Recently, we were successful in obtaining British citizenship for our client despite them having criminal convictions. This is a contentious topic and many are sceptical about applying for British Citizenship should they have a criminal record, due to the mandatory grounds for refusal and the Home Office assessing a person’s application against the strict good character requirement.
Below I will provide a summary of a case whereby a client came to us to apply for a citizenship and had a conviction of possession and control of someone else’s identity document with intent to use.
Written by Victor Falcon Mmegwa, Senior Associate Solicitor
Brief facts of the Case
In 2014, our client was convicted of possession and control of someone else’s identity document with intent to use.
Our client then submitted an application for naturalisation as a British citizen on 29 October 2025.
On 23 February 2026, our client’s application for naturalisation as a British citizen was granted successfully.
Our Involvement
We completed the application for naturalisation as a British citizen on behalf of our client.
We also prepared detailed legal representations addressing the Home Office guidance on the nationality good character requirement, together with extensive supporting evidence.
Our Strategy
Our primary focus was to demonstrate that our client satisfied the good character requirement under the British Nationality Act 1981.
The supporting evidence submitted included:
- A detailed witness statement from our client;
- Character references from friends and members of the community; and
- Evidence of the client’s employment and contribution to society.
In our legal representations, we highlighted that:
- The client had committed only one offence;
- The offence occurred over 10 years ago;
- The client had not committed any further offences since 2014;
- The client had shown genuine remorse for the offence committed;
- The client had positively rehabilitated and changed their life; and
- The client was well respected by friends, colleagues, and the wider community.
We also emphasised that our client was employed by the NHS and their local council, demonstrating ongoing positive contributions to the community.
Final Thoughts
This case demonstrates that it is possible to obtain British citizenship despite having a criminal conviction. The key is to provide strong supporting evidence and carefully prepared legal representations showing that the applicant satisfies the good character requirement under the British Nationality Act 1981.
At Lisa’s Law Solicitors, we take detailed instructions in relation to applications for naturalisation as a British citizen, particularly where there are concerns regarding the good character requirement. We carefully advise clients on the evidence required to support their case and provide professional, one-to-one support throughout the entire application process.
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