Can I apply for British citizenship sooner if I am married to a British citizen?

Checked on 2026-10-25

Yes. If you are married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen, you can apply for naturalisation after 3 years in the UK instead of 5, as soon as you have indefinite leave to remain or settled status. You must not have been outside the UK for more than 270 days in those 3 years.

Key facts

What	The law says	Source
Who	An adult married to, or the civil partner of, a British citizen on the date of application	British Nationality Act 1981, s. 6(2)
Residence	In the UK at the start of the 3 years ending with the application	BNA 1981, Sch. 1 para 3(a)
Absences	No more than 270 days in the 3 years, and no more than 90 days in the last 12 months	BNA 1981, Sch. 1 para 3(a)–(b)
Immigration status	Not subject to a time limit on your stay on the date of application (ILR, settled status or indefinite leave to enter)	BNA 1981, Sch. 1 para 3(c); GOV.UK spouse guide
Lawful stay	Not in the UK in breach of immigration laws during the 3 years	BNA 1981, Sch. 1 para 3(d)
Other conditions	Good character; English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic; knowledge of life in the UK	BNA 1981, Sch. 1 para 3(e)

What changes compared with the standard route

The standard route (section 6(1)) needs 5 years in the UK and 12 months without any time limit on your stay. For a spouse or civil partner of a British citizen (section 6(2)), the law shortens the period to 3 years and only requires that you have no time limit on the date you apply. The Home Office guidance puts it this way: you can apply as soon as you have indefinite leave to remain, settled status or indefinite leave to enter.

Unlike the standard route, section 6(2) does not include the requirement that you intend to make the UK your home.

It does not happen automatically

GOV.UK’s dual citizenship guidance says you do not automatically become a British citizen when you marry a person from the UK; you need to apply as the spouse of a British citizen.

Special cases

Partner has died. GOV.UK says you cannot apply on this route if your partner has died; check whether you can apply another way, for example with indefinite leave to remain.
Partner working abroad for the UK. The law lets the Home Office waive the 3-year residence and absence requirements if, on the date of application, your spouse or civil partner is serving abroad in service covered by section 2(1)(b) and was recruited for it in the UK (Sch. 1 para 4(d)). GOV.UK describes this as a partner who works abroad for the UK government or an organisation closely linked to government.

Cost: £1,839 (£1,709 application plus £130 ceremony), according to the GOV.UK spouse guide.

Sources

British Nationality Act 1981, section 6(2) (revised text, legislation.gov.uk) checked 2026-10-25
British Nationality Act 1981, Schedule 1, paras 3–4 (revised text, legislation.gov.uk) checked 2026-10-25
GOV.UK: Apply for citizenship if your spouse is a British citizen (Home Office) checked 2026-10-25
GOV.UK: Dual citizenship, section "Dual citizenship, marriage and children" (Home Office) checked 2026-10-25

Change history

2026-10-25: Page created

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