The United Kingdom granted British citizenship to 245,520 people in the year ending June 2026, according to the latest Home Office figures. Although this was 4% lower than the previous year’s record level, the number remained among the highest recorded since comparable statistics began in 2005.
Indian nationals received the largest number of grants, followed by Pakistani nationals. Italians were the leading group among European Union citizens. The statistics cover the 12 months from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026.
UK Citizenship Grants at a Glance
| Category | Grants in year ending June 2026 | Annual change |
| Total British citizenship grants | 245,520 | Down 4% |
| Citizenship through naturalisation | 171,435 | Down 7% |
| Citizenship through registration | 74,085 | Up 1% |
Naturalisation accounted for almost seven in every ten citizenship grants, while registration represented roughly three in ten.
The figures by Home Office show a small retreat from the previous year’s peak, but not a return to the lower levels seen before 2020. British citizenship grants remain historically high.
Naturalisation Remains the Main Route
A total of 171,435 adults acquired British citizenship through naturalisation during the latest reporting year. This was a 7% decrease compared with the year ending June 2025.
Despite that fall, the number was still more than 45% above the average annual total recorded between 2010 and 2019.
Naturalisation is the usual route for non-British adults who have lived lawfully in the country for the required period and obtained indefinite leave to remain. People holding settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme may also use this route once they meet the relevant citizenship conditions.
The Home Office said the longer-term rise partly reflects the number of people who first secured permanent status and later became eligible to apply for citizenship.
Registration Grants Remain Stable
The UK also issued 74,085 citizenship grants through registration, an increase of 1% over the previous year.
Registration is different from naturalisation. It is commonly used by children and by people who already have a qualifying legal, family or territorial connection with Britain or a British overseas territory.
In some cases, registration is based on a legal entitlement. In others, the Home Office may consider an application under its discretionary powers.
Indians and Pakistanis Receive the Most Grants
Indian and Pakistani nationals continued to form the two largest groups becoming British citizens.
| Previous nationality | British citizenship grants |
| Indian | 24,851 |
| Pakistani | 18,489 |
| Italian | 12,698 |
| Romanian | 8,285 |
| Polish | 8,092 |
Indian nationals received 24,851 grants, while Pakistani nationals received 18,489. Both groups have regularly appeared at the top of the citizenship figures since the current data series began in 2005.
Most grants to these two groups were made through naturalisation, although some involved the registration of existing citizenship rights.
For Indian nationals, the figures reflect long-established migration through employment and other work-related routes. Many people first obtained settlement after living and working in Britain before applying for citizenship.
The Pakistani total reflects a broader mixture of work and family migration. In both communities, the latest numbers represent people who had already completed earlier stages of the immigration and settlement process.
Italians Lead Citizenship Grants Among EU Nationals
Italian nationals were the largest EU group granted British citizenship, with 12,698 successful cases.
They were followed by Romanian nationals with 8,285 grants and Polish nationals with 8,092.
This pattern is closely linked to the EU Settlement Scheme. Italian, Romanian and Polish citizens have been among the largest groups receiving settled status since the scheme opened in 2018. For many, that permanent status later provided a route towards naturalisation.
The figures suggest that the effects of Brexit and the EU Settlement Scheme are still working their way through Britain’s citizenship system. Settled status does not automatically make someone British, but it can provide the permanent immigration position needed before an eligible person applies.
What British Citizenship Provides
British citizenship marks the final legal stage of the immigration journey for many long-term residents.
A British citizen may live and work in the country without immigration restrictions, apply for a British passport and register to vote in all UK elections and referendums. The UK also permits dual citizenship, although applicants should check whether their country of origin allows them to retain their previous nationality.
Citizenship should not be confused with indefinite leave to remain or EU settled status. Those forms of permanent residence allow a person to remain in the UK, but they do not provide every right attached to British nationality.
Why the Latest Figures Matter
The modest annual decrease may attract attention, but the wider picture is more significant. Citizenship grants remain close to record levels and far above the averages seen during the decade before 2020.
This is largely the result of migration that took place years earlier. A person will normally pass through several stages—temporary permission, permanent status and then citizenship—before becoming British. Today’s citizenship figures therefore offer a delayed view of earlier migration and settlement patterns.
The numbers also show that British citizenship is being acquired through several different routes. Long-term workers, family migrants, EU citizens with settled status, children and people with existing British connections all appear within the same overall total.
A Small Fall, but Historically High Demand
The year ending June 2026 brought a slight fall in British citizenship grants, yet demand remained remarkably strong. More than 245,000 people completed the citizenship process, confirming that naturalisation continues to be an important goal for many settled residents.
Indian and Pakistani nationals remained the largest groups, while Italians led among EU citizens. Behind every total is a long process involving residence, settlement, eligibility checks and a final decision by the Home Office.
The latest figures do not point to a collapse in citizenship grants. Instead, they show a system coming down only slightly from a record high while remaining well above its historic norm.