Naturalisation application processing timelines (only)

[riencb]

Eligibility criteria: EU Settled Status 5 years + 1 year ILR
Nationality: Non-EU (Visa category was "D - EEA FP: FAMILY MEMBER to join spouse")
Method of UK Citizenship Application: Online
Life in the UK Test - passed on 18/12/2024
Proof of English: CEFR B1 Certificate (Trinity College - Cardiff) - test given on 02/01/2025 (Provisional result received on 03/01/2025)
Date of UK Cirtizenship application submission: 12/02/2025
Date of fee payment: 12/02/2025
Date of biometrics appointment: 13/02/2025
Biometrics location: TLSContact Cardiff (Free) + "Assisted service" for document upload.
Date of receipt of approval: 14/04/2025 10:48am

Invitation for citizenship ceremony: Did not receive and could not get through Caridff Council on phone. I emailed at 12:02pm today (14/04/2025) and they replied back at 2:17pm with the available dates. I replied back at 2:22pm agreeing to Ceremony date on 22 April - they replied back with the invitation letter at 2:39pm. Very impressed with Cardiff Council's efficiency and quick turn around times.
Quick note for those in Cardiff: The website link on .gov site for Cardiff Council does not work. So you will need to email citizenship@cardiff.gov.uk

Date of Ceremony: 22/04/2025

Thank you to this forum and all the people who contributed their journey - it helped to calm my nerves and roughly guess approximate timelines. Seems to be around 2 months for straight forward cases. I got my approval exactly on the 60th day.
Once again Congratulations to those who received approvals and all the best to those waiting.

[DM90]

Eligibility criteria: ILR January 2025 + British Spouse (1 month)
Nationality: Non-EU
Application: Online
Proof of English: English Speaking Country
Life in the UK test: 29/11/24
Date of application submission and fee payment: 28/02/2025
Documents submitted online: 28/02/2025
Date of biometrics appointment: 02/03/2025 (2 days later)
Biometrics location: TLScontact London (Gee Street) (paid prime time)
Date of receipt of approval from Home Office Atlas: Waiting
Date of Ceremony Invitation from Council: Waiting
Date of Citizenship Ceremony: Pending

[takezo]

Eligibility criteria: 5 Years EEA 4 + ILR (4 years)
Nationality: Algerian
Proof of English: IELTS
Method of application: Online
Applications for: myself
Date of ILR: 05/2020
Date of application submission: 12/08/2024
Date of fee payment: 12/08/2025
Date of biometrics: 16/02/2025 (Paid appointment at Tower Hill)
Date of receipt of approval: waiting
Date of invitation from the Council: waiting
Date of Ceremony: waiting

Moderator edit : please do NOT post questions in the TIMELINE ONLY topic.

[apr15ac]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years skilled worker/ tier 2, 1 year ILR
Nationality: Indian
Application: Online
Proof of English: UK degree certificate
Life in the UK test: 18/12/23
Date of application submission and fee payment: 07/01/2025
Date of biometrics appointment and document checks: 21/01/2025
Biometrics location: TLScontact Bristol (free)
Date of receipt of approval from Home Office Atlas: 01 April 2025 - came by post
Date of Ceremony Invitation from Council: Called and booked with Bristol council myself
Date of Citizenship Ceremony: 16/04/2025

Good luck to everyone waiting!

[melonman]

Eligibility criteria: Asylum Seeker 5 years + 1 Year ILR
Nationality: Syrian
Method of Application: Online
Tests : CEFR B1(Trinity College) + Life in the UK
Date of application submission and fee payment: 28/01/2025
Documents submitted & date of biometrics appointment: 31/01/2025
Biometrics location: Newcastle Library - Free
Date of receipt of approval: TBC
EmaIl from Council to book the ceremony: TBC

Just almost passed 2 months of wait, anxiety begins!
Good luck all, patience is virtue.

Received approval on the 31st of March, ceremony end of next month. Patience works! Good luck all.

[MrKnowItAll]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years Pre settled status + 1 year settled status
Method of application: Online
Language/LIUK Criteria: Trinity College English Test
Nationality: Iranian
Date of application: 28th January 2025
Payment method: Debit Card
Date of Biometric appt. and document submission: 15th February 2025
Date on Approval from home office : 07/04/2025
Date of Ceremony: 11/04/2025 Private

can't believe I'm finally a British citizen after 14 years of being in this country .
my settled status application last year and my citizenship application this year, both went through really smoothly and quickly .
good luck everyone .

[amit.sarkar007]

Eligibility criteria: PBS Dependant (5 years) + ILR + Spouse of British citizen
ILR granted: 01/11/2020
Nationality: Non-EU
Method of Application: Online (Form AN)
Proof of English: Pearson PTE Home B1 & Life in UK test
Date of application submission: 30/01/2025
Date of fee payment: 30/01/2025
Date of uploading and submitting the documents: 30/01/2025 online (£0 - Self Service)
Date of biometrics appointment: 06/02/2025
Biometrics location: TLSContact Croydon (£50 - Assisted Service as forgot to upload referee documents and travel history on old passport)
Date of receipt of approval: 07/04/2025
Request for citizenship ceremony: 07/04/2025
Invitation for citizenship ceremony: 17/04/2025
Date of Ceremony (Group): 17/06/2025

[Omalondon]

Eligibility criteria: 2 years spouse visa + (10 years ILR) +1 year renew ILR + Spouse of British citizen
ILR granted: 2012
Nationality: Non-EU
Method of Application: Online
Proof of English: trinity college B1 & Life in UK test
Date of application submission: 17/02/2025
Date of fee payment: 17/02/2025
Date of uploading and submitting the documents: 17/02/2025 online (£0 - Self Service)
Date of biometrics appointment: 18/02/2025
Biometrics location: TLSContact London (£60 )
Date of receipt of approval: sun 20/04/2025 11:07
Email send to Request for citizenship ceremony:
Invitation for citizenship ceremony: waiting
Date of Ceremony : waiting

Exactly 59 days from the biometric or 60 days from application submission.


Good luck to everyone waiting.

[Tinatin]

Eligibility criteria: Settled route + 1 year after settled status was granted (previously on tier 2 visa)
Nationality: Non-EU (Belarus)
Method of Application: Online
Proof of English: Degree certificate
Date of application submission: 19/02/2025
Date of fee payment: 19/02/2025
Date of biometrics appointment: 20/02/2025 (Premium)
Biometrics location: TLSContact London Gee Street (Premium)
Date of receipt of approval: TBC
Invitation for citizenship ceremony: TBC
Date of Ceremony: TBC

Waiting… Good luck everyone!

Still waiting! Hopefully it will get sorted soon…

[Zad93]

Wife's Application

Eligibility criteria: 5 Years Skilled Worker Visa + 1 Year on ILR
Nationality: Non-EU
Proof of English: University Degree from UK
Method of application: Online
Date of application submission: 17/02/2025
Date of fee payment: 17/02/2025
Date of biometrics and document submission: 18/02/2025
Date of receipt of approval: 20/04/2025
Date of Ceremony: ​02/05/2025 (private)

Good luck to all waiting!

[Lexies2018]

Eligibility criteria: 5 Years Spouse + 1 Year ILR
Nationality: Non-EU
Proof of English: Trinity College London English Certificate (B1) + Life In the UK Test
Method of application: Online
Date of application submission: 07/02/2025
Date of fee payment: 07/02/2025
Date of biometrics and document submission: 13/02/2025 (TLC Southampton Free Appointment)
Date of receipt of approval: 20/04/2025. Received email from Home Office (Atlas) 11.12am.
Date of invitation from the Council: 22/04/2025. 8.45am

Thank you to this forum where people share their timeline. It has been helpful and it gives you an idea when you might get your approval base on other people's timeline.

[Axim]

Eligibility: 10 years Long Stay
Nationality: Nigeria
Prof of English: Degree
Date of ILR: 06/2023
Date of Submission : 10/02/2025
Date of Biometrics : 12/02/2025 @ Croydon
Date of Approval : 20/04/2025
Date of Ceremony: 01/05/2025 @ Croydon Council

[cloud123]

Eligibility criteria: Refugee (5 years) + 3 days ILR (British Spouse)
Nationality: Non-EU (Syria)
Proof of English: LanguageCert
Date of application submission: 03/11/2024
Date of biometrics appointment: 05/11/2024
Biometrics location: TLSContact London Wandsworth (Paid)
Date of receipt of approval: TBC
Invitation for citizenship ceremony: TBC
Date of Ceremony: TBC

Still waiting...

I sent an email asking them questions on 10/3/2025 and 14/4/2025 and still haven't received any reply.

Received am email today from MMST Workflow to say my application will take more than 6 months.

Not sure why it is taking that long. I can only be patient and wish it is sorted soon.

[1drabds]

Eligibility criteria: 5 Years Skilled Worker + 1 Year ILR
Nationality: Nigerian
Proof of English: UK degree
Method of application: Online
Applications for: myself
Date of application submission: 19/02/2025
Date of fee payment: 19/02/2025
Date of biometrics: 20/02/2025 (Free Appointment in Cardiff)
Date of receipt of approval: 28/04/2025
Date of invitation from the Council: I emailed citizenship@cardiff.gov.uk at 12.50pm and got a reply by 2.27pm.
Date of Ceremony: 13/05/2025

Good luck to everyone waiting!
And congratulations to everyone who received the approval.

[zaq12wsx]

Eligibility criteria: spouse + 6 years ILR
Nationality: non EU
Proof of English: Degree in UK + Life In the UK Test
Method of application: Online
Date of ILR: Jun-2021
Date of application submission: 19 Feb 2025
Date of fee payment: 19 Feb 2025
Date of biometrics and document submission: 26 Mar 2025 (self service, Wandsworth TLS)
Date of receipt of approval: TBC
Date of invitation from the Council: TBC
Date of Ceremony: TBC

Eligibility criteria: spouse + 6 years ILR
Nationality: non EU
Proof of English: Degree in UK + Life In the UK Test
Method of application: Online
Date of ILR: Jun-2021
Date of application submission: 19 Feb 2025
Date of fee payment: 19 Feb 2025
Date of biometrics and document submission: 26 Mar 2025 (self service, Wandsworth TLS)
Date of receipt of approval: 28 Apr 2025
Date of invitation from the Council: self selected during booking
Date of Ceremony: 03 Jun 2025

[pkiran]

Eligibility criteria: 5 Years Skilled Worker + 1 Year ILR
Nationality: Indian
Proof of English: CEFR B1 Certificate
Method of application: Online
Applications for: Myself+Family
Date of application submission: 17/02/2025
Date of fee payment: 17/02/2025
Date of biometrics: 20/02/2025 (Premium TLScontact Appointment in Aberdeen)
Date of receipt of approval: 28/04/2025
Date of invitation from the Council: I haven't waited for the Aberdeen council to contact me. I called them and arranged a ceremony as I have an upcoming travel in a couple of months.
Date of Ceremony: 08/05/2025 (Paid - Private)

Note : For those who are waiting for the confirmation email it might help to note that from recent trends, it is taking almost 9 weeks and the email mostly comes on Monday (looks like they consolidate the previous week applications and send confirmation emails on a Monday). Not sure if this is correct but have a check for yourselves.

All the best !

[mrsbldn]

Eligibility criteria: EU Settled Status + 12 months
Method of Application: Online
Proof of English: UK degree
Date of application submission: 27/03/2025
Date of fee payment: 27/03/2025
Date of biometrics: 25/04/2025 (Free Appointment in Croydon) -- there were earlier appointments but I was travelling
Date of receipt of approval: --
Date of invitation from the Council: --
Date of Ceremony: --

[Axim]

Eligibility: 10 years Long Stay
Nationality: Nigeria
Prof of English: Degree
Date of ILR: 06/2023
Date of Submission : 10/02/2025
Date of Biometrics : 12/02/2025 @ Croydon
Date of Approval : 20/04/2025
Date of Ceremony: 01/05/2025 @ Croydon Council

My Citizenship Ceremony this Morning lasted 5 minutes for £150
Left work at 10 am and got parking space at Fell Road, Croydon. Waited for 5 minutes and went in at 10:30
10:31- Registrar explained Fire Escape route
10:32- I was given a paper to affirm and read my alliance to King Charles 111 n heirs and few lines on there
10:33- Registrar put a date on my Printed naturalisation certificate and handed it to me
10:34- Registrar took my phone to take pictures of me sitting on that high table, two more pictures
10:35- Given shopping Bag with Croydon Council Crest on and few Council goodies
Thats it and I am British !

[Galy8]

Eligibility criteria: refugee status+ ILR (10 months)
Nationality: no-eu
Proof of English: UK degree + life in the UK
Method of application: Online
Applications for: myself
Date of application submission: 27/01/2025
Date of fee payment: 27/01/2025
Date of biometrics: 5/02/2025 (Paid appointment at wandsworth)
Request for furthermore document as there was a gap in my continuous residence: 29/04/2025( hopefully this is a good sign!)
Date of receipt of approval: waiting
Date of invitation from the Council: waiting

[shan1403]

Eligibility criteria: 3 Years GTV + 2 Years on ILR
Nationality: Non-EU
Proof of English: Degree from UK + Previous Degree Equivalency + Life In the UK Test
Method of application: Online
Date of ILR: 06/2022
Date of application submission: 23/02/2025
Date of fee payment: 23/02/2025
Date of biometrics and document submission: 25/02/2025
Date of receipt of approval: 02/05/2025
Date of invitation from the Council: 02/05/2025
Date of Ceremony: 22/05/2025
All the best

Eligibility criteria: 3 Years GTV + 2 Years on ILR
Nationality: Non-EU
Proof of English: Degree from UK + Previous Degree Equivalency + Life In the UK Test
Method of application: Online
Date of ILR: 06/2022
Date of application submission: 23/02/2025
Date of fee payment: 23/02/2025
Date of biometrics and document submission: 25/02/2025
Date of receipt of approval: TBD
Date of invitation from the Council: TBD
Date of Ceremony: TBD

All the best

[mial]

Eligibility criteria: 2 years spousal visa + 18 years ILR
Nationality: Canadian
Proof of English: not required
Method of application: Online
Date of ILR: 03/2007
Date of application submission: 23/02/2025
Date of fee payment: 23/02/2025
Date of biometrics and document submission: 25/02/2025
Date of receipt of approval: no email (yet)
Date of invitation from the Council: 02/05/2025
Date of Ceremony: 12/05/2025

[mxcvpro]

Application Timeline
Eligibility criteria: 5yr + 1yr ILR
Nationality: Nigerian
Proof of English: UK Degree Certificate
Method of application: Online
Date of Application Submission 01/03/2025 around 1am (I was eager to submit!)
Date of Biometrics: 03/03/2025 8:30am (paid for a fast track option)
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 03/03/2025 - Email from TLS confiming that my application has been sent to Home office and that I should wait for a response
Date of receipt of approval: None, recieved email from Manchester register office that I have been booked unto the group ceremony
Invitation for Citizenship Ceremony: 02/05/2025 at 11:20am
Date of Ceremony:28/05/2025, but will ask for an earlier date

It took 62 days (8 weeks) from Application submission.


Good luck everyone!

[ChenaiAlbert]

Eligibility criteria: 5 Years Skilled Worker + ILR (1 yr)
Nationality: Zimbabwean
Proof of English: Naric
Method of application: Online
Date of ILR: 02/2024
Date of application submission: 01/03/2025
Date of fee payment: 01/03/2025
Date of biometrics:08/03/2025 (Wandsworth slt)
Date of receipt of approval: waiting
Date of invitation from the Council: 02/05/2025
Date of Ceremony: waiting

Waiting and waiting.
Good luck to everyone waiting!
and congratulations to everyone who received the approval.

[ChenaiAlbert]

Eligibility criteria: 5 Years Skilled Worker + ILR (1 yr)
Nationality: Zimbabwean
Proof of English: Naric
Method of application: Online
Date of ILR: 13/02/2024
Date of application submission: 01/03/2025
Date of fee payment: 01/03/2025
Date of biometrics:08/03/2025 (Wandsworth slt)
Date of receipt of approval: waiting
Date of invitation from the Council: 02/05/2025 croydon council
Date of Ceremony: waiting

It took 8 weeks from day the application was submitted and paid. Waiting for email from atlas so i can book my citizenship ceremony.

Thanks to everyone who contributes with information and advice in this platform. You make it easier.

Good luck to everyone waiting!
and congratulations to everyone who received the approval.

[Favoured4life]

Eligibility criteria: 10 years long stay + 1 year ILR
Nationality: Nigerian
Method of Application: Online
Proof of English: UK degree + Life In the UK Test
Date of application submission and fee payment: 22/02/2025
Date of biometrics and documents submission: 03/03/2025 (Edinburgh)
Date of receipt of approval: 05/05/2025 at 9:22am
Invitation for citizenship ceremony: 02/05/2025 at 11:35am (received before approval email)
Date of Ceremony: 27/05/2025

Thank you for this forum...it's been really helpful. Congratulations to everyone who has received their approvals! All the best to those waiting.