On this page
In brief
- Most British citizenship applications need two referees and biometric enrolment.
- There are rules on who can act as a referee, with specific rules for a child applicant.
- Referees must meet the eligibility conditions.
- The guide explains the referee requirements and the biometrics step.
What this covers
Two administrative parts of a British citizenship application are the referees who endorse it and confirm the applicant’s identity, and the biometric enrolment. These are separate from the substantive nationality test, but they still have to be met. This page explains the framework set out in the registration guidance — it is not a step-by-step process, and because the administration changes, current instructions should always be checked before applying. (Guide T, pp. 10–11.)
The two referees
Guide T states that an application must be endorsed by two referees who satisfy the referee framework. Each referee must have known the applicant for at least three years. (Guide T, p. 10.)
| Requirement | In outline |
|---|---|
| Number of referees | Two. |
| How long they must have known you | At least three years. |
| Who is excluded | Anyone within the prohibited relationships or roles listed in the current guidance. |
Who can be a referee
A referee must not fall within the prohibited relationships or roles set out in the guidance. Because the specific exclusions are defined in the current guidance and can change, they should be checked before a referee is chosen rather than assumed. (Guide T, p. 10.)
Referees for a child applicant
For a child applicant, at least one referee should ordinarily be a person who has dealt with the child in a professional capacity — such as a teacher, doctor, health visitor or social worker. Guide T provides an alternative arrangement where documented attempts to obtain such a referee have been unsuccessful. (Guide T, p. 10.)
Biometric enrolment
Applicants must also complete the biometric enrolment process, which involves providing biometric information such as fingerprints and a photograph. Children applying for registration are included, although the biometric information taken varies according to the child’s age. (Guide T, p. 11.)
The process can change
Referee and biometric arrangements are administrative and are updated from time to time. This page describes the framework in the guidance, not the exact current steps — the current application instructions should be checked before an application is submitted. (Guide T, pp. 10–11.)
Our regulatory scope. ENS Immigration Advice is regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority at Level 1 and can help identify the referee and biometric requirements that apply to a straightforward application, and flag anything that needs review. Contentious or unusual situations — for example difficulty obtaining a suitable referee, or a disputed identity issue — may fall outside that pathway, and we will direct you to the appropriate next step. This page does not provide the exact current process, which should be checked before applying. Refusal or complex issue → specialist referral.
How ENS can help
Identify the requirements
We can help identify the referee and biometric requirements that apply to a straightforward citizenship application.
Flag issues early
We can flag referee-eligibility or child-referee issues before an application is submitted.
Escalate a complex issue
Difficulty obtaining a suitable referee or a disputed identity issue is directed to the right level of help.
Frequently asked questions
What is a referee for a citizenship application?
A referee is a person who endorses the application and confirms the applicant’s identity. The registration guidance requires referees who satisfy a defined framework. (Guide T, p. 10.)
How many referees are needed?
Guide T states that an application must be endorsed by two referees who satisfy the referee framework. (Guide T, p. 10.)
How long must a referee have known the applicant?
Each referee must have known the applicant for at least three years. (Guide T, p. 10.)
Who cannot be a referee?
A referee must not fall within the prohibited relationships or roles listed in the guidance. The specific exclusions are set out in the current guidance and should be checked before choosing a referee. (Guide T, p. 10.)
Are the referee rules different for a child?
For a child applicant, at least one referee should ordinarily be a person who has dealt with the child in a professional capacity — such as a teacher, doctor, health visitor or social worker. The guidance provides an alternative where documented attempts to obtain such a referee were unsuccessful. (Guide T, p. 10.)
What are biometrics?
Biometric enrolment means providing biometric information (such as fingerprints and a photograph) as part of the application. Applicants must follow the biometric process. (Guide T, p. 11.)
Do children give biometrics?
Children applying for registration are included in the biometric process, although the biometric information taken varies according to the child’s age. (Guide T, p. 11.)
Does this page give the exact current process?
No. Referee and biometric arrangements are administrative and can change, so this page describes the framework rather than a step-by-step process. Current application instructions should be checked before submission. (Guide T, pp. 10–11.)
What if a suitable referee cannot be found?
Where the usual referee cannot be provided — for example a professional referee for a child — the guidance allows an alternative where the attempts made are documented. The position should be reviewed against the current guidance. (Guide T, p. 10.)
How can ENS Immigration Advice help?
ENS Immigration Advice can help identify the referee and biometric requirements that apply to a straightforward application and flag issues to review. Contentious or unusual situations are directed to complex immigration help.
Source basis. Built from Guide T: Registration as a British citizen (August 2026, pp. 10–11) for the two-referee and biometric-enrolment framework, with links to the routes it applies to. Referee and biometric arrangements are administrative and can change; this page describes the framework rather than the exact current process, which should be checked on GOV.UK before applying. Nationality law and Home Office guidance can change; current official guidance should be checked against GOV.UK before relying on the framework.
A question about referees or biometrics?
Identify the referee and biometric requirements for a straightforward application — or, where a suitable referee is hard to obtain or identity is disputed, get the right level of immigration help.