UK Citizenship Eligibility Calculator

Check citizenship eligibility after ILR. See timeline, absence limits and total application costs.

Last updated: April 2026 · Source: GOV.UK — Apply for citizenship

Max 270 days in 3 years, 90 in last 12 months

Disclaimer

This calculator is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial or tax advice. All calculations are performed locally in your browser — no personal data is collected or sent to our servers. Rates and thresholds are sourced from HMRC and GOV.UK and are updated for the current tax year. Always verify results with HMRC or consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.

How It Works

British citizenship through naturalisation requires at least 12 months of ILR (or 3 years if married to a British citizen and applying without ILR). You must have lived in the UK for at least 5 years (3 years if married to a British citizen), pass the Life in the UK test, and meet English language requirements.

The residency requirement includes not being absent for more than 450 days in the 5 years before the application, and not more than 90 days in the 12 months before the application. The calculator checks these thresholds against your travel history.

This calculator maps the full timeline and costs from your initial visa through ILR to citizenship, including all application fees, IHS payments, language tests and the citizenship ceremony fee. It shows the earliest date you can apply and the total financial investment.

Example: Skilled Worker to citizenship timeline

  1. Year 0: Initial visa — £719 + IHS £3,105 = £3,824
  2. Year 5: ILR application — £2,885 + tests £220 = £3,105
  3. Year 6: Citizenship application — £1,580
  4. Citizenship ceremony fee: £80
  5. Total cost over 6+ years: approx. £8,589 (excluding visa extensions)

Source: GOV.UK — Apply for citizenship

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the UK Citizenship Eligibility Calculator do?
Check citizenship eligibility after ILR. See timeline, absence limits and total application costs. All calculations are performed in your browser using official UK rates and thresholds.
Are visa fees up to date?
This calculator uses the current UK visa and immigration fees as published by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). Fees are reviewed periodically — check GOV.UK for the very latest amounts.
Does this include the Immigration Health Surcharge?
Yes. The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is included in the total cost calculation where applicable. The current IHS rate is £1,035 per year for most visa categories.