Becoming British

Getting British citizenship is not cheap. Even when you have lived in the country, paid taxes and national insurance there for a long time, you still need to pay to get your citizenship. At the moment, the fee stands at £735.

In addition to paying, you need to take a test. According to a friend of mine who recently took it, the test is not difficult; all you need to do is to study a book in English about National Days in the UK and do forth, and you will be fine.

But then you do need to understand English enough to be able to read the book and to answer in the test. Naturally, you also need to be able to read and write.

The fee does make you wonder whether it is there just to discourage people from applying and and to select only those who have the money and are willing to pay. How much money is the Government making with these fees?

The test can also be seen as discriminatory as those whose English is not good enough, who don't know how to read or have the skills fill to do the test have no chance.

It is understandable that countries need to limit the number of citizenships that they grant and the number of people that they accept under their wing. But there are different ways of doing this; some of which are more ethical than favouring the rich and the skilled.

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/britishcitizenship/applying/cost/