The Nationality Checking Service (NCS), is provided in partnership with the Home Office Immigration and Nationality Directorate.
If you are applying for British citizenship we will:
- Check that your application has been completed correctly
- Ensure that you submit all the required documents such as passports, certificates and proof of English proficiency
- Certify your supporting documents
- Send your application(s) to the Home Office by special delivery post
The NCS is not a fast-track application service, but applications which have been completed properly do tend to be dealt with more quickly. Information regarding waiting times for your application to be processed are available on the Home Office website.
We will photocopy your documents so you can keep your original documents such as your passport. However you must provide us with original documents. If you do not have a passport or travel document you may be able to supply other original documents. We will be able to advise you on this.
Applying for British citizenship
You will need to satisfy the following criteria
- Residential qualification - you will need to have resided in this country for 5 years as a single applicant, or, for 3 years if you are the spouse or civil partner of a British citizen. In this case you must have been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain or Enter by the time that you make your application. If you are applying under the 5 year rule you must have held Indefinite Leave to Remain or Enter for at least 12 months. The ILR stamp should be in your passport, travel document, or on a letter from the Home Office.
- Knowledge of Life in the UK - you must have passed the Life in the UK test or hold an ESOL qualification in speaking and listening with a citizenship element from an approved college accredited by the Home Office.
For more information on the Life in the UK test log onto the website (see external links) or telephone 0800 015 4245. For more information on English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Citizenship classes contact the Learn Direct Helpline on 0800 100 900 or the learndirect website (see external links).
Accessing the service
The checking service is only available by appointment. We aim to offer you an appointment within 10 working days. Applicants who are over 18 must attend in person. To book your appointment please contact us on 0113 222 4408.
All appointments for the Nationality Checking Service are at: -
The Register Office
City Centre One Stop
2 Great George Street
Leeds
LS2 8BA
Citizenship application form
This is available to download from the home office website (see external links).
You can also contact the Home Office in writing for the form: -
The Home Office IND
Managed Migration
Immigration and Nationality Directorate
PO Box 306
Liverpool L2 0QN
Fees
We will charge you a fee of
- £70 per adult application
- £30 per child application
(All fees include VAT)
Please note that these fees are in addition to the normal fee you must pay to the Home Office for processing your application for nationality.
You will need to pay the full amount, in advance, when making your appointment. Appointments can only be changed once and must be over two working days before the appointment date. We cannot make appointments without the fee and we cannot refund the fee if you do not attend your appointment.
Home Office fees may be paid by card, transcash or cheque (made payable to The Accounting Officer, Home Office). We cannot send cash to the Home Office.
Compliments and complaints
If you have a compliment, comment or complaint about the service, please let us know. We will give you a customer satisfaction form to complete when you arrive for your appointment or if we are unable to send your application for process by the Home Office.
If you are not happy with the service provided, you can tell a member of staff immediately. It is always nice to know we are doing well and, if we are not, simple mistakes or misunderstandings can often be sorted out straightaway.
You can also tell the service manager, Mr Steve Coupe, or the council feedback team by completing a Leeds City Council Complaints form, which you can pick up from reception or by telephoning 0845 129 0113 or by writing to
Freepost RLZR-ELTX-RUEH
Leeds City Council
PO BOX 657
LS1 9BS
If you are still not happy with our response you can complain directly to the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner.
Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner
Complaints section
5th Floor
Counting House
53 Tooley Street
London SE1 2QN Telephone: 020 7211 1500
Fax: 020 7211 1533
Other information and Home Office contacts
We are not able to give you advice about nationality. We can only check that you have the correct paperwork and that your application has been completed properly. We cannot give immigration advice or act for you after you have made your application. For this kind of information or if you have any queries regarding your eligibility to apply for British Citizenship, you should consult your legal advisors or contact the Home Office directly on 0845 010 5200 or visit the OISC website (see external links) to find a local advisor.
The Nationality Checking Service at Leeds Register Office is registered with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner to provide this service.
Life in the UK test
When applying for British citizenship you need to show that you know about life in the UK. You can do this either by taking the Life in the UK test or by taking combined English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Citizenship classes. You can find more information on preparing for and booking the Life in the UK test by visiting their website (see external links). A book entitled “Life in the United Kingdom: A Journey to Citizenship” provides guidance on taking the test. This can be purchased from bookshops or from the Stationery Office website.
If you only want information about language courses or to find out where your nearest college is, contact the learndirect helpline on 0800 100 900 or the learndirect website.
