Process

Naturalisation is the customary method by which adults apply for citizenship and is at the discretion of the Lieutenant Governor based on statutory criteria such as residence, language, knowledge of life in the UK and Islands and good character.

Registration is a similar process but mainly for minors and persons who already hold a British nationality other than British citizenship. In some cases there is an entitlement to register.

This diagram is intended as a guide to visually illustrate the process for ease:

pointing down arrow to next step to next step  An application is made to the IOM Nationality Office

pointing down arrow to next step  An applicant is invited to attend the IOM Nationality Office to provide their   Biometric data which is sent to the Home Office

pointing down arrow to next step  The Home Office conduct the applicant background and security checks

pointing down arrow to next step  The IOM Nationality Office conduct the applicant good character checks

pointing down arrow to next step  A decision is made by the Lieutenant Governor

  • Successful applications - a Citizenship certificate is signed by the Lieutenant Governor which is validated by the Home Office and signed on behalf of the Secretary of State
  • Unsuccessful applications – the IOM Nationality Office will write to the applicant

pointing down arrow to next step  Decision recorded and where appropriate, validated by Home Office and citizenship certificate signed on behalf of the Secretary of State

pointing down arrow to next step  Signed citizenship certificate returned to the IOM Nationality Office

pointing down arrow to next step  Successful applicants will be invited by the IOM Nationality Office to attend a Ceremony

The process of naturalisation as a British citizen is reliant on a number of stages, some of which are carried out by other government departments including the Home Office in the UK.  Most applicants will receive an invitation to attend a ceremony within 12 months of their application being made.

Successful candidates must attend a Citizenship Ceremony where they will be required to swear either an Oath of Allegiance to the Sovereign or if a non-religious option is preferred, they may declare an Affirmation of Allegiance to the Sovereign.

Candidates will also be required to make a Pledge to be loyal and respect rights and freedoms and to uphold the democratic values of the 'United Kingdom'. The British Nationality Act includes, with the consent of the Isle of Man, a legal definition which defines for the purposes of nationality only, the Crown Dependencies.

After candidates have taken the oath or affirmation, taken the pledge and been addressed by the Commissioner for Oaths, the Certificates, to which the newly naturalised or registered British citizen are entitled, will be presented by the Lieutenant-Governor or on his behalf by the Private Secretary to the Lieutenant-Governor.

You may now make an application for a British passport. Application forms can be found on our website.

Applying through the UK

Applicants who are resident in the Isle of Man are required to apply through the Isle of Man Passport, Immigration and Nationality Office. If you apply to the Home Office in the UK your application is likely to be returned to you and you may not get your application fee refunded by the UK Home Office.

Receiving updates

It is not our practice to provide updates on the progress of your application. If additional documents are required, we will write out to you within a month of receiving the application. Otherwise you should expect the first contact to be when we invite you to enrol your biometrics.