Naturalisation application processing timelines (only)

[ringwiss]

Eligibility criteria: many, many years of living in the UK under freedom of movement + EU Settlement Scheme
Language/LIUK Criteria: PTE Home B1 + Life in the UK Test
Nationality: EU
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 26/09/2021
Payment method: Debit Card (Online)
Date of debit of fees: 26/09/2021
Date of acknowledgement: 26/09/2021
Date Biometrics enrolled: 28/09/2021 (paid)
Date on Approval letter/Email: 15/11/2021
Date of receipt of approval: 15/11/2021 (Email from Home Office Atlas)
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: None received
Date of Ceremony: 14/12/2021

[DrAhmad]

Eligibility criteria: ILR through SET(LR) + 1 year.
Language/LIUK Criteria: UK PhD and MSc Degrees + Life in the UK
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 23/06/2021
Payment method: Online
Date of debit of fees: 23/06/2021
Date Biometrics enrolled: 20/07/2021
Date of approval Letter Email: waiting
Date of approval Letter: Waiting
Ceremony Invitation letter:
Ceremony Booked:
Date of Ceremony:

Sent an email to the home office on 11/08/2021 which they replied to on 21/08/2021 as follows:

"Your application is currently progressing through the system as normal, applications are currently taking approx. 6 months to process, however, due to the current coronavirus pandemic this may take longer as UKVI is operating with reduced staffing levels as per current government guidelines.
We will contact you should we require any further information or once a decision has been made."

Update:

Sent another email to the home office on 18/10/2021 which they replied to on 02/11/2021 as follow:

Dear applicant,
Thank you for your email.
Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic applications may take longer to process due to staffing. Your application is in a queue and will be dealt with in due course.
A caseworker will contact you if they require any further information from you throughout the course of the application process. Please note; we will not contact you to provide regular updates and cannot provide a definitive application processing timescale.
Your application will now continue to progress until a decision is made.
If you require any further information throughout the application process, please refer to our website:
www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration
If you require any further information regarding our new UKVCAS service, please refer to the linked webpage:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ukvis-new-f ... ed-to-know
Yours sincerely,
Home Office

Update:

Received an email from my local council at 1535 hrs (19/11/2021) advising me to book a private ceremony as the group ceremonies weren't available due to covid-19 restriction. I will have to wait till Monday 22/11/2021 to speak to the local council about booking the private ceremony.

I haven't received any communication (approval or ceremony invitation letter) from the home office yet. I believe the ceremony invitation letter from the home office is required to attend the citizenship ceremony.

Although the email from the local council indicates that my naturalisation application has been approved it would have been better if I had received the formal approval email and the ceremony invitation letter from the home office.

[Mando]

Eligibility criteria: Settled Status + 1 year
Language/LIUK Criteria: Degree + Life in the UK test
Nationality: Non-EU
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 11/06/2021
Payment method: Debit Card (Online)
Date of debit of fees: 11/06/2021
Date of acknowledgement: 11/06/2021
Date Biometrics enrolled: 06/07/2021(free)
Date on Approval letter/Email: waiting...
Date of receipt of approval: waiting...
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: waiting...

It's now almost 6 months without any communication from the HO or the local council.

Moderator edit : please do not ask questions in the timeline only topic.

[Qayssar1980]

Eligibility criteria: Tier 1 (5 years) + ILR (1 year)
Nationality: Iraq
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 14/09/2020
Payment method: Debit card
Date of acknowledgement: 15/09/2020
Date Documents submitted on UKVCAS 27/9/2020
Invitation to use UKVCAS IDV APP 27/09/2020
Photo and document submitted using IDV APP or Biometrics: 27/09/2020 (VIA APP)
Date on Approval letter: 22/10/2021
Date of receipt of approval:2/11/2021

RECEIVED Naturalisation certificate; 10/10/2021

[ziolnierz]

Eligibility criteria: Settled Status + 1 year
Language/LIUK Criteria: B1 language test (Pearson) + Life in the UK test
Nationality: EU (Polish)
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 05/06/2021
Payment method: Debit Card (Online)
Date of debit of fees: 05/06/2021
Date of acknowledgement: 05/06/2021
Date Biometrics enrolled: 22/06/2021(paid)
Date on Approval letter/Email: Email on 15/11/2021
Date of receipt of approval: waiting...
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: Called local council one day after receiving email (as I was told to do in the email) and was told they don't have my info yet and to call again after few days. I did so and booked private ceremony on 10/12/2021 (140£) as next available group ceremony wouldn't be possible untill february.

I would probably had to wait for confirmation email/letter longer but I emailed Home Office at FurtherNationalityEnquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk on Friday and magically on Monday my confirmation email arrived.

[fred22]

Eligibility criteria: 5 Years ILR
Language/LIUK Criteria: B1 + Life in the UK test
Nationality: Non EU
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 10/10/2021
Payment method: (Online)
Date of debit of fees: 10/10/2021
Date of acknowledgement: 10/10/2021
Date Biometrics enrolled: 14/10/2021(paid)
Date on Approval letter/Email: 21/11/2021
Date of receipt of approval: 21/11/2021 (Email)
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 21/11/2021 (via email)
I have not booked for the ceremony yet.

[baffledinleicester]

Myself, wife and 2 children under 18
Eligibility criteria: 5 Years Tier 2 + ILR granted in 2020
Language/LIUK Criteria: B1 + Life in the UK test
Nationality: Non EU
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 6/9/21
Payment method: (Online)
Date of debit of fees: 6/9/21
Date of acknowledgement: 6/9/21
Date Biometrics enrolled: 13/9/21(paid)
Date on Approval letter/Email: 21/11/2021
Date of receipt of approval: 21/11/2021 (Email)
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 21/11/2021 (via email)
Citizenship ceremony date: Not yet booked

[waqas40581]

Eligibility criteria: ILR(LR) + 1 year
Language/LIUK Criteria: Degree + Life in the UK test
Nationality: Non EU
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 18/10/2021
Payment method: Debit Card (Online)
Date of debit of fees: 18/10/2021
Date of acknowledgement: N/A
Date Biometrics enrolled: 21/10/2021
Date on Approval letter/Email: 22/11/2021
Date of receipt of approval: 22/11/2021 (Email from Home office Atlas)
Date of receipt of ceremony letter:

[iahsan]

Eligibility criteria: ILR(LR) + British Spouse
Language/LIUK Criteria: CEFR B1 + Life in the UK test
Nationality: Non EU
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 24/09/2021
Payment method: Credit Card (Online)
Date of debit of fees: N/A
Date of acknowledgement: N/A
Date Biometrics enrolled: 01/10/2021
Date on Approval letter/Email: 22/11/2021
Date of receipt of approval: 22/11/2021 (Email from Home office Atlas)
Date of receipt of ceremony letter:

[fred22]

Eligibility criteria: 5 Years ILR
Language/LIUK Criteria: B1 + Life in the UK test
Nationality: Non EU
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 10/10/2021
Payment method: (Online)
Date of debit of fees: 10/10/2021
Date of acknowledgement: 10/10/2021
Date Biometrics enrolled: 14/10/2021(paid)
Date on Approval letter/Email: 22/11/2021
Date of receipt of approval: 22/11/2021 (Email)
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 22/11/2021 (via email)
I have managed to book the ceremony for the same day

[Garth1989]

Myself
Eligibility criteria: 5 Years EU Family member + ILR granted in 2020
Language/LIUK Criteria: B1 + Life in the UK test
Nationality: Non EU ( South Africa)
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 29/6/21
Payment method: (Online)
Date of debit of fees: 29/6/21
Date of acknowledgement: None
Date Biometrics enrolled: 27/07/21(paid)
Date on Approval letter/Email: 22/11/2021
Date of receipt of approval: 22/11/2021 (Email)
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 21/11/2021 (via email)
Citizenship ceremony date: 10/01/2021 (need to travel in Dec so decided to push it back)

[ps1234]

Eligibility criteria: 5Yr Tier 2+ 1 year ILR
Language/LIUK Criteria: US Degree+ Life in the UK
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 04/10/2021
Payment method: credit card online
Date of debit of fees: 04/10/2021
Date Biometrics enrolled: 09/10/2021
Ceremony Invitation letter: No letter - got email on 16/11/2021.
Ceremony Booked: 19/11/2921
Date of Ceremony: 20/11/2021 (Private Ceremony booked. Free group ceremony was available after 2 weeks)

[mkhalid]

Eligibility criteria: ILR + Spouse of British Citizen
Language/LIUK Criteria: English Test + Life in UK.
Nationality : PK
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 28 Sep 2021
Payment method: Credit Card (Online)
Date of acknowledgement: 28 Sep 2021 (email)
Date of debit of fees: 29 Sep 2021
Date Biometrics enrolled: 19 Oct 2021
Date on Approval letter: Still Waiting
Date of receipt of approval: Still Waiting
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: Still Waiting
Date of Ceremony: Still Waiting

[DrAhmad]

Eligibility criteria: ILR through SET(LR) + 1 year.
Language/LIUK Criteria: UK PhD and MSc Degrees + Life in the UK
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 23/06/2021
Payment method: Online
Date of debit of fees: 23/06/2021
Date Biometrics enrolled: 20/07/2021
Date of approval Letter Email: 22/11/2021. An email was sent by the home office confirming approval and invitation to attend the ceremony
Ceremony Invitation letter: Received an email invitation from the local council on 19/11/2021 to book a private ceremony
Ceremony Booked: 22/11/2021 (Private Ceremony)
Date of Ceremony: 22/11/2021

Sent an email to the home office on 11/08/2021 which they replied to on 21/08/2021 as follows:

"Your application is currently progressing through the system as normal, applications are currently taking approx. 6 months to process, however, due to the current coronavirus pandemic this may take longer as UKVI is operating with reduced staffing levels as per current government guidelines.
We will contact you should we require any further information or once a decision has been made."

Update:

Sent another email to the home office on 18/10/2021 which they replied to on 02/11/2021 as follow:

Dear applicant,
Thank you for your email.
Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic applications may take longer to process due to staffing. Your application is in a queue and will be dealt with in due course.
A caseworker will contact you if they require any further information from you throughout the course of the application process. Please note; we will not contact you to provide regular updates and cannot provide a definitive application processing timescale.
Your application will now continue to progress until a decision is made.
If you require any further information throughout the application process, please refer to our website:
www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration
If you require any further information regarding our new UKVCAS service, please refer to the linked webpage:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ukvis-new-f ... ed-to-know
Yours sincerely,
Home Office

Update:

Received an email from my local council at 1535 hrs (19/11/2021) advising me to book a private ceremony as the group ceremonies weren't available due to covid-19 restriction. I will have to wait till Monday 22/11/2021 to speak to the local council about booking the private ceremony.

I haven't received any communication (approval or ceremony invitation letter) from the home office yet. I believe the ceremony invitation letter from the home office is required to attend the citizenship ceremony.

Although the email from the local council indicates that my naturalisation application has been approved it would have been better if I had received the formal approval email and the ceremony invitation letter from the home office.

[abdulsaid]

Ilr 10 years plus
None EU
Application 10 June 21
Bio 1 July 2021
Approval email just now
Took ages

[tapera]

Application Timeline
Nationality: Non-EU (Africa)
Eligibility criteria: 12.5 year residency + ILR + 4 years
Language : UK Degree
Method of application: Online
Date of Application: 20/05/2021
Date of debit of fees: 20/05/2021
Date of receipt of acknowledgement:24/05/2021
Biometrics Appointment : 29/05/2001 (Leeds)
Date of receipt of approval: TBA
Date of Ceremony: TBA

Still waiting ...now received the following email 4 days before the 6 month deadline:

We aim to process all applications within 6 months from the date submitted. However, in certain circumstances this target is not possible. Following our assessment of your case, unfortunately it appears your application will not be processed within the 6 month target.

This is because it is taking longer than usual to process applications because of coronavirus (COVID-19). This will not affect the decision. We expect to make a decision on your application as soon as possible, but we will write to you again if this is not going to be possible.

[Satak81]

Eligibility criteria: ILR + Spouse of British Citizen
Language/LIUK Criteria: English Test + Life in the UK.
Nationality: INDIA
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 12-10-2021
Payment method: Online Payment
Date of acknowledgement: 12-10-2021 (email)
Date Biometrics enrolled: 14-10-2021
Date on Approval letter: 17-11-2021
Date of receipt of approval: E-mail from HO on 22-11-2021
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 20-11-2021 (Local Council); 22-11-2021 (email from HO)
Date of Ceremony: 06-01-2022. Trying to book a private ceremony date.

Took about just five weeks surprisingly! Thank you, everyone, for your helpful inputs throughout. Good luck to anyone who's waiting.

[Voyager-2]

Eligibility criteria: Spouse of British Citizen + ILR
Language/LIUK Criteria: Australian Passport + Life in the UK
Nationality: Australian
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 19 Jul 2021
Payment method: Credit Card (Online)
Date of acknowledgement: 19 Jul 2021
Date of debit of fees: 19 Jul 2021
Date Biometrics enrolled: 05 Aug 2021
Date on Approval letter: No letter
Date of receipt of approval: 15 November 2021, by email @ 8.25am
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 15 November 2021, by email
Date of Ceremony: 24 November 2021
Good luck everyone!

[aliraza_23]

Eligibility criteria: Spouse of British Citizen + ILR
Language/LIUK Criteria: Life in the UK + UK DEGREE
Nationality: PAKISTANI
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 11 AUG 2021
Payment method: Credit Card (Online)
Date of acknowledgement: 20 AUG 2021
Date of debit of fees: 11 AUG 2021
Date Biometrics enrolled: 20 Aug 2021
The date on Approval letter: WAITING
Date of receipt of approval: WAITING
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: WAITING
Date of Ceremony: WAITING

[Ugoo88]

Eligibility criteria: ILR + Spouse of British Citizen
Language/LIUK Criteria: UK University degree + Life in UK test
Nationality : Nigerian
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 16/11/2021
Payment method: Credit Card (Online)
Date Biometrics enrolled: 25/11/2021(paid £125 @ Sheffield)
Date on Approval letter: Waiting
Date of receipt of approval: Waiting
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: Waiting
Date of Ceremony: Waiting

[ausmarton]

Eligibility criteria: Settled status under EUSS in 2020
Language/LIUK Criteria: B1 (Trinity College) + Life in the UK test
Nationality: EU
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 07/11/21
Payment method: (Online)
Date of debit of fees: 07/11/21
Date of acknowledgement: None
Date Biometrics enrolled: 20/11/21(paid) - originally booked for 13/11/21 but rescheduled due to a delay in receiving the B1 certificate
Date on Approval letter/Email: ...waiting...
Date of receipt of approval: ...waiting...
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: ...waiting...
Citizenship ceremony date: ...waiting...

[Jamesk21]

Eligibility criteria: ILR - Married to British Spouse.
Language criteria: IELTS 2010 -Used in previous entry and ILR applications.
Nationality: Ugandan
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 10/09/2021
Date of acknowledgement:10/09/2021
Date Biometrics enrolled: 07/10/2021 (Free appointment at Cardiff Bay - UKVAS Service point)
Date of approval letter: Not received.
Date of Telephone call for ceremony : 25/11/2021
Date of ceremony: 29/11/2021 (Monmouthshire Register Office in Usk)

[YOLO123]

UPDATE: Yesterday (08/11) I recieved an email from the Home Office Atlas inviting me to book my citizenship ceremony

EDIT 1: I recieved the approval email from Home Office Atlas on the 8th of November, however 8 days later, I come to find out via the HO phone line that the ceremony invitation letter was supposed to arrive with the approval email and now it can take between 4-8 weeks to get the ceremony letter...

EDIT 2: My journey to become a UK citizen is almost over. This morning, I recieve the email from my council acknowledging the receipt of my naturalisation certificate, and booked me in for the ceremony in 2 weeks time!!!

Eligibility criteria: 21 years + Settled Status
Language/LIUK Criteria: IELTS + Life in the UK test
Nationality: EU (Italy)
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 04/06/2021
Payment method: Debit Card (Online)
Date Biometrics appointment: 28/06/2021
Date on Approval letter: 08/11/2021
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 26/11/2021
Date of Ceremony: 08/12/2021

I would like to thank everyone on this thread who answered my questions and helped me climb this mountain to finally achieve my goal!

[bond.boy203]

Eligibility criteria: ILR + Spouse of British Citizen
Language/LIUK Criteria: English Test + Life in the UK.
Nationality: APAC
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 19-08-2021
Payment method: Online Payment
Date of acknowledgement: 19-08-2021 (email)
Date Biometrics enrolled: 04-09-2021
Date on Approval letter: 16-11-2021
Date of receipt of approval: E-mail from HO on 16-11-2021
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 16-11-2021 (email from HO)
Date of Ceremony: 22-11-2021

[Yash123]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years Tier 2 General + ILR 1 year (Main+2 dependents)
Language/LIUK Criteria: Degree certificate (NARIC) + LIUK Test
Nationality : non EU
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 01/10/2021
Payment method: Debit Card (Online)
Date of acknowledgement: 01/10/2021
Date of debit of fees: 01/10/2021
Date Biometrics enrolled: 29/10/2021 (Earliest free appointment available)
Date on Approval letter: Awaiting
Date of receipt of approval email with ceremony invitation: Awaiting
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: Awaiting
Date of Ceremony: Awaiting