Naturalisation application processing timelines (only)

[abyrvalg]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years Tier 2 + 1 year ILR
Nationality: Non-EU (ru)
Date of application: 14/03/2023
Date biometrics enrolled (UKVAC): 20/03/2023, Mark Lane, paid
Date of approval email: pending
Date of Ceremony: pending

on 14 Sep (exactly 6 month since the application) received an email re "complex issues"

Date of approval email: 08/01/2024
Date of Ceremony: 13/01/2024 (private)

So it took almost 10 months in a very straightforward case.
The certificate had a mistake, so I had to send it back for correction (found out after the ceremony)

Date of sending the certificate for correction: 16/01/2024
Date of receiving corrected certificate: pending

[talawl]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years Tier 2 + 1 year ILR + Spouse
Proof of language: UK degree + Life in the UK
Method of application: Online
Date of application submission: 19.10.2023
Biometrics appointment: 02.11.2023
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 02.11.2023
Email from council about Ceremony: Pending
Date of receipt of approval via FNE email reply: 06.02.2024
Date of Ceremony: Pending
Date of official approval from Home office (Atlas): Pending

Email sent to FNE on 16 Jan 2024 for update and received the approval in the same email reply.Waiting for Home office (Atlas) approval email.

Hope this would be help for others waiting.

[phaseolinus]

Eligibility criteria: 7 years in the UK, Settled Status since 2021
Nationality: EU
Proof of language: UK degree
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 18.10.2023
Date of biometrics: 09.11.2023 (Bristol, free)
Date of acknowledgement email that docs and biometrics submitted to UKVI: 09.11.2023
Date of approval email: (waiting)
Email invitation to book: (waiting)
Citizenship ceremony date: (waiting)

Eligibility criteria: 7 years in the UK, Settled Status since 2021
Nationality: EU
Proof of language: UK degree
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 18.10.2023
Date of biometrics: 09.11.2023 (Bristol, free)
Date of acknowledgement email that docs and biometrics submitted to UKVI: 09.11.2023
Date of approval email: (pending)
Email sent to FNE - 05.02.2024, received a reply that my application has been approved today (06.02.2024)
Email invitation to book: (pending)
Citizenship ceremony date: (pending)

Thanks everyone and good luck to all those who are still waiting

[bigfootisreal]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years Tier 2 + 1 year ILR
Proof of language: UK degree + Life in the UK
Method of application: Online
Date of receipt by UKVI: 25.10.2023
Biometrics appointment: 27.10.2023
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 27.10.2023
Email from council about Ceremony: 05.02.2024
Date of receipt of approval: 05.02.2024
Date of Ceremony: 08.02.2024

Sent a follow up email to FNE on 23.01.2024 but didn't receive a response. Just got approval from Home Office Atlas today. Took about ~3.5 months.

Good luck everyone!

Quick update on ceremony: Received an invitation email from council the same day to book ceremony, but the earliest day available was in March 11th with few spots only. Sent an email asking if an earlier date is available (they usually arrange smaller groups due to high demand), luckily got one for Feb 8th, and I booked. I was almost going to book private one, this has saved nearly £350!

[Candyfloss]

Eligibility Criteria : BC Spouse +ILR (2013)
Language : LIUK + B1 SL
Nationality: Non EU
Method of Application : Online
Date of Application : 10.10.2023
Payment : 10.10.23
Biometric Appoitment : 6.11.2023 (Manchester,Free)
Date of Acknowledgement : 6.11.2023
Date of Receipt of Approval : Pending
Date of Ceremony : Pending

I sent mail to FNE for update yesterday ( 6.02.2024) and today I received Approved mail at 11.04 am ,now I have to wait for citizenship invitation and HO approval mail.

[andriyanic]

Eligibility criteria: 9yrs EU resident (5yrs + 4yrs EUSS)
Proof of KOLL: UK degree + LIUK test
Nationality: Bulgarian
Method of application: Online
Date of receipt by UKVI: 25/10/2023
Biometrics appointment: 14/11/2023 (Mark Ln, London)
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 14/11/2023 (from UKVCAS, never received confirmation from UKVI)
Confirmation of approval: 07/02/2024
Date of receipt of approval: pending
Email from council about Ceremony: pending
Date of Ceremony: pending

Other updates:
21/01/2024 - Emailed FNE asking for an update following the example shared by many others on here
29/01/2024 - Received request for more information from Home Office Atlas (My postgrad ProfDip was considered vocational rather than academic in terms of fulfilling the language requirement, so had to send in my BA). Returned evidence same day.
07/02/2024 - Received response from FNE further to my query confirming my application has been approved. Confirmation from HO Atlas and invite from Islington council pending.

The bottom line: This forum is super helpful in managing expectations while waiting to hear back given the lack of other means of tracking. Not sure whether chasing FNE for an update speeds up the application processing, but you may well hear back ahead of the formal HO email.

[dmioger]

Eligibilitiy: 5y Spouse of British Citizen + ILR (applied one week after getting ILR)
Nationality: Non-Eu
Language: IELTS B1 + Life in the UK
Method of application: Online
Payment method: Online
Date of application: 22/10/2023
Date of biometrics: 23/10/2023 paid
The date on the Approval letter/Email: Pending...
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: Pending...
Citizenship ceremony date: Pending...

05/01 - Email to FNE, no reply...
10/01 - Another new email to FNE, got a reply, standard response the application is within the timeframe.
29/01 - Email to FNE, no reply...
08/02 - Have emailed them again today, really frustrating that so many people that applied around my date or even November have already gotten their response. I absolute don't mind waiting but it is really unfair this disrespect to the chronological order of applications. My case is extremely straight forward and I just been granted ILR, that took one morning for them to approve.

[rkbadineni]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years Tier 2 + 2 year ILR + BC Spouse
Proof of language: NARIC + Life in the UK
Method of application: Online
Date of application submission: 15.10.2023
Biometrics appointment: 10.11.2023
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 10.11.2023
Email from council about Ceremony: 08/02/2024 @ 3:52 PM
Date of receipt of approval via FNE email reply: pending
Date of Ceremony: 11/04/2024
Date of official approval from Home office (Atlas): Pending

Email sent to FNE today in the morning for update and afternoon around 4pm received citizenship ceremony email from registrar office .Waiting for Home office (Atlas) approval email.

like other said in earlier posts , Not sure whether chasing FNE for an update speed up the application processing, but you may well hear back ahead of the formal HO email.

Hope this would be help for others waiting.

[zoamelgustar]

Eligibilitiy: 5y Residency + 1y EUSS
Nationality: EU
Language: UK Bachelor's Degree + Life in the UK test
Method of application: Online
Payment method: Online
Date of application: 13/10/2023
Date of biometrics: 06/11/2023 (free Newham)
The date on the Approval letter/Email: 01/02/2024 (after reaching out to FNE)
Date of receipt of ceremony letter: 05/02/2024
Citizenship ceremony date: 27/02/2024

Good luck all

[drshashi]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years Tier 2 + 1 year ILR (30th March 2022 ILR approval) + partner 5 years Tier2 dependent+ 1 year ILR (29th September 2022 approval)
Language: NARIC B1 Certificate + Life in UK Test
Nationality: India
Method of application: Online
Date of application submission: 1st Oct 2023
Date of receipt of acknowledgment (by UKVI): 1st Oct 2023
Date of enrolling biometrics: 31st October 2023 (free)
Email to FNE: 2nd Feb 2024 - Only received auto reply.
Date of receipt of approval: pending
Date of Citizenship Ceremony: pending


I am getting a bit concerned, as I thought we had pretty straight forward applications. I am a NHS doctor, and I fulfill all the eligibility criteria. Does having 2 applications delay the processing times more?

[Candyfloss]

Eligibility Criteria : BC Spouse +ILR (2013)
Language : LIUK + B1 SL
Nationality: Non EU
Method of Application : Online
Date of Application : 10.10.2023
Payment : 10.10.23
Biometric Appoitment : 06.11.2023 (Manchester,Free)
Date of Acknowledgement : 06.11.2023
Sent mail to FNE for update : 06.02.2024
Respond from FNE : 07.02.2024
Date of Receipt of Approval from HO : Pending
Date of Ceremony invitation : 09.02.2024
Date of Ceremony : 29.02.2024

I sent mail to FNE for update yesterday ( 6.02.2024) and today I received Approved mail at 11.04 am ,now I have to wait for citizenship invitation and HO approval mail.

- Update -

I received Council ceromony invitation mail today and booked for ceromony...I just have to wait for HO atlas mail,I guees Monday or next week anytime I will have an information.If I cant ,I will contack with them ,giving 3 working days after council invitation just like they mentioned on the FNE mail.

I just wanted to thanks everyone for their advice,experience and time..Specially for your time cos time is precious.Wish you all the best of luck with your applications.

[bewilderbeast]

Eligibility Criteria : 5yr Tier 2, less than 1yr ILR + spouse British
Language: UK DPhil + RSA (English) BSc + LIUK
Nationality: non-EU (RSA)
Method of Application: Online
Date of Application: 15.10.2023
Payment: 15.10.2023
Biometric Appoitment: 24.10.2023
Date of Acknowledgement: 24.10.2023
Sent mail to FNE for update: 3 times (late January - early Feb)
Respond from FNE: 09.02.2024
Date of Receipt of Approval from HO: Pending
Date of Ceremony invitation: 09.02.2024
Date of Ceremony: 27.02.2024

Thank you to this forum! In one sense, not healthy to refresh this page all of the time. In another sense, the only morsel of information out there in an otherwise totally blind process.

[sech]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years Tier 2 + 1 year ILR (30th March 2022 ILR approval) + partner 5 years Tier2 dependent+ 1 year ILR (29th September 2022 approval)
Language: NARIC B1 Certificate + Life in UK Test
Nationality: India
Method of application: Online
Date of application submission: 1st Oct 2023
Date of receipt of acknowledgment (by UKVI): 1st Oct 2023
Date of enrolling biometrics: 31st October 2023 (free)
Email to FNE: 2nd Feb 2024 - Only received auto reply.
Date of receipt of approval: pending
Date of Citizenship Ceremony: pending


I am getting a bit concerned, as I thought we had pretty straight forward applications. I am a NHS doctor, and I fulfill all the eligibility criteria. Does having 2 applications delay the processing times more?

I thought mine is straightforward too, 5 year Tier 2 university professor, from HKG. Sole application.
Submitted bio on 11 Oct, sent an inquiry to FNE on 22 Jan, received a reply from FNE yesterday suggests it is still within the standard timeframe

[Kad8888]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years Tier 4 + Tier 2 + Tier 1+ 1 year ILR
Proof of language: UK degree + Life in the UK
Method of application: Online
Date of application submission: 05.10.2023
Biometrics appointment: 21.10.2023
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 21.10.2023
Date of official approval from Home office (Atlas): Pending

Email sent to FNE on the 23.01.2024 and a response received on the 09.02.2024, specifying that my application is still within the service standard and therefore no update.

[a66013]

Application Timeline

Eligibility criteria: 5yr Tier 2 + 1yr ILR
Citizenship: British National Overseas
Method of application: Online
Date of application & debit of fees: 17 Sept 2023
Biometrics appointment: 03 Oct 2023 (Mark Lane, free)
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 03 Oct 2023
Date of receipt of approval: pending
Letter from Council for the ceremony: 10 Feb 2024 (Date showing on letter was 2 Feb 2024)
Date of Ceremony: pending

Weird that didnt receive the approval email but receive the letter from council
It seems the timeline is now 4 months since the Biometrics appointment.
Good luck everyone

[tapera]

Eligibility Criteria : Refugee + 5 yr ILR
Proof of English : UK Postgraduate Degree
Nationality : Zimbabwe
Method of Application: Online
Date of Application: 20 May 2021
Biometrics : 29 May 2021 - Leeds
Letter of Approval : 23 August 2023
Invitation to Ceremony: 5 September 2023
Date of Ceremony : 14 September 2023

Got there in the end but , boy oh boy , what a painful wait. Years of following up , eventually involved MP but the HO didn’t seem to be moved.

[CR001]

Please respect that this is a TIMELINE ONLY topic to be posted in the correct timeline format. Please do not post questions, chit chat, analysis, opinions or discussions in this thread. Any such posts will be removed.

If you have any questions, please start your own topic or continue in one you already have.

@citizen kane

[Kad8888]

Eligibility criteria: 5 years Tier 4 + Tier 2 + Tier 1+ 1 year ILR
Proof of language: UK degree + Life in the UK
Method of application: Online
Date of application submission: 05.10.2023
Biometrics appointment: 21.10.2023
Date of receipt of acknowledgement: 21.10.2023
Date of official approval from Home office (Atlas): Pending

Email sent to FNE on the 23.01.2024 and a response received on the 09.02.2024, specifying that my application is still within the service standard and therefore no update.

[torquaycat]

Application Timeline
Eligibility criteria: 5yr Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) + 1yr ILR
Nationality: Russian
Method of application: online
Date of application and debit of fees: October 4, 2023
Biometrics: October 13, 2023 (Exeter paid)
Date of receipt of approval: February 12, 2024 (Home Office Atlas)
Date of Ceremony: tbd

Sent 3 emails to FNE (January 8, 18, 26), received an auto-response after each. On January 31, received an email from FNE stating that my application has been approved. The official approval came 12 days later (today). Just called the council, hopefully will have the ceremony sometime soon.
Thank you for this forum, it stopped me from climbing the walls while waiting

[phaseolinus]

Eligibility criteria: 7 years in the UK, Settled Status since 2021
Nationality: EU
Proof of language: UK degree
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 18.10.2023
Date of biometrics: 09.11.2023 (Bristol, free)
Date of acknowledgement email that docs and biometrics submitted to UKVI: 09.11.2023
Date of approval email: (waiting)
Email invitation to book: (waiting)
Citizenship ceremony date: (waiting)

Eligibility criteria: 7 years in the UK, Settled Status since 2021
Nationality: EU
Proof of language: UK degree
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 18.10.2023
Date of biometrics: 09.11.2023 (Bristol, free)
Date of acknowledgement email that docs and biometrics submitted to UKVI: 09.11.2023
Date of approval email: (pending)
Email sent to FNE - 05.02.2024, received a reply that my application has been approved today (06.02.2024)
Email invitation to book: (pending)
Citizenship ceremony date: (pending)

Thanks everyone and good luck to all those who are still waiting

Eligibility criteria: 7 years in the UK, Settled Status since 2021
Nationality: EU
Proof of language: UK degree
Method of application: Online
Date of application: 18.10.2023
Date of biometrics: 09.11.2023 (Bristol, free)
Date of acknowledgement email that docs and biometrics submitted to UKVI: 09.11.2023
Date of approval email: 12.02.2024
Email sent to FNE - 05.02.2024, received a reply that my application has been approved on 06.02.2024
Citizenship ceremony date: 21.03.2024 (Free)

[shanravi]

Eligibility criteria: Spouse, 5 years and 1 day ILR
Language: UK NARIC + Life in UK Test
Nationality: Indian
Method of application: Online
Date of application submission: 15/10/23
Date of enrolling biometrics: 19/10/23 (London, Paid)
Date of receipt of approval: 12/02/24
Date of Citizenship Ceremony: To be confirmed

Good luck everyone

[Candyfloss]

Eligibility Criteria : BC Spouse +ILR (2013)
Language : LIUK + B1 SL
Nationality: Non EU
Method of Application : Online
Date of Application : 10.10.2023
Payment : 10.10.23
Biometric Appoitment : 06.11.2023 (Manchester,Free)
Date of Acknowledgement : 06.11.2023
Sent mail to FNE for update : 06.02.2024
Respond from FNE : 07.02.2024
Date of Receipt of Approval from HO : 12.02.2024 (13.35)
Date of Ceremony invitation : 09.02.2024
Date of Ceremony : 29.02.2024 (Free group Ceremony)

I sent mail to FNE for update yesterday ( 6.02.2024) and today I received Approved mail at 11.04 am ,now I have to wait for citizenship invitation and HO approval mail.

- Update -

I received Council ceromony invitation mail today and booked for ceromony...I just have to wait for HO atlas mail,I guees Monday or next week anytime I will have an information.If I cant ,I will contack with them ,giving 3 working days after council invitation just like they mentioned on the FNE mail.

I just wanted to thanks everyone for their advice,experience and time..Specially for your time cos time is precious.Wish you all the best of luck with your applications.

[shanravi]

Eligibility criteria: Spouse, 5 years and 1 day ILR
Language: UK NARIC + Life in UK Test
Nationality: Indian
Method of application: Online
Date of application submission: 15/10/23
Date of enrolling biometrics: 19/10/23 (London, Paid)
Date of receipt of approval: 12/02/24
Date of Citizenship Ceremony: 13/03/2024

I received email from Home Office Atlas regarding approval of my application and invitation for Citizenship ceremony. The email mentioned that I should go to the Council website to book Ceremony. I did not wait for Council email and just booked the Ceremony now.

Good luck everyone

[groundbat]

Eligibility criteria: EU settled status + 1 year, 1 week ILR/SS
Nationality: EU
Language: National of English Speaking Country + Life in the UK
Method of application: Online
Payment Method: Online
Date of application: 10/10/2023
Date of debit of fees: 10/10/2023
Date of Biometrics collection UKVCAS: 6/11/2023 (Cambridge, Free Appointment)

Email sent to FNE - 1/2/2024, did not receive a reply

Date of receipt of approval from Home Office Atlas: 12/2/2024
Date of Ceremony: 4/3/2024 (group, free)


Thanks for all the help on this forum. The timelines posted here really helped me to be patient and understand the minimum/likely waiting period. Best wishes to everybody still in the process!

[Rrberair]

Eligibility criteria: EU settled status 3 years
Language: UK University PhD + Life in UK Test
Nationality: French
Method of application: Online
Date of application submission: 12/11/23
Date of enrolling biometrics: 18/11/23 (Birmingham, Paid)
Date of receipt of approval: 12/02/24
Date of Citizenship Ceremony: To be confirmed