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Regarding Early British Citizenship Application
Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2025 7:35 am
by rcpdmrts
Would applying for British citizenship a few days or up to a month before completing 12 months on ILR lead to an automatic refusal, or is there any discretion in such cases?
I was granted ILR on 11 December 2024, so I will be eligible to apply on or after 11 or 12 December 2025. I would like to know if applying slightly earlier would be considered or automatically rejected.
Re: Regarding Early British Citizenship Application
Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2025 7:40 am
by CR001
Unless you are married to a British citizen, you must wait until you have 12 months on ilr.
Why do you want to apply early??
Re: Regarding Early British Citizenship Application
Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2025 7:47 am
by rcpdmrts
⸻
Thank you for your response. I’ve read the guidance, and I understand that normally an applicant must wait 12 months after being granted ILR, unless married to a British citizen.
I was just wondering if there have been any cases where an application was submitted a little early — for example, a few days or a couple of weeks before completing the 12 months — and discretion was applied if all other requirements were fully met.
I appreciate that this isn’t standard practice, but I’m curious if it’s ever been considered or accepted in practice.
Re: Regarding Early British Citizenship Application
Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2025 1:34 pm
by contorted_svy
Yes it would be considered but you would need to ask for discretion. Not worth doing unless you have extraordinary circumstances that require you to apply earlier.
From the guidance
https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... accessible
Applicants under section 6(1) who have not been free from immigration time restrictions for 12 months
There is also discretion to waive this requirement in certain circumstances.
Discretion to disregard immigration time restrictions in the 12 months prior to application can be exercised if one of more of the following is met:
the applicant had less than 12 months free from time restrictions when they applied, but meets the requirement by the time you consider the application, and all the other requirements are met
the applicant had been put on conditions when returning to the UK, but has since established that they were a returning resident or exempt from control
the period of limited leave was less than 10 days at the beginning of the 12- month period
the period of limited leave was between 10 and 90 days at the beginning of the 12-month period, and the applicant:
meets all the other requirements
has strong links with the UK through having established their home, property and family here
the period of limited leave was more than 90 days at the beginning of the 12- month period, and:
the applicant meets all the other requirements
the applicant has strong links with the UK through having established their home, property and family here
there are compelling business or compassionate reasons to justify granting now
the period of limited leave was more than 10 days at the beginning of the 12- month period, and:
the applicant does not meet all the other requirements
has strong links with the UK through having established their home, property and family here
there are compelling business or compassionate reasons to justify granting now
there are exceptionally compelling circumstances.
the applicant made an application for ILR at least 15 months before the citizenship application, and was granted following a delay which was not their fault
an application for leave or asylum was refused in error and, if it had been granted correctly, the applicant could have applied for ILR and met the requirements on the date of application
Re: Regarding Early British Citizenship Application
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2025 10:33 am
by rcpdmrts
Thanks for your replies. As I was granted ILR on 11th December 2024, will my application date be 11th December 2025 or 12th December 2025 ? What is the safest date to complete the application ? Thanks in advance .
Re: Regarding Early British Citizenship Application
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2025 10:43 am
by alterhase58
The "safest" day to my mind is always the next day or days after your calculated day.
Your are not loosing anything. People can apply decades after obtaining ILR.
Re: Regarding Early British Citizenship Application
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2025 11:32 am
by contorted_svy
rcpdmrts wrote: ↑Wed Oct 29, 2025 10:33 am
Thanks for your replies. As I was granted ILR on 11th December 2024, will my application date be 11th December 2025 or 12th December 2025 ? What is the safest date to complete the application ? Thanks in advance .
Earliest you can apply is the 10 Dec 2025. Waiting one more day won't make a difference - I personally waited an extra day for peace of mind that I definitely fulfilled the requirement.
Re: Regarding Early British Citizenship Application
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2025 12:46 pm
by rcpdmrts
I have been planing to make it on 11th I think it is the earliest and the most relevant date. I just want to completed as early as possible. I believe should be fine ?
Re: Regarding Early British Citizenship Application
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2025 1:13 pm
by lolo2
You also need to ensure that you were physically present in the UK on the same date of the application five years back.
Re: Regarding Early British Citizenship Application
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2025 2:05 pm
by contorted_svy
rcpdmrts wrote: ↑Wed Oct 29, 2025 12:46 pm
I have been planing to make it on 11th I think it is the earliest and the most relevant date. I just want to completed as early as possible. I believe should be fine ?
If you respect all requirements, yes, the 11 Dec will be OK.
lolo2 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 29, 2025 1:13 pm
You also need to ensure that you were physically present in the UK on the same date of the application five years back.
Do also double check your travel patterns in Dec 2020 (as vaccines still were not widely available not many people were travelling then, but best to be safe than sorry).
Re: Regarding Early British Citizenship Application
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2025 2:37 pm
by rcpdmrts
Thanks for all the recommendations. I was in the UK for the entire year in 2020. And I already have been living in the Uk more than 6 years, as well as meeting with other requirements.