When applying for British citizenship, applicants must provide the details of two qualified referees who can support their application. The Home Office UKVI specifies the eligibility criteria for referees, which must be met to ensure a successful application. In this post, we will outline the rules for selecting referees for a British citizenship application and explain their role in the process.
How to Choose a Referee for a British Citizenship Application?
Referees must meet several eligibility conditions to be considered suitable for a British citizenship application. These criteria ensure that referees are credible and capable of providing accurate character references.
As per the Guide AN, the key requirements for referees are:
- The referee must have known the (adult) applicant for at least 3 years;
- The referee must be a British passport holder and either a;
- Professional Person; or
- Aged over 25
Your referee must also not fall into one of the following categories:
- The referee must not be related to the applicant or the other referee
- They must not be the applicant’s representative
- They must not be employed by the Home Office
- They must not have been convicted of an imprisonable offence in the last 10 years for which the sentence is not spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
What Does ‘Professional Person’ Mean?
Professional person refers to the credibility associated with an individual’s occupation and their recognition within society. The Home Office UKVI maintains a list of accepted professions that qualify for this criterion, including but not limited to:
- Accountant
- Chairman or director of a limited company
- Chemist
- Commissioner for oaths
- Councillor: local or county
- Civil servant (permanent)
- Dentist
- Director or Manager of a VAT-registered charity
- Director, manager or personnel officer of a VAT-registered company
- Driving instructor (approved)
- Engineer (with professional qualifications)
- Manager or Personnel officer (of a limited company)
- Member of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces
- Merchant Navy officer
- Nurse (RN, SEN or holder of a BA in nursing)
- Officer of the armed services (active or retired)
- Optician
- A person with honours (such as OBE, MBE and so on)
- Police officer
- Solicitor
- Teacher
A referee with professional standing must be actively employed in their field and recognized as reputable. This ensures they possess the integrity needed to provide trustworthy character references. Failing to meet the referee requirements is a common mistake in citizenship applications and can result in delays.
What information does a Citizenship Referee Need to Provide?
Once your referees have agreed to support your UK citizenship application they will need to provide specific information about themselves. They must provide the following information for your application form:
- Full name
- Address(es) for last 3 years
- Date of birth
- Profession
- Contact telephone number
- Email address
- British passport number (if British)
- How they know you and what their relationship to you is
What does a Referee need to sign?
Referees must sign a Home Office declaration with the applicant’s passport photograph. Referees must confirm that the photograph provided in the application is the true likeness of the applicant.
The declaration entitled Referees and Identity is part of the application form and is to be filled in by the applicant’s referees once their photograph has been attached, as explained in the declaration form.
What Does a Referee for British Citizenship Need to Confirm?
Referees should review the information provided in the application to ensure its accuracy. Any discrepancies or incomplete details may lead to delays or a refusal.
When your referees sign the declaration form they will be confirming that:
- They are qualified to act as a referee
- The photograph above is a true likeness of you
- They understand each of the points in the “Requirements of a referee” section of the form
- To the best of their knowledge, the details given about you in the application are correct
- The details given about them as a referees are correct
- They understand that under Section 46(1) of the British Nationality Act 1981, they could be fined up to £5,000, or go to prison for up to 3 months if they knowingly give false information on the application.
Referees should be prepared for the possibility of being contacted by the Home Office to confirm their statements.
What Happens if the Referees Do Not Meet the Requirements?
Failure to meet referee requirements can lead to significant issues, including delays or a refusal of the application. Common problems include:
- Referees not meeting the Home Office’s eligibility criteria (e.g., age, relationship, or professional standing).
- Incomplete or inaccurate referee declarations.
- Referees refusing to provide additional information if contacted by the Home Office.
In such cases, applicants may need to identify alternative referees and resubmit the application. This process can be time-consuming and may incur additional costs. To avoid such pitfalls, ensuring compliance with all Home Office requirements from the outset is essential.
How We Can Help
At Whytecroft Ford, we provide expert guidance to ensure your British citizenship application meets all Home Office UKVI requirements.
With our experience in immigration law, we offer tailored support to help you navigate the complexities of the naturalisation process with confidence.
Contact us today for professional assistance in securing your British citizenship, on 0208 757 5751 our use our contact form.
Frequently asked questions
When a child is applying for British citizenship the rules for referrers are different as at least one of the referees should be someone who has dealt with the child applying in a professional role, this could include a teacher or a social worker.
No, the Home Office does not require both referees to be British citizens.
For more FAQs, visit British Citizenship Application Referees: FAQs.
