Naturalisation application processing timelines (only)

[java0936]

Application Timeline
Eligibility criteria: 3yr spouse of BC
Nationality: Non EU
Language criteria: UK Degree + life in the uk test
Method of application: Online + UKVCAS premium lounge service
Date of receipt by UKBA: 29/03/2019
Payment method: credit card
Date of debit of fees: 30/03/2019
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 01/04/2019 ( don't think HO is the joking type?)
Date Biometric appointment: 06/04/2019
Date Biometric enrollment: 06/04/2019
Date on approval letter: 04/06/2019
Date of receipt of approval: 14/06/2019 (second class letter)
Date of Ceremony: pending
Date applied passport: pending
Date passport received: pending

[saffagirlbee]

Eligibility criteria: 6 years ILR
Language Criteria: IELTS B1 + Life in the UK Test
Nationality: South African
Method of application: Online + UKVCAS
Date of application: 28/03/2019
Payment method: Online by Card
Date of debit of fees: 28/03/2019
Date of Biometric letter issued: 28/03/2019
Date of biometric letter received: 28/03/2019
Date Biometrics enrolled: 30/03/2019
Date of documents posted: Used UKVCAS so on 30/03/2019 via their online service
Date of acknowledgement (email ): 29/03/2019
Date on Approval letter: 03/06/2019
Date of receipt of approval:13/06/2019
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 13/06/2019
Date of Ceremony: 18/06/2019
Date of Passport Application: Pending
Date of debit of fees: Pending
Date Passport to be received: Pending
Date Passport Received: Pending

Absolutely thrilled - 77 days from application to approval! Good luck everyone, be patient, I know its hard but yours is on the way too. Thank you for all the reassurance with timeline sharing and help. Its hard but there is truly light at the end of this expensive process!

[winwin2019July]

Eligibility criteria: Tier 2 General 6 years + 1.5 year PR
Language Criteria:B1 trinity college certificate
Nationality :Non EU
Method of application: new online system UKVCAS
Date of application: 23/04/19
Payment method: online card payment
Date of acknowledgement: 23/04/19
Date of debit of fees:23/04/19
Date of Biometric letter issued:23/04/19 I booked the earliest available slot with UKVCAS
Date of biometric letter received: 23/04/19 Email
Date Biometrics enrolled: 29/04/19 UKVCAS
Date on Approval letter:10/06/2019
Date of receipt of approval: 14/06/2019
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 14/06.2019
Date of Ceremony: 02/07/2019 our council doesn't offer earlier appointments
Date of Passport Application: Pending
Date of debit of fees: Pending
Date Passport to be received: Pending

Hi all, I was just anxiously looking at these timelines yesterday, and this morning I got the A2 brown envelop this forum has been so helpful, thanks everybody and good luck!

[alexbran89]

Post by alexbran89 » 04 Mar 2019 13:40

Eligibility criteria: 6 years in UK, 3 and half marriage with British wife, 2 months new settled status/ ILR , life in uk test certificate
Language Criteria:B1 trinity college certificate
Nationality :Romanian
Method of application: new online system
Date of application: 24/2/19
Payment method: online card payment
Date of acknowledgement: 25/2/19
Date of debit of fees:25/2/19
Date of Biometric letter issued:24/2/19 online
Date of biometric letter received: 24/2/19 online
Date Biometrics enrolled: 6/3/19 UKVCAS Manchester ( free of charge)
Date on Approval letter:4/6/2019
Date of receipt of approval: 13/06/2019
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: none, advised to ring the council and choose a date
Date of Ceremony: 14/06/2019 ( private ceremony £100 as the only free of charge that the council had available for me was on 28/06/2019)
Date of Passport Application: not yet
Date of debit of fees: not yet
Date Passport to be received: not yet


This is the most stressful thing I’ve ever experienced, I’m not sure why took HO that long to process the application as I’ve seen people getting approved before others, it doesn’t make sense but I’m happy the stress is over now, I’m so sorry for those that still waiting for a decisions but I know it’s easy to say keep patience but hang on there because you will get it in the end.
Best of luck

[cp1990]

Eligibility criteria: 10 years with 7 year ILR
Language Criteria: UK Degree + Life in UK Test
Nationality: Filipino
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 29/01/2019
Payment method: Online by Card
Date of acknowledgement: 30/01/2019
Date of debit of fees: 29/01/2019
Date of Biometric letter issued: na (never had one)
Date of biometric letter received: na
Date Biometrics enrolled: 02/02/2019
Date of UKVCAS appointment: 02/02/2019
Date on Approval letter: 20/05/2019
Date of receipt of approval: 24/05/2019
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 25/05/2019
Date of Ceremony: 19/06/2019 (rebooked for private ceremony). Date sent from the citizenship ceremony office was 23/07/2019

I am applying for my passport online as soon as I get home from my ceremony. Finally, this journey will be over by next week! Good luck to you all.

[rupert77]

Eligibility criteria: 5yr + 1yr ILR
Language Criteria: UK Degree
Nationality : None EU
Method of application:Online
Date of application: 26/05/2019
Payment method: Online
Date of acknowledgement: 28/05/2019
Date of debit of fees: 26/02/2019
Date of Biometric letter issued: NA
Date of biometric letter received: NA
Date Biometrics enrolled:12/06/2019 (UKVCAS)
Date on Approval letter:
Date of receipt of approval:
Date of receipt of ceremony letter:
Date of Ceremony:
Date of Passport Application:
Date of debit of fees:
Date Passport to be received:

[rupert77]

Eligibility criteria: 5yr + 1yr ILR
Language Criteria: UK Degree
Nationality : None EU
Method of application:Online
Date of application: 26/05/2019
Payment method: Online
Date of acknowledgement: 28/05/2019
Date of debit of fees: 26/02/2019
Date of Biometric letter issued: NA
Date of biometric letter received: NA
Date Biometrics enrolled:12/06/2019 (UKVCAS)
Date on Approval letter:
Date of receipt of approval:
Date of receipt of ceremony letter:
Date of Ceremony:
Date of Passport Application:
Date of debit of fees:
Date Passport to be received:

[khlid77]

Eligibility criteria: PR
Language Criteria: B1 trinity and life in the uk
Nationality : None EU
Method of application:Online
Date of application: 12/02/2019
Payment method: Online
Date of acknowledgement: 13/02/2019
Date of debit of fees: 12/02/2019
Date of Biometric letter issued: NA
Date of biometric letter received: NA
Date Biometrics enrolled:14/02/2019

Date on Approval letter: 23 may 2019
Date of receipt of approval: 7 jun 2019
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 11 Jun 19
Date of Ceremony: 4 July 19
Date of Passport Application: waiting
Date of debit of fees: waiting
Date Passport to be received: waiting
The long stressful wait is ending soon
Best of luck everyone .....

[Aloha1976]

Eligibility Criteria ; ILR 12years + BC spouse
*Date of Application ;  28/02/2019
* Acknowledgement date ; 1/03/2019
*Language ; B1+ LIT
*Nationality ; Nigerian
*Method of Application ; Online + UKCVAS
* Payment method ; Debit card
* Debited ; 1/03/2019
* UKCVAS Appointment ; 7/03/2019
* Biometrics ; 7/03/2019
* Approval Date - 07/05/2019
* Received Letter of Approval- 18/05/2019

* Citizenship Ceremony; 4/06/2019
* Passport Application: 4/06/2019
Received passport: Awaiting


Roughly 9 weeks from submitting biometrics to receiving approval... So so pleased this journey is nearly over..

[cool_doc]

Eligibility criteria: ILR (Tier 2 Gen route) +1year
Language Criteria: Life in the UK test + IELTS (ILR route)
Nationality : Non-EEA
Method of application: Online + UKVCAS
Date of application: 26/12/2018
Payment method: Debit Card
Date of acknowledgement: 27/12/2018
Date of debit of fees: 27/12/2018
Date of Biometric letter issued: N/A (UKVCAS)
Date of biometric letter received: N/A (UKVCAS)
Date Biometrics enrolled: 02/01/2019 (UKVCAS)
Date on Approval letter: Awaited
Date of receipt of approval:
Date of receipt of ceremony letter:
Date of Ceremony:
Date of Passport Application:
Date of debit of fees:
Date Passport to be received:

[TeeKayStars]

Eligibility criteria: Non EU with Settlement ILR since 2008
Language Criteria: BA Degree UK+LITUK
Nationality:Zim
Method of application: NCS
Date of application: 15/10/2018
Date of application sent: 16/10/2018
Date received by Home office: 17/10/2018
Payment method: Debit card
Date of acknowledgement: 20/10/2018
Date of debit of fees: 20/10/2018
Date of Biometric letter issued: 20/10/2018
Date of biometric letter received: 24/10/2018
Date Biometrics enrolled: 24/10/2018
Date on Approval letter: 02/05/2019
Date of receipt of approval: 13/05/2019
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 13/05/2019
Date of Ceremony: 16/05/2019
Date of Passport Application Online with electronic passport photo: 16/05/2019
Date of Posting Supporting Identity Documents for Passport Application (via special delivery): 17/05/2019
Date of debit of fees for Passport Application:17/05/2019
Date Passport Application Acknowledged by HMPO: 17/05/2019
Date of Passport Application Approval via text & email: 21/05/2019
Date Passport received: 25/05/2019

Total Processing time from Sumbmission to Approval 201 days or 6 months 18 days! The most stressful time of my life! Patience is a virtue I do not possess and this process really tested mine on so many levels. After 6 month period I got very worried I contacted home office and was informed caseworker will be in touch once Application is processed.

My advice to anyone waiting is don’t panic and start second guessing yourself and compare timelines. My case as far as I was concerned was straightforward but it still took longer than the maximum 6 months to process.

I hope this helps others going through this process.

Good luck all.

[Onesie2017]

Eligibility criteria: Refugee 5yrs + 1yr ILR
Language Criteria: B1 + LITUK
Nationality : Nigerian
Method of application:Online+UKVCAS(1adult+2children)
Date of application: 6th feb 2019
Payment method: Online (MasterCard debit)
Date of acknowledgement: 6th feb 2019
Date of debit of fees: 6th feb 2019
Date of Biometric letter issued: 6th feb 2019
Date of biometric letter received: 6th feb 2019
Date Biometrics enrolled: 8th feb 2019
Date on Approval letter: not yet received
Date of receipt of approval:
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 11th June 2019 dated 8th June 2019
Date of Ceremony: 18th July 2019 but will go for private earlier
Date of Passport Application:
Date of debit of fees:
Date Passport to be received:


I was in the UK illegally for 6weeks in 2011 as a child. The most expensive 8years journey is finally over!!!
Massive thank you to all everyone who responds on here to questions and queries

[Sand6]

Eligibility criteria:ILR 1 year
Language Criteria: Trinnity college B1
Nationality: Non-Eu
Method of application: post
Date of application: 17/05/2019
Recieved by VKVI: 20/05/2019
Date of acknowledgement email: 06/06/19
Date on acknowledgement letter:06/06/19
Date acknowledgment letter recieved: 10/06/19
Date of debit of fees: 05/06/19
Date of Bio-metric letter issued: 06/06/19
Date of Bio-metric letter received: 10/06/19
Date Bio-metrics enrolled:
Date on Approval letter:
Date of receipt of approval:
Date of receipt of ceremony letter:
Date of Ceremony:
Date of Passport Application:
Date of debit of fees:
Date Passport to be received:

[nat2019]

Eligibility criteria: Family of an Eu/ Permanent Residence Card 5 years + 3
Language Criteria: Trinity B1
Nationality : Non-EU
Method of application: Online + UKVCAS
Date of application: 23/02/2019
Payment method: Debit card
Date of acknowledgement: 24/02/2019
Date of debit of fees:23/02/2019
Date of Biometric letter issued: N/A (UKVCAS)
Date of biometric letter received: N/A (UKVCAS)
Date Biometrics enrolled: 28/02/2019
Date on Approval letter: Waiting
Date of receipt of approval:waiting
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: waiting
Date of Ceremony:
Date of Passport Application:
Date of debit of fees:
Date Passport to be received:

[esi86]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years + 1 year ILR
Language Criteria: Trinity B1
Nationality : Non-EU
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 16/04/2019
Payment method: Debit card
Date of acknowledgement: 16/04/2019
Date of debit of fees:16/04/2019
Date of Biometric letter issued:16/04/2019
Date of biometric letter received:
Date Biometrics enrolled: 26/04/2019
Date on Approval letter: Waiting
Date of receipt of approval:waiting
Date of receipt of ceremony letter:
Date of Ceremony:
Date of Passport Application:
Date of debit of fees:
Date Passport to be received:

[Baranf]

Eligibility criteria: ILR
Nationality: Non EU
Language criteria: UK Degree + life in the uk test
Method of application: Online + UKVCAS service
Date of application: 12/04/2019
Payment method: credit card
Date of debit of fees: 12/04/2019
Date of receipt of acknowledgement 12/04/2019
Date Biometric appointment: 02/05/2019 (UKVCAS)
Date Biometric enrolment: 02/05/2019
Date on approval letter: 07/06/2019
Date of receipt of approval: pending
Date of Ceremony: pending
Date applied passport: pending
Date passport received: pending

[pandomim_quake]

Eligibility criteria: 10 years long residency + 1 year ILR
Language/LIUK Criteria: UK Narric - B2/ LIUK passed
Nationality : Non-EEA
Method of application: Online + UKVCAS
Date of application: 31-03-2019
Payment method: Online - Credit Card
Date of acknowledgement: 31-03-2019
Date of debit of fees:31-03-2019
Date of biometric letter received/issued: 31-03-2019 - email
Date Biometrics enrolled: 02-04-2019 - Croydon
Date on Approval letter: waiting..
Date of receipt of approval: waiting..
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: waiting..
Date of Ceremony: waiting ..

[moodyp]

[quote=moodyp post_id=1788421 time=1559659487 user_id=219150]
Eligibility criteria: ILR + 12 Years
Language Criteria: Life in the UK test + Degree certificate
Nationality : Non-EEA
Method of application: Online + UKVCAS
Date of application: 13/03/2019
Payment method: Debit Card
Date of acknowledgement: 14/03/2019
Date of debit of fees: 13/03/2019
Date of Biometric letter issued: N/A (UKVCAS)
Date of biometric letter received: N/A (UKVCAS)
Date Biometrics enrolled: 13/03/2019 (UKVCAS)
Date on Approval letter: 10/05/2019
Date of receipt of approval: 17/05/2019
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 20/05/2019
Date of Ceremony: 21/05/2019
Date of Passport Application: 21/05/2019
Date of debit of fees: 21/05/2019
Date Passport to be received: 06/06/2019
Date of Passport Receipt: 05/06/2019

[Graham Weifang]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years + and spouse of BC
Language criteria: Trinity College London (CEFR Level B1.1) + Life in the UK Test
Nationality: NON - EU
Method of application: Online (UKVCAS) Manchester Central Library
Date of application: 25/05/2019 ***25/04/2019 ***(original post was month error)
Payment method: Credit Card
Date of payment 01/04/2019 (Fee paid: 1349.20 GBP)
Date of Biometric email issued: Already have BRP
Date of Biometric letter received: n/a
Date of UKVCAS appointment: 25/04/2019
Date Bio-metrics enrolled: again on 25/04/2019
Date on Approval letter: Awaiting
Date of receipt of approval: Awaiting
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: Awaiting
Date of Ceremony: Awaiting

[moodyp]

Eligibility criteria: ILR + 12 Years
Language Criteria: Life in the UK test + Degree certificate
Nationality : Non-EEA
Method of application: Online + UKVCAS
Date of application: 13/03/2019
Payment method: Debit Card
Date of acknowledgement: 14/03/2019
Date of debit of fees: 13/03/2019
Date of Biometric letter issued: N/A (UKVCAS)
Date of biometric letter received: N/A (UKVCAS)
Date Biometrics enrolled: 13/03/2019 (UKVCAS)
Date on Approval letter: 10/05/2019
Date of receipt of approval: 17/05/2019
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 20/05/2019
Date of Ceremony: 21/05/2019
Date of Passport Application: 21/05/2019
Date of debit of fees: 21/05/2019
Date Passport to be received:A few working days from 04/06/2019

[srkv03]

Eligibility criteria: ILR + 5 Years
Language Criteria: Life in the UK
Nationality : Non-EEA
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 01/04/2019 (online)
Payment method: Card
Date of acknowledgement: 01/04/2019
Date of debit of fees: 01/04/2019
Date Biometrics enrolled: 18/04/2019 (UKVCAS - Reading)
Date on Approval letter: 24/05/2019
Date of receipt of approval: 01/06/2019
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: waiting
Date of Ceremony: waiting
Date of Passport Application: waiting
Date of debit of fees: waiting
Date Passport to be received: waiting

[cja_1234]

Eligibility criteria: PR (Tier 2, 5-year route) + married to a British citizen
Language Criteria: Life in the UK test + Master certificate
Nationality: Non-EEA
Method of application: Online + UKVCAS
Date of application: 04/02/2019
Payment method: Credit Card
Date of acknowledgement: 04/02/2019
Date of debit of fees: N/A
Date of Biometric letter issued: N/A (UKVCAS)
Date of biometric letter received: N/A (UKVCAS)
Date Biometrics enrolled: 15/02/2019 (UKVCAS)
Date on Approval letter: 22/05/2019
Date of receipt of approval: 31/05/2019
Date of receipt of ceremony letter:
Date of Ceremony:
Date of Passport Application:
Date of debit of fees:
Date Passport to be received:

[Endlich4711]

Eligibility criteria: 23 years in UK, British spouse, Settled Status
Language Criteria: B1 CEFR Trinity College + Life in UK Test
Nationality : German EU
Method of application: Online + New Service
Date of application: 12/02/2019
Payment method: Card
Date of acknowledgement: 13/02/2019 e-mail
Date of debit of fees: 12/02/2019
Date of Biometric letter issued: N/A new service
Date of biometric letter received: N/A new service
Date Biometrics enrolled: 15/02/2019 UKVCAS new service appointment
Date on Approval letter: 23/05/2019
Date of receipt of approval: 31/05/2019
Date of receipt of ceremony letter:
Date of Ceremony:
Date of Passport Application:
Date of debit of fees:
Date Passport to be received:

[LadyAisha]

Eligibility criteria: Family of an EU with a PR
Languge criteria: LIUK + TRINITY B1
Nationality: Tanzanian
Method of application: Online
Date of application:27/03/2019
Payment method: Amex (Credit card)
Date of acknowledgement: 28/03/2019 email
Date of debit of fees: 28/03/2019
Date of Biometrics enrolled: 11/04/2019 UKVCAS
Date on approval letter 22/05/2019
Date of receipt of approval:31/05/2019
Date of ceremony:26/06/2019
Date of passport application:
Date of debit of fees:
Date of passport received:

Thanks to everyone who has been contributing to this forum. Made my application so much easier just by reading through the posts.

[madgooner04]

Eligibility criteria: 10 years + 4 years ILR
Nationality : Non-EEA
Method of application: Online + UKVCAS
Date of application: 10/04/2019
Date Biometrics enrolled: (UKVCAS) 13/04/2019
Date on Approval letter:
Date of receipt of ceremony letter
Date of Ceremony:
Date of Passport Application
Date Passport to be received