If you are on a UK work visa and want to become a UK citizen, then there are ways you can obtain it. However, some steps are involved, and it is important to understand them before starting your application. To be eligible to apply for a British passport, you first need to file for British citizenship.

How can people on a work visa in the UK get a British passport?

You can apply for a British passport by post or online. The application fee is £1,330 and takes up to six months before being processed.

You need to show that you have been living continuously in the UK for five years and have completed an English language test and a Life in the UK visa test.

You must also prove that your leave has been validly applied for (for example, if it was issued on time). 

Otherwise, this could result in your application being rejected by immigration control officers when they check whether it was correctly completed before coming into force.

The following are the steps to apply for British Citizenship and the British Passport henceforth. 

The standard route is to go through five years of continuous residence, which allows people to apply for citizenship and a British passport. 

This requires you to have been living in the UK for five years and cannot be interrupted by more than 450 days away from the country. You will also need to take an English test and a Life in the UK test before applying for your passport.

• First, you must live in the country with a UK work visa for five years or more.
• Then you can apply for a British passport after five years of living in the UK. You will need to show that you have been living there continuously and have indefinite leave to remain in the country. 

The tests are designed so people applying from outside Europe should pass them easily. Still, if your circumstances change during this period, for example, if your partner gets married and moves back to their home country, you might find it harder than expected.

• You must also pass an English language test and complete a Life in the UK test. These tests are not compulsory, but they can be helpful if used as proof of language skills when applying for British citizenship or indefinite leave to remain as a worker or student on a skilled worker visa.

The Home Office will look at the following factors:

• Your employment history, including any gaps between jobs, job title and salary
• Any intelligence about your job opportunities or skills
• Whether other people are working for you (for example if you are self-employed)

You must pass an English language test and complete a Life in the UK test. Both tests cost about £50 each. You can take both tests online or at an approved centre. If you are over 65, you do not have to take either of these two tests.

You can apply online, but it will cost £1,330 per application. With the online service, you will get a decision within eight weeks. 

If you send in your visa application by post, it costs £1,282 and will take up to six months for your application to be processed.

You have to live in the UK with a work visa for five years or more, after which point it becomes permanent residence status (PR). 

After five years of continuous residence in the UK and meeting certain criteria set out by Immigration Rules 2010 section 1(4) as amended by Immigration Act 2014 Schedule 2 Part 1 paragraph 5(a) you can become a permanent resident. 

You must apply for naturalisation if not already British citizens or British subjects living overseas who have been resident continuously since before leaving the home country at least 12 months immediately preceding applying without interruption including time spent on leave without entry permit during a journey abroad.

Applying for British Passport

Once you have attained British citizenship, you can apply for a British passport anytime! You can apply for a British passport either online or through the post. 

You can collect a passport application form from any local British post office or through the official online portal of the government of the UK. 

You might also be asked to give an interview with the IPS (Identity & Passport Service) if you are above 16 years and are applying for a British passport. 

After filing the application form, you should expect a response within 6 to 8 weeks. There are a few fast-track services available as well. 

However, these are only applicable if you want to get your passport renewed or replaced. These services are not applicable to new passport applications. The cost of applying for a British Passport is as follows:

• First British adult passport (16 years and above – 34 pages)– It will cost you £72 for a First British adult passport if applied online and £85 if applied through courier/paper form.
• First British adult passport (16 years and above – 50 pages) – It will cost you £85.50 if applied online and £95 through courier/paper form.
• Child passport (under 16 years – 34 pages) – It will cost you £49 online and £58.50 for a paper form.
• Child passport (under 16 years – 50 pages) will cost you £59 online and £68.50 for paper form.
• Amendments, Renewals, and Replacements – Each of them will cost you £72 as well.

Even if you have attained UK citizenship, it is now always guaranteed that you will be granted a British Passport. Your passport may be rejected due to reasons such as pending court orders, etc. another point to keep in mind is that a British passport is the property of the UK government and can be withheld or cancelled if and whenever needed.

Hire Professional UK work visa consultants

To start your UK journey, it is wise to hire a professional UK work visa consultant to proceed with the application of your work permit. 

If you are thinking of moving to the UK on a work permit then you should start thinking about getting a British passport in the long term. 

Having a UK work permit makes you eligible for citizenship and gives you access to other benefits such as healthcare, social security benefits and even free travel.