Refugees blocked from British citizenship

Many refugees are keen to obtain British citizenship. Citizenship convers legal certainty and clear access to public services and protection under UK law. Although citizenship is expensive (the application itself costs £1,630 and then there are additional fees), many refugees value the opportunity to become a full citizen of the country that provided them sanctuary.

What has happened?

On 10 February 2025, Home Office guidance was amended. Any person who applies for citizenship who ‘previously entered the UK illegally’ will now ‘normally be refused’. It does not matter how long ago the unlawful entry happened. This change applies to adults mostly, there are exemptions for children.

Most people who enter the UK as asylum seekers are deemed to have entered the UK unlawfully. This is largely because there are no safe and legal routes for people to seek sanctuary in the UK.  As a result, this change potentially affects the majority of refugees living in Northern Ireland.

What does this mean for refugees?

If you previously claimed asylum, you now have refugee status and you are considering applying for British Citizenship, the Law Centre strongly recommends that you do not apply without first speaking to a solicitor or qualified immigration adviser about your chance of success.  Your application is likely to be refused and your application fee will not be refunded. There is no right of appeal.

Next steps

The Law Centre will share any further updates.

In the meantime, refugees should continue to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain or ‘settlement’ as soon as they become eligible (i.e. after 5 years of refugee status). Indefinite Leave to Remain provides many of the same entitlements and protections as British citizenship does. Remember, however, that ILR can be lost including if you leave the UK for a period of 2+years.