Naturalisation application processing timelines (only)

[LadyC]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years spouse, ILR received Sept 2022 - waited to make the 3 years physical presence rule.
Nationality: Nigerian
Method of application: Online on 25/02/2023
Date of debit of fees: 25/02/2023
Date of receipt of acknowledgement UKVAC: 01/03/2023
Biometrics appointment: 01/03/2023 (Croydon free appointment)
Date of receipt of approval: 21/05/2023 by 10.18am
Date of Ceremony: to be booked

I am so happy that this is over, thank you all.

[TigerSwede]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years + 1 year EU Settled Status
Language/LIUK Criteria: Trinity College B1 + Life in the UK test
Nationality: EU (Sweden)
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 08/02/2023
Payment method: Online AMEX credit card
Date of debit of fees: 08/02/2023
Date of acknowledgement: 08/02/2023
Documents uploaded & submitted to UKVCAS: 08/02/2023.
Biometrics Appointment: 08/02/2023 (Paid £132 Croydon)
Date of receipt of approval/ceremony invite: 08/05/2023, 10:33 (Bank holiday Monday)
Date of ceremony: 26/05/2023 (email from council 19/5/2023)

Got approved exactly 3 months after I submitted the application. Now waiting for the Ceremony to be booked.

It took 10-11 days for the council to receive my certificate, but as soon as they got it they booked me on to the next available ceremony.

Thanks to everyone on the forum for sharing information, it has been really helpful throughout this process!

[Bulëza]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years + 1 year ILR
Language: B1 + Life in the Uk
Nationality: non EU
Method of application: Online
Payment method: Online
Date of application: 20/01/2023
Documents submitted: 27/01/2023
Biometrics Appointment date: 10/03/2023,free appointment
The date on Approval letter: 08/05/2023
Date of receipt of ceremony email: Pending

[barbaroja]

Application Timeline
Eligibility criteria: (5yr + 3yr ILR - European citizen)
Method of application: Online (myself)
Date of receipt by UKBA: 29/01/2023
Date of debit of fees: 29/01/2023
Date of receipt of acknowledgment: I guess this is the email that they received the payment fee on 29/01/2023
Date of Biometrics collection UKVCAS: 14/02/2023 (Paid - Edinburgh)
Date of receipt of approval: Awaiting
Date of Ceremony: Awaiting

I've been very anxious since the submission of Biometrics

[frantsii96]

Eligibility criteria: EU Family+1 year ILR
Language/LIUK Criteria: Master's degree, LIUK test
Nationality: Russian
Method of application: Online
Date of online application UKBA: 13/03/2023
Date of debit of fees & Acknowledgement: 13/03/2023
Date of Biometrics collection UKVCAS: 13/03/2023
Date of receipt of approval: pending
Date of Email of Ceremony from council: pending

[app_val]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years (Tier2) + ILR + ~ 5 yrs (applied after nearly 5 years after getting ILR).
Language/LIUK Criteria: UKNARIC / ECCTIS + LIUK
Nationality : India
Number of Persons : 1 (one)
Method of application: Online
Date of online application UKBA: Sat, Feb 18, 2023
Date of debit of fees & Acknowledgement: Sat, Feb 18, 2023
Date of Biometrics collection UKVCAS: 28th Feb 2023 (Birmingham - £132 slot)
Date of receipt of approval: Pending / Yet to Receive
Date of Email of Ceremony from council : May 18th 2023 (Directly Received Email from Council)
Date of Ceremony: June 13th 2023 (Directly Received Email from Council)
Good Luck Everyone.

[GayRomanian]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years + 1 year of ILR (settled status since July 2021)
Life in the UK test: 17 August 2022 (PASSED)
Nationality: Romanian (EU citizen)
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 06/09/2022
Date of email to book appointment with UKVCAS: 13/09/2022
Date of submission and biometrics: 17/09/2022
Date of approval email: 27/02/2023
Citizenship ceremony date: 26/04/2023

[neoma88]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years in the UK + 8 yr IRL
Language: UK Degree
Nationality: Non-EU
Method of application: Online
Payment Method: Card
Application date : 26/02/23
Biometrics Appointment date: 21/03/23
Approval email: pending
Ceremony date: pending

[rajtargotra]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years Tier 2 + 2 years ILR
Nationality: Indian
Method of application: Online
Date of receipt by UKBA: 17/04/2023
Date of debit of fees: 17/04/2023
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 17/04/2023
Docs uploaded via UKVCAS: 19/04/2023
Biometrics appointment: 19/04/2023 (Manchester paid appointment)
Date of receipt of approval: Waiting
Date of Ceremony: N/A

[Mattj44]

Application Timeline
Eligibility criteria: 16 years in residence + IRL
Nationality: Polish
Method of application: online
Date of application: 23rd April
Date of debit of fees: 23rd April
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 23rd April
Date of submission and biometrics: 17th May (free but paid for document scanning)
Date of receipt of approval: N/A
Date of Ceremony: N/A

[zeequeem]

Application Timeline
Eligibility criteria: 11yrs long residence + 7yrs ILR.
Nationality: Non-EU, Malawi.
Method of application: online
Date of receipt by UKBA: 22 April 2023
Date of debit of fees: 22 April 2023
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 22 April 2023

Date of submission and biometrics: 04 May 2023 (Leeds, Paid)

Date of receipt of approval: N/A
Date of Ceremony: N/A

[klownking]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years + 2 year of ILR (settled status since November 2020)

Applicant: Myself only

Method of application: Online

Date of application: 17/01/2023

Date of submission and biometrics: NA

Date of approval email: N/A

Citizenship ceremony date: N/A

Eligibility criteria: 5 years + 2 year of ILR (settled status since November 2020)

Applicant: Myself only

Method of application: Online

Date of application: 17/01/2023

Date of submission and biometrics: 14/02/2023

Date of approval email: 15/05/2023

Citizenship ceremony date: 15/06/2023 - Leeds

At long last, the immigration journey has come to an end. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has provided support and assistance throughout this remarkable voyage. I consider myself fortunate to have received invaluable guidance from this forum, without having to spend a single penny on any solicitor. I extend my utmost appreciation to all involved.

[shokup]

Eligibility criteria: Tier 2 Work permit - 5 years + 1 Yr ILR
Language/LIUK Criteria: NARIC+LIUK
Method of application: Online
Date of online application UKBA: 19 Feb 2023
Date of debit of fees & Acknowledgement: 19 Feb 2023
Date of Biometrics collection UKVCAS: 11 March 2023 (Croydon) Free appintment
Received UKVI survey email: 11 May 2023
Date of receipt of approval: 15 May 2023
Request email sent to local council for ceremony: 15 May 2023
Date of Ceremony: 17 May 2023

[Waht]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years Tier2 (dependent) + 1 Yr ILR
Language/LIUK Criteria: Degree+LIUK
Method of application: Online
Date of online application UKBA: 5 Dec 2022
Date of debit of fees & Acknowledgement: 5 Dec 2022
Date of Biometrics collection UKVCAS: 23 Dec 2022 (Hemel Hempstead Library - paid slot)
Received UKVI survey email: 11 May 2023
Date of receipt of approval: 15 May 2023
Request email sent to local council for ceremony: 15 May 2023
Date of Ceremony: 17 May 2023

[heroes3001]

Eligibility criteria: Tier 2 Skilled Worker (5yrs) + ILR 1 year
Nationality: Non-EU - Ukrainian
Method of application: Online
Payment method: Online
Date of application: 13/02/23
Date of debit of fees: 13/02/23
UKVCAS biometric appt. : 13/03/23 (Maidstone, free)
Date of receipt of approval: 15/05/23
Citizenship ceremony date: ???? to be booked

From application to email: 3 months
From biometric appointment to email: 2 months, which seems to be the average for straightforward cases.

Thank you all for posting and making the process more transparent.

[Artur111]

Posting this on behalf of my wife -

Eligibility criteria: Spouse visa (5yrs) + ILR 1 year
Nationality: Non-EU - Russian
Method of application: Online
Payment method: Online
Date of application: 09/02/23
Date of debit of fees: 09/02/23
UKVCAS biometric appt. : 07/03/23
Date of receipt of approval: 24/04/23
Citizenship ceremony date: 05/06/2023

We are glad it is all over, as my wife has been away 490 days within last 5 years due to her father fighting cancer. It is all has been explained in cover letter to caseworker.

Thanks for all the help and wish good luck everyone!

[May2023]

Eligibility criteria: 10 years spouse of EU
Nationality: Belorussian
Method of application: Online
Date of receipt by UKBA: end of November 2022
Biometrics appointment: 08/12/2022
Additional information submitted: 11/04/2023
Email from HO that my application will take over 6 months on 20/04/2023 with the following comment:

This delay is due to the application raising exceptionally complex issues and we require further time to consider the case thoroughly and reach a decision.

Date of receipt of approval: 15/05/2023
Date of Ceremony: to be booked

I am so relieved and happy to get the application approved. In April I found out by accident, that I had CCJ couple of years ago (was not on the Experien report, but found out from online banking app) - I immediately notified Home Office about it and though my application will be refused.

Thank God all good.

Thank you to all who post here, was a great help

[ShaneC]

Application Timeline
Eligibility criteria: 9Yr + 8Yr ILR
Method of application: GOV.UK
Date of receipt by UKBA: 19/02/2023
Date of debit of fees: 19/02/2023
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 19/02/2023
Documents uploaded & submitted to UKVCAS: 19/03/2023
Biometrics Appointment: 19/03/2023 (free)
Date of receipt of approval: 15/05/2023
Date of Ceremony: 18/06/2023

Would recommend waiting for a free appointment or travelling for one to another city over as it was literally just collection of finger prints unless you require assistance uploading documents and or checking these I do not feel the extra cost is in any way justified or a reflection of the quality of the service on offer.

Best of luck to all.

[klownking]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years + 2 year of ILR (settled status since November 2020)

Applicant: Myself only

Method of application: Online

Date of application: 17/01/2023

Date of submission and biometrics: NA

Date of approval email: N/A

Citizenship ceremony date: N/A

Eligibility criteria: 5 years + 2 year of ILR (settled status since November 2020)

Applicant: Myself only

Method of application: Online

Date of application: 17/01/2023

Date of submission and biometrics: 14/02/2023

Date of approval email: 15/05/2023

Citizenship ceremony date: Now going to book the cermony

[Sandeep5031]

Eligibility criteria: Tier 2 skilled visa + 1Y ILR
Method of application: Online
Language/LIUK : Life in UK Test + UK PhD
Nationality: India
Date of application: 25/05/2022
Date of submission of Biometrics in person @ Luton: 20/06/2022
Date on Approval email : 15 May 2023
UKVI survey: 11 May 203
Citizenship ceremony email invite: 11 May 2023
Citizenship ceremony: 22 May 2023
UPDATE: 04 Nov 2022 email from mmst
We aim to process all applications within 6 months from the date submitted. However, in certain circumstances this target is not possible. Following our assessment of your case unfortunately it appears your applications will not be processed within the 6 month target. This is because it is taking longer than usual to process applications because of coronavirus (COVID-19). This will not affect the decision. We expect to make a decision on your application as soon as possible, but we will write to you again if this is not going to be possible.

UPDATE 01 Feb 2023: Escalated through MP. MP got standard response that enquiries on my application is still undergoing and they can't provide timeline on this as this is often carried out by external agencies. I have decided to stop escalating now.

UPDATE: I wrote a letter to Home secretary, my MP (3rd time) and applied for SAR on week commencing 8th May. MP sent email to home office on the same day. I believe this might have helped to escalate my application.

[iaggarwal13]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years Tier2 + 1 Yr ILR
Language/LIUK Criteria: ECTIS
Method of application: Online
Date of online application UKBA: 22nd Feb 2023
Date of debit of fees & Acknowledgement: 22nd Feb 2023
Date of Biometrics collection UKVCAS: 2nd March 2023
Date of receipt of approval: Pending
Date of Ceremony: pending

[Windpomp]

Eligibility criteria: 5 year spouse of BC + 3 yrs ILR
Nationality: Non-EU
Method of application: Online
Date of debit of fees: 06/04/2023
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 06/04/2023
Docs uploaded via UKVCAS: 26/04/2023
Biometrics appointment: 03/05/2023 (Peterborough)
Date of receipt of approval:
Date of Ceremony:

[immg83]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years Tier2 (dependent) + 1 Yr ILR
Language/LIUK Criteria: Degree+LIUK
Method of application: Online
Date of online application UKBA: 22nd Feb 2023
Date of debit of fees & Acknowledgement: 22nd Feb 2023
Date of Biometrics collection UKVCAS: 18th March 2023 (Croydon - Free slot)
Date of receipt of approval: Pending
Date of Ceremony: pending

[shisho23]

Eligibility criteria: 10 yr ILR + BC spouse
Method of application: online
Date of receipt by UKBA: 12/01/2023
Date of debit of fees: 04/01/2023
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 12/01/2023
Date of receipt of approval: n/a
Date of Ceremony: n/a

[TigerSwede]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years + 1 year EU Settled Status
Language/LIUK Criteria: Trinity College B1 + Life in the UK test
Nationality: EU (Sweden)
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 08/02/2023
Payment method: Online AMEX credit card
Date of debit of fees: 08/02/2023
Date of acknowledgement: 08/02/2023
Documents uploaded & submitted to UKVCAS: 08/02/2023.
Biometrics Appointment: 08/02/2023 (Paid £132 Croydon)
Date of receipt of approval/ceremony invite: 08/05/2023, 10:33 (Bank holiday Monday)
Date of ceremony:

Submitted everything 8-Feb, let’s hope for a swift approval process!

Got approved exactly 3 months after I submitted the application. Now waiting for the Ceremony to be booked.