Citizenship

Official rules, guidance and application forms

• At the Home Office's UK Border Agency, see the menu section 'British citizenship' for full details of citizenship and the other different types of British nationality

Naturalisation as a British citizen

• One of the main types of nationality and citizenship application is an application for naturalisation as a British citizen. Such an applicant follows one of two routes, depending on his/her level of English. The routes are

gaining an approved 'English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)' qualification through attending an ESOL course that includes citizenship materials

or

sitting the 'Life in the UK Test'

• For details of both routes, see Knowledge of life in the UK on the Home Office's UK Border Agency site
• At the moment the Government is proposing changes to the way that someone can become a British citizen. If the proposals are agreed by Parliament they will lead to change late in 2009. Details are at the UK Border Agency Citizenship pages

Local courses

• See You and Your Community for details of local courses for both routes

The 'Life in the UK Test'

• You can find help to prepare for the test at the Life in the UK Test site
• The web site also enables you to find test centres
• The information you need to study for the test is in a book called Life in the UK, a journey to citizenship 2nd edition, 2007, available at all Bedfordshire libraries

Further information

• There is information aimed at teachers of ESOL citizenship courses at the NIACE site Citizenship materials for ESOL learners. The site includes a downloadable pack of resources and a useful 'Citizenship FAQs' section
• Library catalogue
• If you need help to find information, contact us
• See also Immigration, nationality and asylum