The Financial Times quotes Kelvin Tanner on increasing application rates for British citizenship
The latest statistics released by the Home Office detail applications made for British citizenship in 2025. This data has shown a particularly sharp rise in applications by US nationals. Overall application rates also hit a record high at the end of 2025. Q4 2025 figures increased 44% on Q3, marking the highest number of applications since records began in 2004.
Despite this increase in applications, the number of people granted settlement or citizenship fell during 2025. The reduction in skilled worker applications shown in the 2025 statistics, should be considered somewhat separately to the increase in applications for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and British citizenship.
The increased interest in ILR is closely linked to the Government’s earned settlement proposals. Under these proposals, there would be a baseline qualifying period for ILR of 10 years (or 15 years for those in lower skilled roles), with the possibility to then reduce or increase that baseline qualifying period for certain positive or negative attributes. This compares to a usual qualifying period of five years at present. The Government have been unwilling to rule out applying their proposals retrospectively, which is leading to a notable increase in applications from those looking to secure ILR status before these changes come into force.
The increased interest in individuals wanting to become British citizens is being driven by a variety of factors. As part of the general trend of Americans exploring alternative residence and citizenship options, we are seeing a greater number of Americans exploring their eligibility to register as a British citizen based on their UK ancestry.
Kelvin Tanner, Partner in our Immigration team, comments in the Financial Times.
We are seeing increased interest in British citizenship as a hedge against continually changing immigration policy and both UK and global political uncertainty.
This includes many living in Britain with ILR, who had not previously considered applying for British citizenship, now doing so as an insurance against what the future may hold.
Read the full article in the Financial Times here (subscription required).
