Good character is a core requirement for UK citizenship applications, but what it actually means and how it is assessed are not widely understood. Even people who have lived in the UK for many years and led responsible lives often worry that a minor mistake in the past or a complication in their immigration history might cause problems. This article sets out what “good character” means under UK nationality law, why it matters, and which issues tend to be contentious in real-life decision‑making.

The British Nationality Act 1981 requires most adult applicants to be of “good character”, but it does not contain a detailed definition of the term. In practice, it is generally understood to mean that a person has respected the law, complied with their legal obligations, including in relation to tax and immigration, been honest in their dealings with public authorities, and has not behaved in a way that would be regarded as inappropriate for a British citizen.

In day‑to‑day decision‑making this often involves looking at whether there have been any criminal convictions, police cautions, custodial sentences or suspended sentences, whether there has been repeated offending or clearly anti‑social behaviour, whether there have been serious financial issues such as tax fraud or significant unpaid tax, whether the person has entered or remained in the UK unlawfully or worked in breach of immigration conditions, and whether there has been any dishonesty towards the Home Office or other public bodies such as false statements, forged documents or deliberate non‑disclosure of important facts.

Why is a good character so important in UK citizenship applications?

When a person applies to become a British citizen, particularly by adult naturalisation, they will usually need to meet the good character requirement if they are aged 10 or over on the date of application. If the decision‑maker concludes that the requirement is not met, the application can be refused even where all the other conditions – such as residence, English language and the Life in the UK Test – are satisfied.

For adult naturalisation, good character operates in practice as an almost essential condition, and only very limited exceptions are recognised. This makes it crucial to review one’s criminal record, immigration history, financial issues and any past identity or honesty concerns carefully before applying. In some cases, it may be wiser to delay the application until a refusal period has passed, and in others, it may be necessary to submit detailed evidence of remorse, rehabilitation and positive contribution to the community in order to offset past issues.

How does the Home Office define good character?

The Home Office sets out its approach in detailed policy guidance entitled “Nationality: Good Character Requirement”, which explains how caseworkers should assess this area. Under this guidance, criminality covers matters such as convictions in the UK and overseas, police cautions and conditional cautions, and, in some circumstances, court orders and other disposals.

Immigration‑related conduct includes unlawful entry, overstaying after a visa has expired, failing to report or otherwise absconding from immigration control, working in breach of visa conditions, and assisting others to enter or stay in the UK unlawfully.

Deception and dishonesty are also central and can arise where a person hides or downplays past convictions or immigration breaches on a visa or citizenship form, deliberately omits important facts, submits falsified or forged documents, or provides misleading information to the Home Office, HMRC or other authorities about income or financial circumstances, including benefit or tax fraud.

Financial soundness itself is not about ordinary financial difficulty, but focuses on conduct such as deliberate tax evasion, or bankruptcy and company director disqualification that is linked to misconduct. On top of this, activity connected to national security, terrorism, war crimes or extremism, as well as conduct that is notorious or seriously damaging to the reputation of British citizenship, is treated as a significant negative indicator.

The guidance distinguishes between situations where the Secretary of State must normally refuse an application as a matter of policy, and those where refusal is the usual outcome but discretion can be exercised in truly exceptional circumstances. This means that the seriousness of the conduct, how long ago it occurred and what the person has done since then to live a law‑abiding and constructive life can all affect the final outcome.

How is good character assessed in practice?

Good character is not assessed according to the very high “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard used in criminal proceedings. Instead, it is considered on the civil standard known as the balance of probabilities. In simple terms, the decision‑maker asks whether, looking at all the available evidence, it is more likely than not that the applicant is of good character.

In doing so, they will examine the information given in the application form and supporting documents, check the Home Office’s internal records of previous visa and immigration applications, and obtain criminal record information from police and court databases in the UK and, where appropriate, request checks or security information from overseas.

Where there have been criminal matters, a custodial sentence above a certain length will normally result in an automatic or near‑automatic refusal for a set period, even after the sentence is finished. Non‑custodial disposals such as fines, suspended sentences, cautions and conditional cautions do not simply disappear; instead, they may count against the applicant during a defined rehabilitation period.

Decision‑makers will look at whether there was a single, minor incident or a pattern of similar offending over time, with persistent or repeated offending usually treated as substantially more serious than an isolated lapse. At the same time, they can take into account positive indicators, such as a long history of paying tax and maintaining stable employment, involvement in community or voluntary work, and genuine efforts at remorse, reparation and rehabilitation following past misconduct.

Does the good character requirement apply to children applying for citizenship?

The good character requirement normally applies to children and young people who are 10 years of age or over on the date of the citizenship application. However, children and adolescents are at a different stage of development from adults, and do not have the same level of responsibility or maturity. For that reason, the Home Office guidance stresses that decision‑makers must take into account the child’s age, level of maturity, background, and the extent to which they are protected and supported, as well as their overall welfare and best interests.

This is particularly relevant where the immigration history arises from decisions made by adults. For example, where parents or other adults decided to enter the UK unlawfully and brought the child with them, the child had no real choice or control over the method of entry. In such situations, the guidance indicates that the child should not, in principle, be penalised for the unlawful entry when their own citizenship application is considered.

Likewise, where a child has experienced abuse, exploitation or neglect, or has been heavily influenced by peer pressure or mental health difficulties, the context should be carefully examined. The overall expectation is that children and young people are treated more protectively and flexibly than adults, even when looking at similar factual histories.

How does deception or dishonesty affect the good character requirement?

Deception and dishonesty are among the most serious negative factors in the assessment of good character. This can include situations where an applicant knowingly fails to disclose past convictions or immigration breaches on a form, gives answers that they know are false in order to make the application appear stronger, or claims never to have had a criminal record when this is untrue. It also covers the use of forged passports or identity documents, manipulated bank statements or income evidence, and misrepresentations about income, family composition or living arrangements in tax returns or benefit claims designed to obtain an advantage.

When deliberate dishonesty or document fraud is uncovered, it will usually lead to a refusal of a citizenship application for a significant period, the length of which depends on the nature and seriousness of the conduct and how recently it occurred. In the most serious cases, it can effectively undermine the person’s credibility in the long term.

If the person has already obtained indefinite leave to remain and the deception is later discovered, the consequences may go beyond refusal of citizenship and extend to the reliability of the existing status, with the potential in extreme cases for deprivation of leave and removal action. This is why any potential issues of honesty need to be approached very carefully and, wherever possible, addressed transparently with legal advice before an application is made.

How are immigration problems treated in the good character assessment?

In recent years, the Home Office has given increasing weight to an applicant’s immigration history when deciding whether they meet the good character requirement. Common concerns include unlawful entry to the UK, remaining in the country after leave has expired, and other forms of overstaying.

The Home Office also scrutinises breaches of visa conditions, such as a student working more hours than permitted or a visitor engaging in work that is not allowed under their conditions, as well as cases where individuals have deliberately failed to report to the authorities or have gone to ground. Assisting or facilitating someone else’s illegal entry or unlawful stay is also treated as a serious matter.

Following changes to the guidance from February 2025, adults who entered or arrived in the UK illegally can now find that, even if they have since spent many years lawfully in the country and obtained indefinite leave to remain, their citizenship applications are normally refused on good character grounds solely because of that original illegal entry.

There is some room for exceptions, for example, in cases involving victims of trafficking who were compelled to travel, refugees who had no realistic lawful route, or those who came as children under the control of adults. Nonetheless, the overall trend is towards a significantly stricter approach to immigration breaches than in the past, and applicants with any such history need to consider very carefully how and when to apply and what evidence to provide.

Can citizenship still be granted in exceptional cases?

The Secretary of State retains a discretion within the framework of the law and policy, which means that even where the guidance says an application would normally be refused, citizenship can still be granted if the circumstances are truly exceptional. One example might be where there was a single, relatively minor offence many years ago, followed by a long period of exemplary conduct involving steady employment, payment of tax and active contribution to the local community, making it clear that the person has genuinely changed.

Another type of exceptional case arises where refusal of citizenship would have very serious consequences for the rights and family life of the applicant, their partner or their children, particularly where the best interests of minor children are strongly engaged. Situations involving trafficking, coercion or prolonged abuse, where the applicant’s own choices and control were heavily constrained at the time of the offending or immigration breach, can also weigh in favour of discretionary grants. That said, such outcomes remain relatively rare in practice.

For most people, the more realistic approach is to wait until any relevant refusal period has expired, gather strong evidence of rehabilitation and current contribution, and then apply with a carefully prepared explanation of the history and the reasons why they now meet the good character requirement.

If I already have indefinite leave to remain, will citizenship be automatic?

Holding indefinite leave to remain (ILR) or EU settled status does not mean that British citizenship will be granted automatically. The criteria for ILR and for citizenship are different, and the good character test is applied more strictly at the citizenship stage. As a result, a person with ILR can still have their citizenship application refused if, for example, they have past or recent criminal convictions or cautions that they fail to declare, or if the offences are considered too serious in light of the policy guidance.

Similarly, past immigration breaches such as unlawful entry, overstaying or working in breach of conditions can be revisited when assessing a citizenship application, even if they did not prevent the grant of ILR at the time. Where there was deception or use of false documents in earlier visa or ILR applications, and this later comes to light, the impact can be particularly severe: not only is citizenship likely to be refused, but the integrity of the person’s existing status may also be questioned.

A single refusal of citizenship does not automatically cancel ILR, but a pattern of dishonesty or serious criminality revealed later on can, in extreme situations, lead to deprivation of leave or removal. For this reason, it is advisable to review one’s history carefully and, where necessary, obtain professional advice before submitting a citizenship application.

The good character requirement goes far beyond the simple question of whether someone has a criminal record. It looks at the broader pattern of a person’s life, their honesty, and their approach to legal, financial and social responsibilities. With the tightening of guidance around illegal entry and other immigration breaches, people with complex histories or uncertainties about what needs to be disclosed should be particularly cautious about applying without first seeking proper advice. The best strategy will depend heavily on individual circumstances and priorities. For some, delaying an application to reduce the risk of refusal may be the sensible course. For others, applying now with full and clear explanations, supported by robust evidence of rehabilitation and contribution, may be the better option.

If you would like to understand the best way forward in your own situation, please call 020 3865 6219 when you need assistance, or leave a message outlining your enquiry. With the support of an expert adviser, you can minimise the risk of unnecessary refusals and plan a safer and more confident journey towards British citizenship.