Disclaimer: The information in this blog is accurate as of its publication date. Any updates after that date are not reflected here.
Quick Facts:
- Every British citizenship application must include two eligible referees, and failing to meet the strict rules can delay or refuse the application.
- One referee must be a professional person of any nationality, while the other must be a British citizen who is either a professional or over 25.
- Referees must have known the applicant for at least three years, cannot be related, and must meet character and independence requirements.
- Providing false or misleading referee information is a criminal offence and can result in fines, imprisonment, and refusal of citizenship.
Table of Contents
Why referees matter
If you plan to apply for UK/British citizenship in the coming weeks or months, it is important to prepare accordingly, including gathering the correct evidence and arranging referees to support your case. Many people are unsure who can act as a referee in a British Citizenship application. Providing referees is a mandatory part of any British citizenship application, however, the rules that must be met are quite strict in terms of who can perform this role. Unfortunately, thousands of people each year are refused British citizenship or have their application delayed for a variety of reasons, including submitting an incomplete application and not meeting the residence requirements. In fact, the number of citizenship refusals for the year ending June 2024 was 83% higher (7,275) compared with the same time in 2023 (3,973). This demonstrates the extent to which the Home Office are scrutinising applications and how important it is to meet all of the application requirements, including providing valid referees. In this article, we will explain who can be a referee for a UK citizenship application.
Who can be a referee for a British citizenship application?
When applying for British citizenship, applicants must provide details of 2 referees. In order to be a referee for a British citizenship applicant, candidates must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- One referee can be of any nationality, but they must be a ‘professional person’. This means that they must work in or be retired from a recognised profession. Please see the list of recognised professions at the end of this article*. Examples of professional persons include ministers of religion, civil servants, and members of professional bodies, e.g. accountants or solicitors.
- The other citizenship application referee must hold a British citizen passport and either be a ‘professional person’ or over the age of 25.
- If the citizenship applicant is a child, one referee must be a professional who has engaged with them in a professional capacity, such as a teacher, health visitor, social worker or minister of religion.
- Each referee must have known the citizenship applicants for at least 3 years.
- A referee cannot be related to the applicant.
- Referees cannot be related to each other.
- If a solicitor is used for a British citizenship application, they must not be in a solicitor/client relationship with the applicant assisting with the application.
- Referees cannot employed by the Home Office.
- Referees must not have been convicted of an imprisonable offence in the 10 years before the date of the citizenship application.
- Referees must be willing to give full details of their knowledge of the applicant and
- Referees must advise the Home Office of any reason why the applicant should not be registered.
What does a British citizenship referee need to provide?
As a British citizenship referee, you will need to complete and sign a referee declaration form. This form will include a photo of the applicant with their full name and date of birth on the back. The declaration asks the referee to confirm that:
- They are qualified to act as a referee.
- The photograph provided is a true likeness of the applicant.
- They understand the ‘requirements of a referee.’
- To the best of their knowledge, the details of the applicant given in the application are correct.
- The referee details are correct, and
- They understand the penalty for providing false information.
They will then need to provide their full name, signature, and date.
What is the penalty for providing false referee information?
It is imperative that you not only provide two referees that meet the eligibility requirements outlined above but that the information provided is genuine and correct. Applicants should be aware that the Home Office may carry out checks on referees to ensure that the information provided is genuine, they do not have any unspent convictions, and they meet the eligibility requirements to act for the applicant. These checks may also include verifying the signatures of referees to ensure they are genuine.
Providing false information knowingly or recklessly to the Home Office as part of a citizenship application is an offence under section 46(1) of the British Nationality Act 1981 and may be punishable with up to 3 months imprisonment and/or a large fine.
Final words
Applying for UK citizenship represents an important landmark for many immigrants in the UK. Once citizenship is granted, there will be no more need to submit visa applications and pay immigration fees. It also means that you are free to stay in the UK for the rest of your life without any restrictions and that you can apply for a British passport. This is why it is so important to ensure that the information you provide in support of your citizenship application is accurate and genuine from the outset, including details of your referees. If you are unsure if your referees and the information you are providing on them meet the requirements set out above, please speak to an immigration Solicitor who can check this for you. Likewise, if you are unsure if you can or should act as a referee for a UK citizenship applicant, please speak to a member of our highly experienced immigration law team for guidance and support based on your personal circumstances.
*Recognised professionals (Referee British Citizenship Application)
- accountant
- airline pilot
- articled clerk of a limited company
- assurance agent of a recognised company
- bank or building society official
- barrister
- chairman or director of a limited company
- chiropodist
- commissioner for oaths
- councillor, for example, local or county
- civil servant (permanent)
- dentist
- director, manager or personnel officer of a VAT-registered company
- engineer with professional qualifications
- financial services intermediary, for example, a stockbroker or insurance broker
- fire service official
- funeral director
- insurance agent (full-time) of a recognised company
- journalist
- Justice of the Peace
- legal secretary (fellow or associate member of the Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs)
- licensee of a public house
- local government officer
- manager or personnel officer of a limited company
- member, associate or fellow of a professional body
- Member of Parliament
- Merchant Navy officer
- minister of a recognised religion (including Christian Science)
- nurse (RGN or RMN)
- officer of the armed services
- optician
- paralegal (certified paralegal, qualified paralegal or associate member of the Institute of Paralegals)
- A person with honours, for example, an OBE or MBE
- pharmacist
- photographer (professional)
- police officer
- Post Office official
- president or secretary of a recognised organisation
- Salvation Army officer
- social worker
- solicitor
- surveyor
- teacher or lecturer
- trade union officer
- travel agent (qualified)
- valuer or auctioneer (fellow or associate members of the incorporated society)
- Warrant Officers and Chief Petty Officers
