Responsibilities, citizenship and the test

Obeying the law

Respecting and obeying the law is one of the basic responsibilities expected of everyone living in the UK, whether they are a citizen, a permanent resident or a visitor on a visa. This responsibility sits alongside the fundamental principle of the rule of law, which means that everyone, including those in power, is subject to the same laws and no one is above them. New citizens formally commit to this at their citizenship ceremony, where they pledge: "I will observe its laws faithfully and fulfil my duties and obligations as a British citizen."

Respecting the rights of others

Anyone seeking to become a permanent resident or citizen is expected to respect the rights of other people, including their right to hold their own opinions, even where those opinions differ from your own. This expectation reflects the wider British principle of tolerance towards people of different faiths, beliefs and backgrounds, and it works alongside individual liberty, the idea that people should be free to live their lives and make their own choices within the law. In return for meeting this responsibility, the UK guarantees a set of freedoms to everyone living there, including freedom of belief and religion, freedom of speech, and freedom from unfair discrimination.

Treating others fairly

Treating other people with fairness is listed as one of the core expectations of anyone who wants to settle permanently in the UK, alongside looking after yourself and your family and looking after the local area and environment. Fairness is closely linked to the right to a fair trial, one of the freedoms the UK offers in return, and to the wider principle that the law should apply equally and be applied without prejudice. These values are not left to individual interpretation: new citizens publicly commit to them at their citizenship ceremony, pledging to give their loyalty to the United Kingdom and to uphold its democratic values.

Looking after yourself and your family

One of the responsibilities that comes with permanent residence or citizenship is looking after yourself and your family. If you wish to be a permanent resident or citizen of the UK, you should respect and obey the law, respect the rights of others, including their right to their own opinions, treat others with fairness, look after yourself and your family and look after the area in which you live and the environment. This sits alongside the other duties expected of anyone settled in the UK, and it reflects a wider principle that being part of British society means taking practical responsibility for your own household rather than relying solely on others.

This expectation works together with the rights that the UK guarantees in return, including freedom of belief and religion, freedom of speech, freedom from unfair discrimination, a right to a fair trial and a right to join in the election of a government. The balance is deliberate: residents accept certain duties, and the state guarantees certain freedoms and protections in exchange.

Looking after the environment

Caring for the local area and the natural environment is listed among the core responsibilities of anyone settled in the UK. If you wish to be a permanent resident or citizen of the UK, you should look after the area in which you live and the environment. This responsibility sits alongside obeying the law, respecting others and treating people fairly, and it is treated as an ordinary, everyday duty rather than an optional extra.

In practice, this means taking care of your immediate surroundings, such as keeping shared spaces clean and avoiding damage to public property or green spaces, as part of contributing positively to community life.

Paying taxes

Paying taxes is one of the practical duties expected of everyone living in the UK, alongside obeying the law and respecting the rights of others. It funds public services such as healthcare, education, roads and welfare support, and it is treated by the test as a normal and valued part of contributing to national life rather than a burden to be resented.

Taxation connects directly to the other responsibilities set out for residents: just as people are expected to obey the law and treat others fairly, they are expected to meet their financial obligations to the state. This is presented as part of what it means to be a good citizen who contributes fully to society rather than only claiming its benefits.

Jury service: a civic duty for anyone on the electoral register

Jury service is one of the most important civic duties in the UK. A jury is a group of ordinary members of the public who listen to evidence in a criminal trial and decide whether the accused person is guilty or not guilty. Being available for jury service, if called, is a duty for people living in the UK, not only for British citizens.

Eligibility does not depend on nationality alone. Under the Juries Act 1974, a person must be registered as a parliamentary or local government elector, aged between 18 and 75, and must have been ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for at least five years since the age of 13. Anyone who meets these conditions and is not disqualified, for example by certain serious criminal convictions, can be summoned. This means British, Irish, Commonwealth and EU citizens who are on the electoral register can all be called for jury service, whether or not they hold British citizenship.

Names are chosen at random from the electoral register, so nobody can volunteer for jury service or choose which case to sit on. Once summoned, attending is a legal obligation, and ignoring a summons without a valid reason is a criminal offence. Anyone who genuinely cannot attend on the dates given can ask to defer their service to a later date or, in exceptional circumstances, ask to be excused.

Volunteering and taking part in community life

Participation in community life is one of the fundamental principles of British life, alongside democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. Taking part in the life of your local community is seen as part of being a good citizen and helps people integrate into society. Those seeking to become permanent residents or citizens are expected to look after the area in which they live and to play a full role in their local community.

Volunteering is one of the clearest ways to take part in community life. It can include helping at a local school, charity, hospital, community centre or place of worship, taking part in local campaigns or events, or simply supporting neighbours and local causes. Getting involved in this way is regarded as a positive contribution to society and is one of the qualities the UK values in those applying for permanent residence or citizenship.

Becoming a permanent resident or British citizen

Applying to become a permanent resident or citizen of the UK is an important decision, since it involves accepting the responsibilities that come with permanent residence and agreeing to respect the laws, values and traditions of the UK. To apply, a person generally needs to show that they can speak and read English and that they have a good understanding of life in the UK.

There are two main routes to meeting these requirements. The first is to take the Life in the UK test. The test questions are written at a level equivalent to English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Entry Level 3, so passing the test also demonstrates the required standard of English, meaning no separate English test is needed for people who already read and understand English at that level. The second route is to take an ESOL course in English combined with citizenship materials; this is for people whose English is below Entry Level 3, and the course itself ends with a test.

Requirements have changed over time and can change again, so applicants should always check the current rules before applying. From October 2013, the requirement for settlement or permanent residence became a pass in the Life in the UK test together with separate acceptable evidence of speaking and listening skills in English at level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference, a level equivalent to ESOL Entry Level 3. The requirements for citizenship applications may differ and may also change, so current details should always be checked on GOV.UK rather than assumed from past editions of this guidance.

Once the knowledge and language requirements have been met, an application for permanent residence or British citizenship can be submitted, using the form appropriate to personal circumstances and accompanied by the required evidence and fee. The Life in the UK test itself consists of 24 questions covering the whole of the official handbook, and each candidate at a test session receives a different set of questions. The test is usually taken in English, though special arrangements can be made for Welsh or Scottish Gaelic. It must be booked online and taken only at a registered, approved test centre; identification and proof of address are required on the day, and different arrangements apply for people living on the Isle of Man or in the Channel Islands.

Becoming a British citizen

Applying to become a permanent resident or a British citizen is a significant step. It means agreeing to accept the responsibilities that go with settlement or citizenship and to respect the laws, values and traditions of the UK. The Life in the UK Test forms part of demonstrating this readiness, alongside meeting the English language requirement.

The application forms, evidence required and fees vary according to personal circumstances, such as whether someone is applying for indefinite leave to remain (settlement) or for naturalisation as a British citizen. Both routes fall under what is known as the Knowledge of Language and Life in the UK (KoLL) requirement, which combines a language qualification with the Life in the UK Test. Full details of current forms and fees are published on GOV.UK, and applicants should always check the latest requirements before applying, since immigration rules are updated from time to time.

Knowledge of language and life requirements

Most people applying for settlement or British citizenship must show two things: that they can speak and understand English, and that they have a good understanding of life in the UK.

For the language element, applicants generally need to provide acceptable evidence of speaking and listening skills in English at B1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference. This is normally demonstrated through an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) covering speaking and listening only, rather than a four-skills exam, unless a particular immigration route sets a different requirement. People who are exempt from this requirement include those under 18 or aged 65 and over, and those with a long-term physical or mental condition that prevents them from meeting it.

For the knowledge of life element, applicants take the Life in the UK Test, which consists of 24 questions covering British values, history, traditions and everyday life, drawn from the official handbook. A pass mark of 75 per cent, meaning at least 18 correct answers, is required. The test can only be booked online and taken at a registered test centre; certificates from any other establishment are not accepted. It is usually taken in English, though special arrangements can be made for Welsh or Scottish Gaelic, and different booking arrangements apply for people living on the Isle of Man or in the Channel Islands.

Anyone who has already passed the Life in the UK Test for a settlement application does not normally need to take it again when later applying for citizenship. Applicants should check current guidance on GOV.UK before applying, since the specific rules on language tests and settlement routes are reviewed periodically.

The citizenship ceremony

Anyone aged 18 or over who has successfully applied to become a British citizen must attend a citizenship ceremony, usually within three months of receiving their invitation from the Home Office. Local authorities organise these ceremonies, which are usually held in groups, though a private ceremony can be requested. Attendees may usually bring two guests.

At the ceremony, each new citizen makes either an oath or an affirmation of allegiance to the King, followed by a pledge to the United Kingdom. Those who wish to swear a religious oath say words that include swearing by Almighty God to be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles the Third, His Heirs and Successors, according to law. Those who prefer a non-religious option make an affirmation instead, replacing the reference to God with a solemn declaration; both forms carry exactly the same legal effect.

After the oath or affirmation, everyone present says the same citizenship pledge together: I will give my loyalty to the United Kingdom and respect its rights and freedoms. I will uphold its democratic values. I will observe its laws faithfully and fulfil my duties and obligations as a British citizen. This promises respect for the rights, freedoms and laws of the UK.

The ceremony typically includes a welcome from a local civic figure, such as a mayor, the oath or affirmation and pledge, and the national anthem. At the end, each new citizen receives their certificate of British citizenship and a welcome pack. The requirement to hold a citizenship ceremony comes from the British Nationality Act 1981 as amended by the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.

Swearing loyalty to the Crown

Anyone aged 18 or over who becomes a British citizen, whether by naturalisation or registration, must make a formal declaration of allegiance to the Crown at a citizenship ceremony. This is a legal requirement, and without it the process cannot be completed and no certificate can be issued.

There are two versions, and the choice is entirely up to the applicant. The oath of allegiance is the religious version, sworn by Almighty God: "I, [name], swear by Almighty God that, on becoming a British citizen, I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles the Third, His Heirs and Successors according to law." Someone who prefers a non-religious declaration instead makes the affirmation of allegiance, which uses the same promise but begins "I, [name], do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm" rather than swearing by God. Both versions carry exactly the same legal weight.

People taking the religious oath may hold a holy book of their own faith if they wish, and ceremony venues typically keep copies of texts such as the Bible, the Quran, the Torah, the Bhagavad Gita and the Guru Granth Sahib available for this purpose.

The pledge that follows the oath

Alongside the oath or affirmation, every new citizen also makes a pledge at the ceremony. Where the oath or affirmation is about allegiance to the Crown, the pledge is about the citizen's own commitment to the country and its values.

The wording of the pledge is: "I will give my loyalty to the United Kingdom and respect its rights and freedoms. I will uphold its democratic values. I will observe its laws faithfully and fulfil my duties and obligations as a British citizen."

Together, the oath (or affirmation) and pledge sum up what becoming British involves: loyalty to the Crown, and a personal promise to respect the country's rights, freedoms, democratic values and laws. At the end of the ceremony the new citizen receives a certificate of British citizenship and a welcome pack.

Why the test exists and what it checks

The Life in the UK test exists to help show that someone applying for permanent residence, known as indefinite leave to remain, or for British citizenship, has a good understanding of life in the UK and can read and understand English to the required standard. Passing it is one part of demonstrating readiness to settle permanently in the country and to play a full part in community life.

The test consists of 24 multiple-choice questions, and candidates have 45 minutes to complete it. The questions are drawn from the whole of the official handbook, so preparation needs to cover every chapter rather than a few highlights. Each test session draws a different set of 24 questions from a larger question bank, so no two candidates sitting at the same time necessarily face the same paper.

The pass mark is 75 per cent, meaning at least 18 of the 24 questions must be answered correctly. The test is usually taken in English, though special arrangements can be made for Welsh or Scottish Gaelic. It must be booked and taken at a registered, approved test centre; certificates from anywhere else are not accepted. Candidates need to bring identification and proof of address, and without these they cannot sit the test.

Passing the test does not by itself satisfy the separate English language requirement for settlement or citizenship. Knowledge of the UK and knowledge of English are assessed independently, and an applicant generally needs to meet both before a qualifying application can succeed.

How the test is structured

The Life in the UK test is a computer-based exam taken at an approved test centre. It consists of 24 questions covering topics from across the official handbook, and no two candidates sitting at the same session receive an identical set of questions. Most questions ask you to choose one correct answer from four options, though some ask you to select two correct answers, and these will say so clearly in the question text.

Questions are multiple choice and drawn from a large question bank, so the exact mix of topics varies from person to person. You must book your test online in advance and take it at a registered test centre, bringing identification and proof of address, since a test taken anywhere else will not be accepted for an application.

The pass mark and time limit

You have 45 minutes to complete the 24 questions, which works out at just under two minutes per question. Most candidates finish well before the time runs out.

The pass mark is 18 out of 24 correct answers, which is 75 per cent. There is no partial credit and no negative marking, so it is always worth choosing an answer rather than leaving a question blank. Your result appears on screen immediately after you submit, and if you pass you receive a reference number that you use as evidence when you make your application for settlement or citizenship.

Who is exempt from taking the test

Not everyone applying for settlement or citizenship has to sit the Life in the UK test. Applicants who are under 18, or who are aged 65 or over at the time they submit their application, are exempt from both the test and the related English language requirement. Age is judged at the date of application rather than the date of any earlier test.

People with a long-term physical or mental condition that genuinely prevents them from taking or preparing for the test may also be exempt, though this usually requires supporting medical evidence confirming the condition and its impact. A short-term illness does not qualify; someone who falls ill close to their test date would normally reschedule rather than seek exemption.

Anyone who has already passed the Life in the UK test for an earlier successful application, such as for indefinite leave to remain, does not need to sit it again when later applying for citizenship, since a pass does not expire.