Citizenship grants remain high after recent settlement growth
28 Aug 2026
If you already hold ILR and are thinking about applying for British citizenship, the latest Home Office statistics give a useful picture of what to expect. In the year ending June 2026, there were 245,520 grants of British citizenship, a small decrease of 4% from the previous year, according to data published on 27 August 2026.
Even with that dip, the report notes that citizenship grant "levels remained high relative to those observed across the available time series (since 2005)". Naturalisation grants, the main route for adults who already hold settlement, totalled 171,435, down 7% on the year, while registration grants held broadly stable at 74,085, up 1%. Naturalisation numbers remain over 45% higher than the average seen each year between 2010 and 2019.
If you hold ILR and meet the residence and good character requirements, this data suggests the naturalisation route is still processing a high volume of applications. It is a good idea to check the current eligibility rules and required residence period before you apply, and to keep records of any absences from your time on ILR as well as your earlier visa.
Check your own residence history with our calculator before you move on to a citizenship application.
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