Naturalisation application processing timelines (only)

[zoamelgustar]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years residency + 1 year Settled (EUSS)
Language: British Bachelor's degree + Life in the UK Test
Nationality: Romanian
Method of application: Online
Date of application submission: 10/10/23
Date of debit of fees: 10/10/23
Date of receipt of acknowledgment (by UKVI): 10/10/23
Date of enrolling biometrics: 06/11/23 Newham, London (Free)
Date of receipt of confirmation from UKVCAS: 06/11/23
Date of receipt of approval: PENDING
Letter from Council for the ceremony: PENDING
Date of Citizenship Ceremony: PENDING

[Andrew1972]

Eligibility criteria: ILR since April 2023 (spouse of British citizen)
Language: B1 test certificate + Life in UK Test
Nationality: Russian
Method of application: Online
Date of application submission: 02/01/24
Date of debit of fees: 02/01/24
Date of receipt of acknowledgment (by UKVI): 02/01/24
Date of enrolling biometrics: 09/01/24 (Birmingham) Paid
Date of receipt of confirmation from UKVCAS: 09/01/24
Date of receipt of approval: PENDING
Letter from Council for the ceremony: PENDING
Date of Citizenship Ceremony: PENDING

[Sidali42]

Eligibility criteria: 5 Years + 1 yr ILR

Method of application: Online

Date of application submission: 10/09/23
Date of enrolling biometrics: 16/09/23

Date of receipt of approval: pending
Letter from Council for the ceremony: pending
Date of Citizenship Ceremony: pending

Sent three emails to further enquiry nothing just automatic response

[tstrassberger]

Eligibility criteria: Long term ILR holder / spouse of British Citizen
Proof of language: Exempt (US Citizen) Life in UK Passed for ILR
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 27.08.2022
Date of documents submission: 27.08.2022
Date of biometrics: 03.10.2022
Date of acknowledgement email that docs and biometrics submitted to UKVI: Never received. Wrote to FNE 24.01.2023, received reply from FNE on 14.02.2023 saying 'All proceeding normally'
Further enquiries to FNE in April, July, August, 2023. September 2023, suddenly got email from Nationality Biometrics informing me that I never took biometrics. I provided proof of attendance at the appointment. SopraSteria complaint line writes back to confirm they sent my biometrics, and they can't do anything about it until UKVI raises the issue. UKVI says 'IT Issue' UKVI tells me the have raised the issue. Nothing to do but wait.
October 2023 - MP wrote on my behalf -- same reply 'IT Issue'
November 2023, December 2023 - Replies from FNE as well as UKVI complaints that there is an ongoing IT Issue. I've offered to have biometrics taken again. No reply.
Date of approval email: none
Citizenship ceremony: none

Seventeen months and zero progress. I have read a few others are in the same situation. No signs of movement at all. I have written to all addresses again on 07.01.2024 and have no had no reply.

[casanova1307]

Eligibility criteria: Asylum seeker 5 Years + 1 yr ILR

Method of application: Solicitor ( Paid 800£ )

Education: UK degree & Life in the UK

Date of application submission: 17 /09/23
Date of enrolling biometrics: 26/09/23 ( Free )

Date of receipt of approval: pending
Letter from Council for the ceremony: pending
Date of Citizenship Ceremony: pending


When I applied with a solicitor I thought my application would be easy and straightforward but still waiting on decision 3 months and 10 + days. My advice for everyone is, u do not need a solicitor, it won’t help the decision at all. If you know all the documents you need do it alone save your money.

I tried my luck like others in here and I Emailed Futhernationalityrnquires 28/12/23 and 05/01/24
No answer, I only received the automated response.


I am literally tryna go on holiday in March. Still waiting

[Heyheyhey]

Eligibility criteria: 5 Years + 1 yr ILR

Method of application: Online

Date of application submission: 07/11/23
Date of enrolling biometrics: 17/11/23

Date of receipt of approval: pending
Letter from Council for the ceremony: pending
Date of Citizenship Ceremony: pending

Finger crossed

[SupperDog]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years Tier 1 Entrepreneur + 9 months ILR
Method of application: Online
Date of receipt: 10/01/2024
Date of debit of fees: 10/01/2024
Date of biometrics: 19/10/2024
Date of receipt of acknowledgment: awaiting
Date of receipt of approval: awaiting
Date of Ceremony: awaiting

Just submitted my application today even I have less than 12 months of ILR (not married to a British citizen). Will update here if I have any news.

[IamTheTick]

Naturalisation Application Timeline

Eligibility criteria: 5 yrs + 5yrs ILR
Nationality: Non-EU
Language: Degree taught in UK + Life in the UK
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 25 Sep 2023
Docs uploaded via UKVCAS: 25 Sep 2023
Date Biometrics enrolled: 06 Oct 2023
Date of receipt of acknowledgement UKVI: 06 Oct 2023
Date of receipt of approval email: 8 Jan 2024 (sent a chaser email to FurtherNationality earlier today, and voila!)
Date of Ceremony: 12 Jan 2024 Private Ceremony (called my local council as website wasn’t showing any available slots)

Battled for 23 painful years for this, finally reached the finish line. Don’t lose hope, y’all! Thank you for this forum, it’s kept me sane

Good luck, everyone!!!

[Narenvish]

Eligibility criteria: 3 Years ILR + British spouse (3 year route as I was out of the country 5 years ago)
Language: UK Naric + Life in UK Test
Nationality: India
Method of application: Online
Date of application submission: 02/10/23
Date of debit of fees: 02/10/23
Date of receipt of acknowledgment (by UKVI): 02/10/23
Date of enrolling biometrics: 29/10/23 (West Lothian Edinburgh, free)
Date of receipt of submission confirmation from UKVCAS: 29/10/23
Date of receipt of approval: 10-Jan-24 (Email confirmation from Further Nationality)
Letter from Council for the ceremony: pending
Date of Citizenship Ceremony: pending

Emailed further nationality enquiries on 09/01/2024. Got approval response from them on 10/01/2024

This thread helped me a lot on when to chase Further National enquiries, thanks

[Lancs]

Eligibility : been in UK for around 20 years, came as a student in my teens, spouse to BC, long term settled status.
Language : life in UK, B1 trinity college Manchester.

Method of application/fees: online 9th June' 23
Date of receipt/biometric/acknowledgement : 19th July (manchester)

Recieved an email on 28th November' 23 saying my application raises complex issues and it would take longer than six months (usual email which they have been sending to a lot of other applicants)

8th January 24: I have sent an email to FNE, did got a auto-generated reply more or less straight away saying they will reply to my email within 20 days. (Waiting reply time at the moment)

Date/Approval email: Pending
Date/Ceremony: Pending.
Will keep you guys posted, this forum keeps you sane I guess and quite re-assuring. Best of luck everyone!

[Kad8888]

Eligibility criteria: 10 years [Tier 4 + Tier 2 + tier 1]+ 1 year ILR]
Language: UK degree + Life in UK Test
Nationality: non EU
Method of application: Online
Date of application submission: 05/10/23
Date of debit of fees: 05/10/23
Date of receipt of acknowledgment (by UKVI): 05/10/2023
Date of enrolling biometrics: 20/10/23
Date of receipt of submission confirmation from UKVCAS: 20/10/23
Date of receipt of approval: pending
Letter from Council for the ceremony: pending
Date of Citizenship Ceremony: pending

[Drybones]

Eligibility criteria: ILR since 2013 (Came as a teen dependant)
Language: UK degree + Life in UK Test
Nationality: non EU
Method of application: Online
Date of application submission: 20/09/23
Date of debit of fees: 20/09/23
Date of receipt of acknowledgment (by UKVI): 20/09/23
Date of enrolling biometrics: 11/10/23 (Peterborough) FREE
Date of receipt of confirmation from UKVCAS: 11/10/23
(only around 5 documents requested including expired passport)
Date of receipt of approval: 08/01/2024
Letter from Council for the ceremony: 09/01/2024
Date of Citizenship Ceremony: 29/01/2024 (Huntingdon)

Straight forward case as I’ve been in the country for most of my life and only traveled out for 2 weeks in 2014.
Good luck everyone

[Yoyo77]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years Tier 2 + 1 year ILR
Language: UK degree + Life in UK Test
Nationality: non EU
Method of application: Online
Date of application submission: 07/09/23
Date of debit of fees: 07/09/23
Date of receipt of acknowledgment (by UKVI): 07/09/23
Date of enrolling biometrics: 07/09/23 (Croydon)
Date of receipt of submission confirmation from UKVCAS: 07/09/23
Date of receipt of approval: pending
Letter from Council for the ceremony: pending
Date of Citizenship Ceremony: pending

Emailed further nationality enquiries on 05/01/2024. Got approval response from them on 08/01/2024

[SKondeti]

Eligibility criteria: 15 years in the UK, Settled Status since October 2015
Nationality: India
Proof of language: UK degree
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 28.09.2023
Date of biometrics: 22.10.2023 (Edinburgh, paid appointment)
Date of acknowledgement email that docs and biometrics submitted to UKVI: 22.10.2023
Date of approval email: (waiting)
Email invitation to book: (waiting)
Citizenship ceremony date: West Lothian Council (waiting)

[phaseolinus]

Eligibility criteria: 7 years in the UK, Settled Status since 2021
Nationality: EU
Proof of language: UK degree
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 18.10.2023
Date of biometrics: 09.11.2023 (Bristol, free)
Date of acknowledgement email that docs and biometrics submitted to UKVI: 09.11.2023
Date of approval email: (waiting)
Email invitation to book: (waiting)
Citizenship ceremony date: (waiting)

[BrokenRoad]

Application Timeline
Eligibility criteria: 5yr T2 + 1yr ILR
Method of application: Online
Nationality: non-EU
Date of receipt by UKBA: 14/09/2023
Date of debit of fees: 14/09/2023
Date of biometrics: 18/09/2023
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: none received
Date of receipt of approval: Pending
Date of Ceremony: Pending

Other Updates: Emailed FNE a couple times in Dec 2023, only got automatic responses

[zik]

Eligibility criteria: 10 years route + 4 days ILR
Language: UK degree + Life in UK Test
Nationality: non EU
Method of application: Online
Date of application submission: 18/09/23
Date of debit of fees: 18/09/23
Date of receipt of acknowledgment (by UKVI): 18/09/23
Date of enrolling biometrics: 23/09/23 (Midlands)
Date of receipt of submission confirmation from UKVCAS: 23/09/23
Date of receipt of approval: 02/01/2023
Letter from Council for the ceremony: 08/01/2023
Date of Citizenship Ceremony: 20/01/2023

I sent an email to further nationality in Dec before I clocked 3 months and they replied on the 2nd of Jan that it has been approved! Thank you everyone for your input.

Massive thank you to all who contributed to the timelines and Goodluck to all still waiting.

[Vini1981]

Eligibilitiy: Tier-2 5 years + ILR July 2023
Nationality: South Asian
Language: US Degree + Life in the UK
Method of application: Online
Payment method: Online
Date of application: 11/09/2023
Date of biometrics: 14/09/2023 paid (Croydon)
The date on the Approval letter/Email: 03/01/2024 (email confirmation from Further Nationality Enquiry that I was approved but should wait until a formal email from home office was received. Was asked to wait upto 2 weeks), 08/01/2024 (actual approval from Home office Atlas (home.office.atlas@notifications.service.gov.uk)
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: I didn't receive one as I booked my citizenship ceremony on the council website as soon as I got the home office Atlas email. Received a confirmation online and a seperate email came to me from the council on 9th Jan confirming for the date
Citizenship ceremony date: 31 January 2024

I emailed Further Nationality Enquiries (FurtherNationalityEnquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk) after viewing posts on this forum on 15/12/2023. Received the standard response that I shouldn't expect any responses in less than 6 months. I sent a follow up email to other email addresses I found on this forum but it was Further Nationality Enquiries that came back after about 2 weeks. I found this forum to be very useful fount of information.

Good luck to everyone.

[TakeYourMoney]

Eligibility criteria: 5yr Tier 2 + 1yr ILR
Citizenship: non-EU
Method of application: Online
Date of application & debit of fees: 29 August 2023
Biometrics appointment: 7 Sep 2023 (Croydon, free)
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 7 Sep 2023

6th Dec 2023: received an email asking to provide the city of birth, responded immediately
14th Dec 2023: emailed FurtherNationalityEnquiries, but magic didn’t work like with other folks here

Date of receipt of approval: 8th January 2024
Date of Ceremony: TBD. Spoke with the registry office, they can do 31st January or early Feb, so it’s not too bad

[edwardbello2023]

Eligibility Criteria: ILR 5 years + British spouse
Nationality: Colombian
Method of application: Online
Date of application online: 18/09/2023
Documents and biometrics submitted: 23/09/2023 Croydon (paid)
Email from Atlas asking for the reference code from the life in the UK test ( I forgot to put it in my application): 14/12/2023
Date of approval email: 08/01/2024
Citizenship ceremony date: awaiting

Good luck everyone!

[mv1981]

Eligibility Criteria: EUSS + Spouse of BC
Language: Exempt (nationality)
Nationality: EU
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 08/09/2023
Documents and biometrics submitted: 19/10/2023 (Mark Lane, London)
Date of approval email: 08/01/2024
Citizenship ceremony date: 30/01/2024

[ryansn]

Eligibility criteria: 5yrs +1 Yr ILR
Method of application: Online
Payment method: Online - Credit Card
Date of application: 09/09/2023
Documents submitted: 09/09/2023
Biometrics submitted: 09/09/2023 (Croydon, paid)
Contacted further national enquiries on 14/12 and 20/12 about naturalisation approval.
The date on the Approval Email: 21/12/2023
Contacted further national enquiries on 04/01 and 07/01 about the ceremony letter.
Date of receipt of ceremony letter (e-mail): 08/01/2023
Citizenship ceremony date: 17/01/2023

Thank you so much everyone. This forum was essential since I first arrived in the UK in 2015. I wish everyone all the best.

[AJ-London2]

Eligibility criteria: Long term ILR holder / spouse of British Citizen
Proof of language: Exempt (age)
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 11.09.2023
Date of documents submission: 29.09.2023
Date of biometrics: 29.09.2023
Date of acknowledgement email that docs and biometrics submitted to UKVI: 29.09.2023
Date of approval email: 08.01.2024
Discretion requested re excessive absences (covid)
Citizenship ceremony - pending

[Omoba18]

Eligibility criteria: 10 years Partner route + 2wks ILR
Nationality: Non EU
Method of application: Online
Date of online application: 23 Sep 2023
Date of debit of fees & Acknowledgement: 23 Sep 2023
Type Of Appointment: Paid Appointment
Date of Biometrics collection UKVCAS: 02 Oct 2023 (Southampton)
Date of receipt of approval: 08 Jan 2023
Date of Ceremony: 12 Jan 2023 Private

Note : BC Spouse since 2012

[clawsie]

Eligibility criteria: 30+ yrs residence, Settled status, British spouse
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 04/04/2023
Date of biometrics: 08/04/2023
Date of approval email: 08/01/24 at 1.34pm
Citizenship ceremony date: TBA

After 9 months to the day, finally approval came through today! Yay!
For people still waiting, and for those with minor criminal records, there is hope