Naturalisation application processing timelines (only)

[LTr]

Eligibility criteria: Tier 2 (5 years)+ 1 year ILR
Language: Language exempt (USA) + LIUK pass
Nationality : American
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 11 December 2020 12:07 AM
Date of acknowledgement: 11 December 2020 4:10 PM
Date of debit of fees: 11 Dec 2020
Date Biometrics enrolled: 7 Jan 2021 Mark Lane ESP £69.99, no free were available in the London area, this was the only available day when I was booking right after submitting the application
Date submitted address change through the link in application acknowledgement: 19 March 2021
Date of notification of address change acceptance: 22 March 2021
Date of receipt of approval: 26 April 2021 by email. It shows my updated address.
Date on Approval letter: 26 April 2021
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 8 May 2021 by post directly to me and said it would be sent to the council of my updated address.
Date on Approval letter: 30 April 2021
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 8 May 2021 Greenwich council had received it as of 13 May- The certificate was received by the new council for my new address. I didn’t request them to change the council at any point.
Date of Ceremony: 17 May 2021 Private ceremony at Greenwich for £160

[verty]

Eligibility criteria: EU permanent resident (5 years to qualify) arrived in the UK in 2011.
Language/LIUK Criteria: I am dual citizen, and have an Australian passport
Nationality : EU - Italian
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 14th December 2020
Date of acknowledgement: 15th December 2020
Date of debit of fees: 14th December 2020
Date Biometrics submitted: 11th January 2021 (Paid appointment at Stratford Library)
Date of receipt of approval: I didn't receive one. It seems like people get this over email.
Date on Approval letter: Dated 10th May 2021
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: Called today to make an appointment and got the next available
Date of Ceremony: 8th of June 2021

Guys, thank you for all your help and answering any questions I've had. I will admit I've been quite nervous as I could clearly see people who applied after me were getting approved so made me think my application was held up for some reason, but it did eventually come through. Good luck for everyone

[romaho]

Eligibility criteria: ILR + 1 year
Language/LIUK Criteria: Not required
Nationality: Non EU
Method of application: Online
Application sent & fee paid: 05/11/2020
Receipt of your application: 05/11/2020
Document Upload to UKVCAS: 18/11/2020
Biometrics Appointment: 21/11/2020 (paid/Croydon)
Date of approval: 08/03/2021 (email)
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 20/04/2021
Date ceremony booked: 11/05/2021
Date of ceremony: 17/05/2021 (via Zoom, free ceremony, Southwark)

[bujibuji]

Eligibility criteria: Tier 1 Investor + 1 year ILR (+12 years living in the UK)
Language/LIUK Criteria: LIUK when applied ILR + Bachelor and Master degrees in the UK
Nationality: Non-EU
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 04/12/2020
Payment method: Credit card
Date of acknowledgement: 04/12/2020
Date of debit of fees: 04/12/2020
Documents uploaded to UKVCAS: 28/12/2020
Documents submitted to UKVI: 28/12/2020
Date of biometrics enrolled: 31/12/2020
Date on approval letter: has never arrived
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 15/05/2021
Date of ceremony: TBC
Date of passport application: TBC

[andakut]

Eligibility criteria: ILR 1+ years
Language/LIUK Criteria: UK Degree/LIUK Test
Nationality: Zimbabwe
Method of application: Online
Application sent & fee paid: 18/09/2020 £1349
Receipt of your application: 22/09/2020
Document Upload to UKVCAS: 18/09/2020
Documents submitted to UKVI: 18/09/2020
Biometric reuse email: 23/09/2020
Invitation to use UKVCAS IDV APP or Biometrics: 23/09/2020
Photo and document submitted using IDV APP or Biometrics: 23/09/2020
Date of Approval letter: Pending
Date of receipt of approval: Pending
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: Pending
Date of Ceremony: Pending

**UPDATE**
Eligibility criteria: 2x3 year DLR + 1 ILR
Date of Approval letter: Didn't receive one
Date of receipt of approval: 05/05/2021
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 15/05/2021 dated 05/05/2021
Date of Ceremony: Pending

After a long wait the "brown envelope" mysteriously arrived in the post today. . Strange it was dated the the 5th of May and only received it today 15/05. Sidenote I did email my local MP on the 26th of April to advise him I have been for over 6 months (was in the 8th month). MP confirmed he did get in touch with the HO and they advised him same reason of COVID delays etc. Not sure if this pushed it considering Citizenship Invitation letter arrived a week and bit later after complaining to my MP.

Oh well finally over the line. It has been a journey and good luck to everyone still waiting.

[andakut]

Eligibility criteria: 2x3 year DLR + 1 ILR
Language/LIUK Criteria: UK Degree + LIUK Test
Nationality: Zimbabwe
Method of application: Online
Application sent: 18/09/2020
Fee deducted from my account: 18/09/2020
Receipt of your application: 22/09/2020
Letter for Biometrics sent: N/A UKVCA IDV Biometrics Reuse
Biometrics Enrolled: N/A
Date of Approval letter: Didn't receive one
Date of receipt of approval: 05/05/2021
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 15/05/2021 dated 05/05/2021
Date of Ceremony: Pending

After a long wait the "brown envelope" finally arrived. . Strange it was dated the the 5th of May and only received it today 15/05. Sidenote I did email my local MP on the 26th of April to advise him I have been for over 6 months (was in the 8th month). MP confirmed he did get in touch with the HO and they advised him same reason of COVID delays etc. Not sure if this pushed it considering Citizenship Invitation letter arrived a week and bit later after complaining to my MP.

Oh well finally over the line. It has been a journey and good luck to everyone still waiting.

[phetherweyt]

Eligibility criteria: 5 Yr Spouse of BC + ILR
Language/LIUK Criteria: UK NARIC + LIUK Test
Nationality: Sudan
Method of application: Online
Application sent: 27/08/2020
Receipt of your application: 27/08/2020
Fee deducted from my account: 27/08/2020
Letter for Biometrics sent: 27/08/2020
Biometrics Enrolled: 14/09/2020
Date of Approval letter: Didn't receive one
Date of receipt of approval: 02/05/2021
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 15/05/2021 dated 05/05/2021
Date of Ceremony: Pending

[ysh]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years Tier 2 General + 1 ILR
Language/LIUK Criteria: IELTS Life Skills certificate + Life in the UK
Nationality: Russia
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 21/01/2021
Date of biometrics enrolled: 19/02/2021
Date of approval email: 26/04/2021
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 12/05/2021 (via email)
Date of ceremony: 23.06.2021 (group)
Council: Richmond upon Thames

[LTr]

Eligibility criteria: Tier 2 (5 years)+ 1 year ILR
Language: Language exempt (USA) + LIUK pass
Nationality : American
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 11 December 2020 12:07 AM
Date of acknowledgement: 11 December 2020 4:10 PM
Date of debit of fees: 11 Dec 2020
Date Biometrics enrolled: 7 Jan 2021 Mark Lane ESP £69.99, no free were available in the London area, this was the only available day when I was booking right after submitting the application
Date submitted address change through the link in application acknowledgement: 19 March 2021
Date of notification of address change acceptance: 22 March 2021
Date of receipt of approval: 26 April 2021 by email. It shows my updated address.
Date on Approval letter: 26 April 2021
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 8 May 2021 by post directly to me and said it would be sent to the council of my updated address (Greenwich).
Date on Approval letter: 30 April 2021
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 8 May 2021 Greenwich council had received it as of 13 May
Date of Ceremony: Pending callback from registrar to book private ceremony. Was told next available public would be in September, next available private in the next couple weeks.

[Gooner72]

Eligibility criteria: ILR (17-year LR)
Language/LIUK Criteria: PGDIP from a UK University + LITUK pass
Nationality: non EU
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 24/11/2020
Date of acknowledgement: 25/11/2020
Date of debit of fees: 24/11/2020
Date Biometrics enrolled: 18/01/2021 Manchester (£69)
Date of receipt of approval: 15/05/21 just a letter dated on 07/05/21 so almost a week late.

Date of receipt of ceremony letter: PENDING
Date of Ceremony: PENDING

[alwaysintransit]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years Tier 2 General + 1 ILR
Language/LIUK Criteria: Trinity GESE 5 + Life in the UK
Nationality: Indian
Method of application: Online
Date of biometrics enrolled: 16/02/2021
Date on approval letter: 15/04/2021
Date of receipt of approval: 15/04/2021 (via email)
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 14/05/2021 (via email)
Council applied for: Tower Hamlets

Seems like this whole process in picking up speed with more recent submissions also getting approvals and feels like there is a bit of LIFO system (e.g. recent applicants getting ceremony letter) although difficult to figure out how the systems prioritizes the applications.

Good luck to all of us who are still waiting and congratulations to those who are done with the process!

Received the invitation letter via email this morning. Currently unable to book the ceremony, the letter does say wait 1 working day to try and book.

"Please contact the Citizenship Ceremonies Officer Tower Hamlets to book your ceremony. You must attend your ceremony within three months of the date of this approval email, so please contact the local authority early to ensure you can book a convenient time. Please wait one working days after receiving this approval before you try to book, as it may take a few days for documentation to arrive at the local authority."

[Suj0303]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years Tier 2G + 2 years (ILR)
Language/LIUK Criteria: UK Degree / Life in the UK test
Nationality: Indian
Method of application: online
Date of application: 11 Oct 2020
Payment method: Debit online
Date of acknowledgement: 11 Oct 2020
Biometric : 12 Nov 2020 (Victoria Enhanced Service Point, London), 70£ per person appointment
Date on Approval letter: 23 Dec 2020 - email
Date of receipt of Ceremony invitation letter: 13 Mar 2021 (letter dated - 5 Mar)
Date of Ceremony: 5th May 2021

Thank you moderators and forum for the guidance.

[katlond2007]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years + >1 year EU settled status
Language/LIUK Criteria: LIUK + UK PhD
Nationality: German
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 8/12/2020
Date of biometrics enrolled: 27/1/2021
Date of approval email: 11/05/2021
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: n/a
Date of ceremony: n/a

[Dekedaba]

Eligibility criteria: 5 year + BC Spouse
Language/LIUK Criteria: English as a medium/LIUK
Nationality: Non-EU
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 02/12/2020
Date of acknowledgement: 03/12/2020
Date of debit of fees: 02/12/2020
Date Biometrics enrolled: 28/12/2020 (Maidstone £69.99)
Date of receipt of approval: 15/04/21 by post
Date on Approval letter: 10/04/2021
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 01/05/2021
Date of Ceremony: 08/07/2021

[Ifybekee]

Eligibility criteria: (Tier 2 Visa + ILR
Language/LIUK Criteria: Tier 4 + LIUK
Nationality : Nigerian
Date of application: 07/02/2021 (with an expired Nigerian Passport July 2020)
Payment method: Debit Card Online
Date of debit of fees: 08/02/2021
Date of acknowledgement: 08/02/2021
Date Biometrics enrolled: 08/02/2021 @Croydon
Date on Approval letter: 25/02/2021
Date of receipt of approval: 25/02/2021
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 17/04/2021 (dated 08/04/2021)
Date of Ceremony: 04/05/2021 @Newham Council

[liv15]

Eligibility criteria: citizenship by descent
Language/LIUK Criteria: nil
Nationality: Non EU
Method of application: Online
Application sent & fee paid: 02/02/2021
Receipt of your application: 02/02/2021
Document Upload to UKVCAS: 19/02/2021
In person Biometrics UKVCAS : 20/02/2021
Date on Approval letter online : 12/03/2021
Date on receipt of ceremony letter: 15/04/2021
Date received: 30/04/2021
Date of Ceremony: 6/05/2021
Entire length: 3months 2days

[fabsco]

Eligibility criteria: 5 Year Spouse Visa (SET-M)
Language/LIUK Criteria: UK degree & Life in UK test
Nationality: Brazilian
Method of application: Online
Application sent & fee paid: 12/12/2020
Documents submitted using the UKVCAS website: 18/12/2020
In person Biometrics UKVCAS : 08/01/2021
Date of Approval letter online : 06/05/2021
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: Pending
Date of Ceremony: Pending

Thank you for all the guidance provided here! I got my citizenship approval letter on Thursday 06th May. No ceremony letter yet but it seems that people are receiving it two weeks after approval. Good luck to everyone who is waiting for a decision on their applications!

[tonyflyuk]

Application Timeline
Eligibility criteria: 5yr + 1yr ILR;
Method of application:UKBA ONLINE
Date of receipt by UKBA: 15/02/2021
Date of debit of fees: 15/02/2021
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: Never received one.
Date of receipt of approval:
Date of Ceremony:

[LondonAussie]

Application Timeline

Eligibility criteria: 5yr + 1yr ILR (Tier 2 Highly Skilled Migrant)
Language/LIUK Criteria: Australian passport (no language test required) + LIUK
Nationality: Australian
Method of application: Online
Date of receipt by UKBA: 10th March 2021
Date of debit of fees: 10th March 2021
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 11th March 2021
Date of biometrics: 7th April 2021
Date of receipt of approval: TBC
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: TBC
Date of ceremony: TBC

[debrancherenzym]

Eligibility criteria: ILR + BC spouse
Language/LIUK Criteria: B1 + Life in the UK
Nationality: Pakistani
Method of application: Online
Application sent & fee paid: 03/12/2020
Document Upload to UKVCAS: 03/12/2020
In person Biometrics UKVCAS: 31/12/2020 (Chelmsford £135)
Date of Approval letter: 19/04/2021
Date of receipt of approval: 19/04/2021 (email)
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 01/05/2021
Date on letter: 26/04/2021
Date of Ceremony: 19th May 2021 (Previous 18th June 2021) (Virtual - Suffolk County Council - emailed to ask if there was an earlier date available, got a call back that the 19th May is now available

[LexJag]

Application Timeline
Eligibility criteria: 5yr (Tier 1 Entrepreneur + 1yr ILR
Method of application: Online UKVI
Date of Application: 14/12/2020
Date of receipt by UKVI:15/12/2020 - Online
Date of debit of fees: 14/12/2020 - Online Payment
Date of Biometric: 16/12/2020
Date of receipt of approval: 08/02/2021 via email
Date of HO Letter of Invitation for Citizenship Ceremony: 29/03/2021 via post
Date of Ceremony: 05/05/2021 - Virtual Ceremony
Date Naturalisation Certificate received: 07/05/2021 via post

[ikatsi79]

Eligibility criteria: 1 year since EUSS
Language/LIUK Criteria: LIUK + Trinity College GESE Level 5
Nationality: Greek
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 19/10/2020
Payment method: Credit card
Date of acknowledgement: 19/10/2020
Date of debit of fees: 19/10/2020
Documents uploaded to UKVCAS: 19/10/2020
Documents submitted to UKVI: 19/10/2020
Date of biometrics enrolled: 30/11/2020
Date on approval letter: 19/01/2021
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 06/04/2021
Date of ceremony: 05/05/2021
Date of passport application: 05/05/2021

[negmas]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years (refugee) + 1.3 months year ILR
Language/LIUK Criteria: UK degree and master+ LIUK
Nationality : Non EU
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 31/08/2020
Payment method: Visa Debit
Date of debit of fees: 01/09/2020
Date of acknowledgement from HO: 02/09/2020
Date of submission of documents online (website): 02/09/2020
Date of biometric letter received/issued: 02/09/2020
Date Biometrics enrolled via APP: 10/09/2020
Date on Approval letter: 16/04/2021
Date of receipt of approval: 16/04/2021
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 1st of May
Date of Ceremony: 7th of May at woolwich town hall (£160)

[Mrbuff]

Eligibility criteria: ILR + LIUK + B1
Nationality: Zimbabwean
Method of application: Online + UKVCAS
Date of application: 06/10/2020
Payment method: Online
Date of acknowledgment: 06/10/2020
Date Biometrics enrolled: 02/11/2020 (Sopra Steria - Birmingham) had to wait for free appointment
Date on Approval letter: 19/04/2021
Date of receipt of approval: 19/04/2021 (email confirmation)
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 5/05/21 (phone call from council)
Date of Ceremony: 06/05/2021
Date of passport application: 06/05/2021

[Lcs88]

Eligibility criteria: 10 year ILR
Language/LIUK Criteria: LIUK + Exempt due to being Irish
Nationality: Irish
Method of application: Online
Date of application:05/12/2020
Payment method: debit card
Date of acknowledgement: 08/12/2021
Date of debit of fees: 05/12/2020
Documents uploaded to UKVCAS: 15/12/2020
Documents submitted to UKVI: 04/01/2021
Date of biometrics enrolled: 04/01/2021
Date on approval letter: 21/04/2021
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 8th May 2021 ( letter dated 28th April)
Date of ceremony: Pending