Referee

Please complete and submit this form. The information you provide will be used solely for the purpose of supporting the applicant’s registration or naturalisation application. If you are unsure how to answer any question or require further guidance, please refer to the information provided below before submitting the form.

British Citizenship Referee Requirements: Who Can Act as a Referee?

If you are applying for British citizenship by naturalisation or registration, you will usually need two referees. This is one of the most common areas where applicants make avoidable mistakes. A referee who does not meet the Home Office requirements can delay the application and may lead to a request for replacement declarations.

This guide explains who can act as a referee for a British citizenship application, who cannot act as a referee, what the declarations are for, and how to reduce the risk of problems before the application is submitted.

The official GOV.UK starting point for British citizenship applications is available here: British citizenship on GOV.UK.

Need help with a British citizenship or nationality application? You can book a legal consultation here: book an appointment.

What Is a Referee in a British Citizenship Application?

A referee is an independent person who confirms your identity as part of your British citizenship application. The referee declaration helps the Home Office check that you are the person named in the application and that your photograph is a true likeness of you.

The referee requirement is not a character reference in the ordinary sense. A referee is not simply saying that you are a good person. The referee is confirming identity and suitability matters required by the nationality process.

Why Does the Home Office Ask for Referees?

The Home Office uses referees to support identity verification and protect the integrity of British nationality applications. The referee declaration is intended to confirm that:

the referee knows you personally;
the referee can identify you from the photograph;
the referee is independent from you and from the application;
the referee meets the required nationality or professional criteria;
the information provided in the declaration is true.

Because the declaration has legal significance, referees should read it carefully before signing. Applicants should not treat the referee stage as a minor formality.

How Many Referees Do You Need?

Most British citizenship applications require two referees.

For most adult nationality applications, the general position is:

one referee can be of any nationality but must be a professional person; and
the other referee must usually be the holder of a British citizen passport and must be either a professional person or over the age of 25.

The exact requirements may depend on the type of nationality application being made. Applicants should always check the current Home Office guidance for the specific application route.

Who Can Act as a Referee for British Citizenship?

For most adult applications, a referee should normally:

be aged 18 or over;
have known the applicant personally for at least three years;
be able to identify the applicant from the photograph;
not be related to the applicant;
not be related to the other referee;
not be acting as the applicant’s solicitor, adviser or representative in the application;
not be employed by the Home Office;
meet the professional or nationality requirements applicable to that referee role.

The Home Office expects personal knowledge. A person who only knows you through social media, brief contact, casual online communication or a purely remote connection may not be suitable.

Who Counts as a Professional Referee?

One referee will usually need to be a professional person. Examples of professional persons may include:

solicitor;
barrister;
chartered accountant;
teacher;
doctor;
dentist;
pharmacist;
engineer;
civil servant;
police officer;
minister of religion;
member of a recognised professional body.

This list is not exhaustive. The important point is that the person should fall within an accepted professional category and be able to provide an independent declaration. A solicitor or adviser who is representing you in the citizenship application should not act as your referee.

Does the Professional Referee Have to Be British?

Not necessarily. In many nationality applications, the professional referee can be of any nationality, provided they meet the professional requirement and are otherwise suitable.

However, the other referee will usually need to be a British citizen passport holder who is either a professional person or over 25. Applicants should check the current requirements for their specific application before relying on a non-British referee.

Who Cannot Act as a Referee?

A person will usually be unsuitable as a referee if they are:

your spouse, civil partner, partner, parent, child, sibling or other close relative;
related to the other referee;
your legal representative or immigration adviser in the application;
employed by the Home Office;
unable to confirm your identity;
someone who has not known you personally for the required period;
someone who does not meet the relevant professional or nationality requirement.

If there is doubt about whether a person is suitable, it is usually safer to choose a different referee before the application is submitted.

Can a Family Member Be a Referee?

No. A family member should not normally act as a referee in a British citizenship application.

This includes a spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, parent, child, sibling and other close relatives. The Home Office expects the referee to be independent. Using a family member may result in the referee being rejected and a replacement referee being requested.

Can a Friend Be a Referee?

A friend may be able to act as a referee, but only if they meet all the relevant requirements. A friend is not automatically acceptable simply because they know you well.

For example, if your friend is acting as the professional referee, they must satisfy the professional requirement. If your friend is acting as the British referee, they must usually hold a British citizen passport and be either a professional person or over 25.

Can Your Solicitor or Immigration Adviser Be a Referee?

Your solicitor, immigration adviser or legal representative should not act as your referee if they are representing you in the citizenship application.

This is a common mistake. A solicitor may be a professional person generally, but if they are acting for you in the application, they are not independent for referee purposes.

How Long Must a Referee Have Known You?

For most adult nationality applications, referees should have known the applicant personally for at least three years.

This means real personal knowledge. A referee who only recently met you, or who knows you only in a limited or indirect way, may not be suitable. If the Home Office has concerns, it may ask for further information or replacement referee details.

What Are the Referee Rules for Children?

Different considerations can apply to applications made for children. In child registration applications, the Home Office will usually expect referees who can confirm the child’s identity and circumstances.

Where possible, one referee should normally be a professional who has engaged with the child in a professional capacity, such as a teacher, health visitor, doctor, social worker or similar professional. The other referee must meet the applicable nationality and suitability requirements.

Parents should check the current guidance for the specific child registration route before selecting referees.

What Does the Referee Declaration Confirm?

The referee declaration normally confirms that:

the referee has known the applicant personally for the required period;
the photograph is a true likeness of the applicant;
the referee is not disqualified from acting as a referee;
the referee understands the declaration they are making;
the information given is true and accurate.

Referees should not sign a declaration unless they are satisfied that it is correct.

Common British Citizenship Referee Mistakes

Common mistakes include:

using a family member as a referee;
using two referees who are related to each other;
using a legal representative as a referee;
choosing a referee who has not known the applicant for at least three years;
assuming that any friend can act as a referee;
using a referee who does not meet the professional requirement;
using a referee who does not meet the British passport requirement where that requirement applies;
submitting incomplete or incorrectly signed declarations;
using unclear or incorrect personal details;
failing to follow the photograph instructions.

These mistakes may not automatically lead to refusal, but they can cause delay and unnecessary Home Office enquiries.

What Happens If the Home Office Rejects a Referee?

If the Home Office is not satisfied with a referee, it may ask for further information or request a replacement referee. This can delay the application.

A referee issue is not necessarily fatal to the application. However, repeated mistakes, unclear declarations or concerns about the reliability of information may create wider problems. It is better to identify unsuitable referees before submission rather than waiting for the Home Office to raise concerns.

Can a Referee Live Outside the UK?

In some cases, a referee may live outside the UK, but they must still meet the relevant requirements. If an applicant lives overseas and cannot provide a British citizen passport holder referee, the Home Office guidance may allow alternative arrangements in limited circumstances, depending on the application route and the person dealing with the application.

This is an area where applicants should be cautious. Do not assume that an overseas referee will be accepted unless the current guidance supports that approach.

How to Choose Strong Referees

A strong referee is someone who:

clearly meets the Home Office requirements;
has known you personally for at least three years;
is independent from you and from the other referee;
can be contacted if necessary;
understands the seriousness of the declaration;
can complete the declaration accurately.

Applicants should speak to proposed referees before including their details. A referee who is unwilling, unsure, difficult to contact or unclear about the declaration may not be the best choice.

How Legal Advice Can Help

Legal advice can help by checking whether the proposed referees meet the current requirements, whether the correct declarations are being used, and whether the wider citizenship application is properly prepared.

This is particularly important where the application involves previous immigration problems, absences from the UK, criminal matters, tax issues, good character concerns, complex residence history or uncertainty about the correct nationality route.

To discuss a British citizenship or nationality application, you can book a legal consultation here: book an appointment.

Practical Checklist Before Submitting the Referee Declarations

Check that two referees are required for your application.
Confirm that one referee meets the professional person requirement.
Confirm that the British referee holds a British citizen passport where required.
Check that each referee has known you personally for at least three years.
Confirm that neither referee is related to you.
Confirm that the referees are not related to each other.
Do not use your legal representative as a referee.
Use the correct declaration form or online process.
Check names, dates, signatures and photograph requirements carefully.
Keep copies of what has been submitted.

Frequently Asked Questions About British Citizenship Referees

Can my spouse act as a referee for British citizenship?

No. A spouse, civil partner or partner should not normally act as your referee. The Home Office expects referees to be independent.

Can a family member be my referee?

No. Close relatives are generally not suitable referees for British citizenship applications.

Can my solicitor act as my referee?

Not if they are representing you in the citizenship application. A legal representative involved in the application should not act as a referee.

Can a friend be my referee?

Yes, but only if the friend meets all relevant Home Office requirements, including any professional, British passport, age and independence requirements.

How long must my referee have known me?

For most adult nationality applications, each referee should have known you personally for at least three years.

What happens if the Home Office does not accept my referee?

The Home Office may ask for further information or request a replacement referee. This can delay the application.

Do referees guarantee that my British citizenship application will be approved?

No. Referees help confirm identity. They do not guarantee approval. The Home Office will still assess all relevant nationality requirements, including residence, good character and eligibility under the applicable route.

Disclaimer

This page provides general information about referee requirements in British citizenship and nationality applications. It is not legal advice on your individual circumstances. British nationality law, Home Office guidance and application procedures can change. Applicants should check the latest official guidance and obtain legal advice where their circumstances are complex.

Last legally reviewed: 17 June 2026 14:07 London
By: Adam Sierant