Home Office Adds 30 Working Day Priority Option to Naturalisation Guidance
09 Jul 2026
If you have Indefinite Leave to Remain and are applying for British citizenship, updated Home Office guidance now spells out a faster option for getting a decision.
The guidance for Form AN, the naturalisation application form, was updated on 7 July 2026. It says that if you want a quicker decision, you may wish to apply to the priority service. Using it, you will "usually get a decision within 30 working days," though the guidance warns this may not happen if the Home Office needs to make additional checks with other government departments, or if your case is particularly complex.
This is much faster than the standard target, which the guidance says is "within 6 months from the date on which we receive your application." The guidance does not state any specific eligibility restrictions for using the priority service, and it does not list a separate fee for it in this document, so check the main fees page on GOV.UK before you apply if cost matters to your decision.
If you are getting ready to apply for citizenship after reaching ILR, it is worth reading the full Form AN guidance to see whether the priority service fits your timeline and circumstances.
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