Naturalisation application processing timelines (only)

[DebOnline]

Application: British Citizenship
Category: Tier 2 (5 years) + ILR (1 year)
Nationality: Indian
Applicants: Self + 2
Online Submission: 11-Jul-2023
Biometric Appointment: 14-Jul-2023
HO queries received so far: None
Date of approval: TBC
Date of ceremony: TBC

[hmotagar]

Eligibility criteria: Settled status for 1 year + 5 year residency
Nationality: Venezuelan
Method of application: Online
Date of receipt by UKBA: 29/05/2023
Date of debit of fees: 29/05/23
Date of Biometrics collection UKVCAS: 01/06/2023 (free appointment at Liverpool Centre)
Date of receipt of approval: 09/10/2023
Date of email from the council: 16/10/2023 Council confirmed ceremony Date
Date of Ceremony: 20/10/2023 (private ceremony PAID)

Good Luck everyone♡

[MOBLFSN]

Eligibility criteria: ILR +10yrs
Citizenship: non-EU
Method of application: Online
Date of application & debit of fees: 02/07/2023
Biometrics appointment:04/07/2023 (free)
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 04/07/2023
Date of receipt of approval: TBC
Date of Ceremony: TBC

[dzonitebra]

Eligibility criteria: EUSS + 1 Yrs
Nationality: EU
Method of application: Online
Payment method: Online
Date of application: 20/06/2023
Date Biometrics enrolled (UKVCAS): 02/07/2023 (FREE)
Date of documents received email: 02/07/2023
The date of Approval letter/Email: 16/10/2023 Time 12:33
Citizenship ceremony date: 26/10/2023

Good luck to everyone!

[ZV0037]

Application Type: UK Naturalisation
Category: Spouse VISA (5 years) + ILR
Nationality: non EU
Application Date: 05 June -2023
Biometric Appointment: 29 June-2023(Reading)
HO Acknowledgement: 29 June-2023
Further queries received so far: None
Date of approval email: Pending
Date of ceremony: Pending

Sent email to HO for update on application on 05th of Oct but havent received any update.

[DebOnline]

Application Type: UK Naturalisation
Category: Tier 2 (5 years) + ILR (1 year)
Nationality: non EU
No. of Applicants: 3 - Self, spouse, son (18+)
Application Route: Online (through employer’s immigration consultant)
Application Date: 11-Jul-2023
Biometric Appointment: 14-Jul-2023 (Birmingham)
HO Acknowledgement: 14-Jul-2023
Further queries received so far: None
Date of approval email: Expected
Date of ceremony: Expected

[Nasro]

Refugee 5year plus 1 year ILR
Timeline for naturalisation
Apply through Lawyer
Online : 24/june/2023
Bio :27/june/2023 mark lane (Paid)

Decision :pending
Ceremony pending
It’s been nearly 4 months

Involve Mp and home office accepted on 8th September Application should be expedited but still no approval Waiting

[Tosin2017]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years with one year settlement
Nationality: non-EU
Method of application: Online
Application completed & debit of fees: 1 July 2023
Biometrics appointment: 3 July 2023
Receipt of acknowledgement UKVI: 3 July 2023
Receipt of approval email: Pending
Ceremony: Pending

I submitted a day after you, hopefully before month end they will answer us Finger crossed

[Quickresponse]

Eligibility criteria: spouse visa 5 years
Nationality: non-EU
Method of application: Online
Application completed & debit of fees: 11 June 2023
Biometrics appointment: 3 July 2023
Receipt of acknowledgement UKVI: 3 July 2023
Asking update from naturalisation team: 17 oct 2023
Receipt of approval email: Pending
Ceremony: Pending

[nanafo]

Naturalisation Application Timeline

Eligibility criteria: 5 years + 2.5 years Settled Status (since oct 2020)
Nationality: Cypriot (EU)
Language: Degree taught in UK/English language
Method of application: Online via lawyer
Date of application: 20 June 2023
Docs uploaded via UKVCAS: 06 July 2023
Date Biometrics enrolled: 06 July 2023 (free appointment in Central London)
Date of receipt of acknowledgement UKVI: 06 July 2023
Date of receipt of approval email: awaiting
Date of Ceremony: awaiting

Issues with the application: 645 days of absences in the 5 qualifying years (excessive absences but within the 7 year grace period & exception due to COVID-19 lockdown measures)

Good luck everyone!!!

Update:
Date of receipt of approval email: 16 October 2023
Date of Ceremony: awaiting

In total, it took 3 months and 10 days exactly to get my approval email, next step is to book the ceremony!

[nanafo]

Naturalisation Application Timeline

Eligibility criteria: 5 years + 2.5 years Settled Status (since oct 2020)
Nationality: Cypriot (EU)
Language: Degree taught in UK/English language
Method of application: Online via lawyer
Date of application: 20 June 2023
Docs uploaded via UKVCAS: 06 July 2023
Date Biometrics enrolled: 06 July 2023 (free appointment in Central London)
Date of receipt of acknowledgement UKVI: 06 July 2023
Date of receipt of approval email: awaiting
Date of Ceremony: awaiting

Issues with the application: 645 days of absences in the 5 qualifying years (excessive absences but within the 7 year grace period & exception due to COVID-19 lockdown measures)

Good luck everyone!!!

Update:
Date of receipt of approval email: 16 October 2023
Date of Ceremony: awaiting

In total, it took 3 months and 10 days exactly to get my approval email, next step is to book the ceremony!

[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
Date of receipt of approval: not yet
Date of Ceremony: not yet

[Mj1Mj1]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years with one year settlement
Nationality: non-EU
Method of application: Online
Application completed & debit of fees: 1 July 2023
Biometrics appointment: 3 July 2023
Receipt of acknowledgement UKVI: 3 July 2023
Receipt of approval email: Pending
Ceremony: Pending

[farrellcsun]

FINAL UPDATE:

Eligibility criteria: ILR (SET(M)) – married to British citizen (five years living in UK)
Nationality: USA
Language/LIUK : USA passport + Life in UK
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 13 June 2023
Date Biometrics enrolled: 19 June 2023 (paid-Birmingham)
Date of acknowledgement documents submitted to UKVI: 19 June 2023 (email)
Received call from Home Office to confirm town of birth: 2 October 2023 11:50
Date of receipt of approval: 10 October 2023
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 13 October 2023
Date of Ceremony: 14 November 2023 (free group ceremony Shropshire)

UPDATE 10 OCT 2023: A week after receiving call from Home Office as mentioned above, I sent an email to Further Nationality Enquiries on Mon. 9 Oct 2023 for an update since they said decision would be "soon."

Received email reply this morning (10/10/23) that application was approved. Waiting on invitation email for citizenship ceremony, which Home Office said would be arriving within two weeks. Will update here once received.

FINAL UPDATE 17 OCT 2023: Received email invitation for ceremony from Shropshire council on Fri. 13 Oct. 2023 and email invitation from Home Office Atlas on Mon. 16 Oct. Date is set for 14 Nov.

Thank you to everyone who shared their timelines on this thread, and good luck to those still waiting.

[edwardbello2023]

Application Timeline
Eligibility criteria: Spouse visa 5 years route + ILR
Proof of language: UK degree + Life in the UK
Method of application: online
Date of receipt by UKBA: 23.09.2023
Date of debit of fees: 23.09.2023
Biometrics appointment: 23.09.2023 Croydon (paid)
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 23.09.2023
Date of receipt of approval: Waiting
Date of Ceremony: waiting

[Chigwindiri]

Naturalisation Application Timeline :-
Eligibility criteria: Protection Route (ILR > 2 yrs)
Language: UK degree + Life in UK Test
Nationality: Non-EU (Africa)
Method of application: Online
Date of receipt by UKBA: 2/05/2023
Date of debit of fees: 2/05/2023
Date of biometrics 27/05/2023- free (South East)
Date of receipt of acknowledgment: 27/05/2023
Date of receipt of approval: Awaiting
Date of Ceremony: Awaiting

SSHD Reply : Sun 15/10/2023
"...application raises exceptionally complex issues, and we require further time to consider, will take more than 6 months..."

[dzonitebra]

Eligibility criteria: EUSS + 1 Yrs
Nationality: EU
Method of application: Online
Payment method: Online
Date of application: 20/06/2023
Date Biometrics enrolled (UKVCAS): 02/07/2023 (FREE)
Date of documents received email: 02/07/2023
The date of Approval letter/Email: 16/10/23 Time 12:33
Citizenship ceremony date: Waiting

[corwinpro]

Application Timeline
Eligibility criteria: 5yr (Tier 2) + 1yr ILR
Proof of language: UK degree + Life in the UK
Method of application: online
Date of receipt by UKBA: 15.01 2023
Date of debit of fees: 15.01.2023
Biometrics appointment: 10.02.2023 (paid)
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: No acknowledgement email
Date of receipt of approval: 16.10.2023
Date of Ceremony: 27.11.2023 (booked online)

Overall, just under 9 months. Got an "exceptionally complex case" email after 5 months. Asked my MP for help after 6 months, but the Home Office essentially said "keep waiting".

[saaji93]

Eligibility criteria: Tier 2 Dependant ILR + Married to British Citizen
Nationality: Indian
Method of application: Online
Date of online application: 12/06/2023
Date of debit of fees & Acknowledgement: 12/06/2023
Date of Biometrics collection UKVCAS: 04/07/2023 (East ham Free)
Date of receipt of approval: pending
Date of Ceremony: Pending

Date of receipt of approval Email : 16/10/2023
Date of Ceremony: 21/11/2023
Total 4 months 4days from day of application

[rufaro40]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years refugee + 5 years ILR
Language/LIUK Criteria: UK Degrees
Country: Zimbabwe
Method of application: Online
Application completed & debit of fees: 26 May 2021
Biometrics appointment: 04 June 2021 (Leeds)
Receipt of acknowledgement UKVI: 05 June 2021
Receipt of approval email: 18 September 2023
Ceremony: 03 October 2023

Thought it was a straightforward application but it took ~27 months to be processed. No updates whatsoever at any point, even at 6 months. Emailed at 8 months and received a standard letter that the checks had not been completed with regard to my application. Asked the MP to help and she followed up but she was getting standard replies about COVID-19 delays and the Ukraine war etc, however, she started refusing standardised replies at the beginning of this year and she was finally told in July that a decision would be made within 3 months. I also wrote to the Home Secretary and made a complaint beginning of September. I got a reply from the Home Secretary but my application had been approved by then. It was a very stressful time. I hope everyone waiting will get their decisions faster than this.

[Grkshcb]

Application Timeline
Eligibility criteria: 5yr (Settled Status) + 2.5 yr; EU citizen
Proof of language: UK degree (Master's) + Life in the UK
Method of application: online
Date of receipt by UKBA: 16.06 2023
Date of debit of fees: 16.06.2023
Biometrics appointment: 22.06.2023 (Belfast, free)
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 22.06.2023
Date of receipt of approval: 16.10.2023, 11.53am
Date of Ceremony: 21.11.2023 (booked online)

This forum has been very helpful in understanding likely timelines. Thank you!

[Mmck24630]

Application Timeline
Eligibility criteria: 5 yrs (Ancestry) + 2 yrs ILR
Nationality: Aus
Method of application: Online
Payment Method: Online
Date of receipt by UKBA: 19/06/2023
Date of debit of fees: 19/06/2023
Date of document submission: 28/06/2023
Date of Biometrics collection UKVCAS: 28/06/2023 (Mark Ln)
Date of approval (HO Atlas): 16/10/2023
Date of ceremony letter (council): Pending
Date of ceremony: Pending

16 weeks from biometrics appointment to approval.
Good luck to all!!

[orangeapple]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years refugee + 2 year ILR
Nationality: pakistani
Method of application: Online
Date of online application: 05/06/2023
Date of debit of fees & Acknowledgement: 05/06/2023
Date of Biometrics collection UKVCAS: 10/06/2023 (bristol)
Date of receipt of approval: 16/10/2023
Date of Ceremony: 19/10/2023
best of luck everyone

[syan123]

Application Timeline
Eligibility criteria: 17yr + 4yr ILR (EU Settled Status)
Nationality: EU (Poland)
Language: BSc Graduate + Life in the UK
Method of application: Online
Payment Method: Online
Date of receipt by UKBA: 14/06/2023
Date of debit of fees: 14/06/2023
Date of document submission: 11/07/2023 (Document checking requested)
Date of Biometrics collection UKVCAS: 11/07/2023 (Gloucester)
Date of receipt of approval: Pending
Date of Ceremony: Pending

Date of receipt of approval: 16/10/2023 12:15 (Ceremony Invite + Approval)
Date of Ceremony: XX November 2023

4 Months since placing application, 3 Months since biometrics.
All the best of luck to everyone on their applications!

[khush]

Eligibility criteria: British spouse ILR granted May 2023
Nationality: Indian
Method of application: Online
Date of Application: 15/06/2023
Biometrics appointment: 30/06/2023 (Maidstone free)
Date of of approval:
Ceremony invitation letter : 16/10/2023 11:57 am from Home Office Atlas
Ceremony date : 23/12/2023

Ceremony invitation letter : 16/10/2023 11:57 am from Home Office Atlas
Ceremony date : 23/12/2023