Use these guides to understand published UK immigration requirements and questions to check. Confirm the current rule on GOV.UK and obtain regulated advice for your own circumstances.
The useful starting point
These routes solve different immigration problems
Settlement is not citizenship. Naturalisation is a discretionary, separate application and should be checked against its own rules.
Side-by-side
Key differences
Permanent permission to live in the UK, subject to the rules affecting status.
Nationality status with the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
Often the settlement stage after a qualifying immigration route.
Usually a separate later application after settlement or settled status.
Depend on the settlement route used.
Naturalisation has its own residence, absence and good-character requirements.
Does not itself make the person a British passport holder.
A British passport can be applied for separately after citizenship is granted.
Confirm the current rules
Read both official route pages
Know when a guide is no longer enough
Eligibility assessments, evidence reviews, application preparation and representation should be handled by a suitably regulated professional.