally be refused, regardless of the time that has passed since
the illegal entry took place.
Any person applying for citizenship before 10 February 2025 where illegal entry is a
factor, will continue to have their application reviewed to determine whether that
immigration breach should be disregarded for the purpose of the character
assessment.
Where you are not disregarding immigration breaches relating to lawful residence, if
a person has previously entered the UK illegally, it will normally be appropriate to refuse the application for citizenship if the illegal entry is confirmed as having
occurred during the preceding 10 years. If the date of entry cannot be confirmed, or if
the person subsequently goes to ground, or absconds, the period of 10 years starts
from the date on which the person last brought themselves to or came to the
attention of the Home Office.
Failure to comply with immigration requirements may be evidenced by service of a
notice of liability to administrative removal. The IS151A liability to administrative
removal notice was replaced on 6 April 2015 by a RED.0001 form, or where an
application is also being refused at the same time, by a single decision notice which
incorporates a notice of liability to removal. However, given the length of residence
an applicant requires in order to apply for citizenship, IS151As will continue to be
relevant until early 2025. This can show that a person came to notice as someone
who breached the conditions of their leave, remained in the UK unlawfully without
leave, or entered the UK illegally. Relevant Home Office database records such as
Atlas, should be checked to see why the liability notice was served.
Where a person was previously granted refugee status, please also refer to
overstaying and illegal entry: additional consideration for refugees.
Arriving without a required valid entry clearance or electronic travel
authorisation, having made a dangerous journey
A person who applies for citizenship from 10 February 2025 who has previously
arrived without a required valid entry clearance or electronic travel authorisation,
having made a dangerous journey will normally be refused citizenship.
A dangerous journey includes, but is not limited to, travelling by small boat or
concealed in a vehicle or other conveyance. It does not include, for example, arrival
as a passenger with a commercial airline.
There are concerns for refugees to ever be eligible for citizenship under this new version of the rules https://freemovement.org.uk/good-charac ... alisation/