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Completing the application form

This page provides details of how to fill in the registration application form B(OS). Before you fill in the application form you should read the section on eligibility to make sure you meet the requirements. If your application is rejected because you do not meet the requirements, your fee will not be refunded.

You should fill in the form in block capitals using a black or dark-blue pen. Please enter all dates as dd-mm-yyyy, for example 29-04-2000.

If you would like help completing the application form you may use the services of a solicitor or other adviser. You should make sure the adviser you use is registered with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC).

If you would like to make sure you have completed your form correctly, many local authorities in the United Kingdom run a nationality checking service. For a small fee the authority will check your completed form, supporting documents and application fee before sending your application on to us for consideration.

You need to complete all sections of the application form. The information below highlights the most important parts of each section.

If the application is for a person under 18, a parent or guardian should complete the form on their behalf.

If you are applying at the same time as your husband, wife or civil partner, you should each complete a separate application form.

Section 1 - personal information

You should complete this section as fully as possible. The information you provide in this section will be used on your certificate of registration so you should make sure your name, and place and date of birth are entered correctly. We are only able to change your certificate in exceptional circumstances.

If you are successful in your application you will need to attend a citizenship ceremony to be presented with your certificate. Ceremonies will normally be held by a local authority near where you live. If you would like your ceremony in another area you should enter the name and address (including the postcode) of its local authority in part 1.16.

Section 2 - your current nationality

You should complete this section as fully as possible. For this section of the form:

  • you will be British by birth if you hold any form of British nationality because you were born on British territory;
  • you will be British by ancestry if you were not born on British territory but hold any form of British nationality through a parent's or grandparent's birth, adoption, naturalisation or registration;
  • you will be British by registration or naturalisation if you were not British when you were born but acquired this status as the result of an application for registration or a certificate of naturalisation.

Section 3 - referees and identity

You must include a recent passport photograph of yourself, clipped or stapled to the space provided. The photograph must show the whole of your face, it should not be covered by your hair (except a beard, sideburns or a moustache), a scarf or traditional dress. You should not be wearing dark glasses, a hat, a hood, a cap or a scarf.

Your application must include details of two referees. The referees should have known you personally for at least three years. One referee should be a person of any nationality who is of professional standing such as a doctor, minister of religion, civil servant or a member of a professional association such as an accountant or a solicitor. See the list of Acceptable professional persons.The other referee must be a holder of a British citizen passport and either a professional person or aged 25 years or over.

Both referees must be:

  • not related to you; and
  • not related to the other referee; and
  • not your solicitor or agent representing you with this application; and
  • not employed by the Home Office.

If you are living outside the United Kingdom and do not know a British citizen who can act as a referee, a Commonwealth citizen or citizen on the country where you are living may sign the form, provided:

  • he/she is of professional standing in that country; and
  • he/she has known you for three years; and
  • the British diplomatic post where you will be making your application considers his/her signature to be acceptable.

The referees must not have any unspent convictions.

Section 4 - declaration by applicant

You must read this section in full and answer all the questions. You must sign and date the completed application form. If you are unable to sign the application form, you must make a mark or fingerprint and ask one of your referees to sign to confirm it is your mark or fingerprint.

If the applicant is not of sound mind and you are acting on his or her behalf you should sign to indicate your responsibility for the accuracy of the information. You must provide a covering letter to support the application explaining who you are and why the applicant cannot act on his/her own behalf. You must also provide confirmation from the applicant's doctor.

Application forms

Registration as a British citizen

See also

Terms explained

  • Local authorities or authorities

    Local authorities are councils responsible for essential services in your area such as education, transport, street cleaning and rubbish collection. There are various types of council including county, district, London borough, town and parish councils.

  • Unspent convictions

    Convictions for criminal offences may become 'spent' after specified periods of time from the date of conviction if there are no further convictions during that time. Spent convictions will  be disregarded for certain purposes. They will not normally be taken into account when assessing whether someone is of good character. Convictions that are not yet spent are known as unspent convictions and will be taken into account when assessing good character.

All glossary terms

Internet links