British naturalization - Registration
British citizenship confers the right to live in the UK on a permanent basis and to enter the UK border without hindrance. It also confers the right to work or study and to receive state benefits that the applicant is eligible for. It also confers the right to vote in Westminster elections and to stand for election as an MP., And it also confers the right to a British passport, which enables visa-free travel to a large number of countries in Europe and around the world. A British passport is, in this respect, one of the best in the world.
Adult migrants may be able to acquire British citizenship through a process of naturalisation. There are two different routes for this. In the first route, the applicant applies on the basis that they have lived lawfully in the UK for at least five continuous years and, additionally, that they have held indefinite leave to remain for at least one year. In the second route, the applicant applies on the basis that they have lived lawfully in the UK for at least three continuous years, that they are married to a British citizen, and that they hold indefinite leave to remain at the time of application.
There are also requirements about the amount of time that has been spent outside the UK during the relevant period, and there is also an English language requirement.
Children (ie under the age of 18) may also apply for British citizenship, under a process called registration, and the rules for this are more flexible.