Documents for the British citizenship application

Pick your route to see the right documents

Tick documents off as you collect them. The list varies slightly depending on whether you're applying as a standard naturalisation candidate (section 6(1)) or as the spouse of a British citizen (section 6(2)).

Why this list looks long but isn't actually that bad

Most documents you already have: your passports, your tenancy or mortgage records, your utility bills, your bank statements. The bits that require active work:

• Two referees. Identify them early in the process — at least 2 months before submitting Form AN. Make sure they understand they'll need to fill out an official declaration (not just write a letter).
• Travel log. Reconstruct every absence during your qualifying period. Use your calendar, email, bank statements (foreign transactions), and old boarding passes.
• Translations. Identify any non-English documents and book a certified translator. Allow 1-2 weeks for translation work.
• Life in the UK Test pass. If you haven't already passed it, book the test, study, pass it. See our fast-track study plan.
• English language test. If not exempt, book a SELT B1 test (Trinity GESE B1 or IELTS Life Skills B1).

The referee rules in detail

The Home Office is strict about referees. The rules from the current Guide AN:

Referee 1

• Must be a British citizen.
• Must be aged 25 or older.
• Must hold a current valid British passport.
• Must have known you for at least 3 years.
• Cannot be related to you (spouse, parent, child, sibling, etc.).
• Cannot be your immigration adviser on this application.
• Cannot be an employee of the Home Office.

Referee 2

• Must be a "professional person" from the approved list (accountant, solicitor not acting for you, GP, teacher, civil servant, company director, engineer with professional registration, dentist, surveyor, architect, vet, etc.).
• Must have known you for at least 3 years.
• Does not have to be British — can be any nationality.
• Same exclusions: not related, not your immigration adviser, not Home Office.

See our dedicated referee guide for the full approved professions list and what each referee actually signs.

The residence evidence approach

The Home Office wants documentary evidence covering each year of your qualifying period — 5 years for standard, 3 years for spouses. There's no rigid list, but the following typically work:

• Payslips and P60s: ideal because they show both income and your UK address.
• Tenancy or mortgage records: proves where you lived each year.
• Council tax bills: annual records linking you to a UK address.
• Bank statements showing UK transactions: demonstrates day-to-day UK presence.
• NHS records: GP registration, NHS letters, prescription records.
• Utility bills: gas, electric, water, internet, mobile phone — anything regular.
• HMRC correspondence: Self Assessment confirmations, tax codes, P800 over/underpayment letters.

Quantity matters. Aim for 3-4 distinct documents per year. Sparse evidence (one council tax bill per year) raises questions. Comprehensive evidence speeds the decision.

Translations — getting them right

Any document not in English requires a certified translation. The translation must include:

• The translator's full name and contact details.
• The translator's signature.
• The date of translation.
• A statement confirming the translation is an accurate translation of the original.
• (Some sources) The translator's professional credentials.

You CANNOT translate your own documents. A family member cannot translate them either. Use a professional translation service. Cost is typically £15-£40 per page. Most translators turn around standard documents in 3-5 working days.

What can be uploaded vs. what needs to be posted

Form AN is an online application. Most documents are uploaded as scans or photos. The following typically need to be posted (the Home Office returns them after verification):

• Original passport (sometimes — depends on the application path).
• Original ILR evidence if it's not in eVisa/BRP form (e.g. a paper letter).
• Original marriage certificate (for spouse-route applications).

For most modern applications, eVisa share codes replace the need to post documents. HMPO publishes the latest requirements when you submit the form — follow those instructions exactly.

Common omissions that delay decisions

• Incomplete absence log. Missing trips, contradictory dates, or sparse evidence triggers follow-up requests that add weeks to processing.
• Wrong Form AN version. Always download the form fresh from gov.uk on the day you submit. The March 2026 version is current as of June 2026.
• Uncertified translations. A friend's translation, an online machine translation, or your own translation all get rejected.
• Referee declarations on the wrong form. Use the official referee declaration form attached to Form AN, not a free-text letter.
• Missing old passport. If you renewed your passport during the qualifying period, you must submit the old one too — it has your absence stamps.
• Old ILR document instead of eVisa share code. If you've transitioned to eVisa, use the share code from UKVI View & Prove rather than the old physical BRP.