# British citizenship eligibility for Indian applicants, 2026

Who qualifies for the British citizenship from India, the thresholds that apply in 2026 and the tools to check before you pay.

Source: https://ukvisadesk.com/visas/british-citizenship/eligibility · Updated 2026-10-08 · Reviewed by UK Visa Desk counselling team, licence 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024 · UK Visa Desk, a brand of Pro Lifeset Overseas Private Limited, Patiala, India. WhatsApp +91 91155 80911, Mon to Sat, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM IST.

- Settled status (ILR or EU settled status) held for at least 12 months, unless married to a British citizen
- Lived in the UK for 5 years, or 3 years if married to a British citizen
- Absent for no more than 450 days in the 5 years and 90 days in the last 12 months, or 270 days in 3 years for spouses
- Life in the UK test passed and English at CEFR B1
- Good character: no serious convictions, no immigration breaches, taxes paid
- Present in the UK exactly 5 years before the date the application is received, or 3 years for spouses

## FAQ
**Can I keep my Indian passport after becoming British?**
No. Indian law does not allow dual citizenship. You must surrender the Indian passport and obtain a surrender certificate, then apply for an OCI card if you want to visit, work or hold property in India without a visa.

**What does naturalisation cost?**
The Home Office fee for an adult naturalisation application is in the fee table of 8 April 2026 and in our fee calculator. Children registering pay a lower fee. There is no refund if refused.

**How long does it take?**
Most decisions arrive within 6 months, followed by a citizenship ceremony where you take the oath and receive the certificate.

Full guide: https://ukvisadesk.com/visas/british-citizenship.md

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UK Visa Desk is a brand of Pro Lifeset Overseas Private Limited, a visa consultancy licensed by the Government of Punjab, India. We are a private company, not affiliated with the UK Government, and we are not regulated by the UK Immigration Advice Authority. We serve applicants who are in India; applicants already in the UK are referred to a regulated UK adviser. We do not handle work visas. Information here is general, not legal advice, and no visa outcome is guaranteed.
We do not handle UK work visas. Applicants already in the UK are referred to a regulated adviser.