United Kingdom: Stricter Good Character Citizenship Requirements

Effective July 31, 2023, the United Kingdom has made stricter its 'good character' rules for citizenship applications of individuals who have received prison sentences of at least 12 months. Previously, some applicants could receive British citizenship after a certain number of years passed since the end of their sentence, regardless of the nature of the crime they committed. The new laws now also include assessing whether an individual has observed UK laws, has respected the rights and freedoms of British citizens, has breached any immigration laws, has any criminal convictions, or has been involved in war crimes, terrorism, or genocide. Affected applicants may still seek an exceptional grant of citizenship on a case-by-case basis.