Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002

Valid from 06/07/2004

1 Naturalisation: knowledge of language and society U.K.

(1) The following shall be inserted after the word “and” after paragraph 1(1)(c) of Schedule 1 to the British Nationality Act 1981 (c. 61) (requirements for naturalisation)—

“(ca) that he has sufficient knowledge about life in the United Kingdom; and”.

(2) In paragraph 2(e) of that Schedule (waiver)—

(a) for “the requirement specified in paragraph 1(1)(c)” there shall be substituted “ either or both of the requirements specified in paragraph 1(1)(c) and (ca) ”, and

(b) for “expect him to fulfil it” there shall be substituted “ expect him to fulfil that requirement or those requirements ”.

(3) The following shall be inserted after section 41(1)(b) of that Act (regulations)—

“(ba) for determining whether a person has sufficient knowledge of a language for the purpose of an application for naturalisation;

(bb) for determining whether a person has sufficient knowledge about life in the United Kingdom for the purpose of an application for naturalisation;”.

(4) The following shall be inserted after section 41(1) of that Act—

“(1A) Regulations under subsection (1)(ba) or (bb) may, in particular—

(a) make provision by reference to possession of a specified qualification;

(b) make provision by reference to possession of a qualification of a specified kind;

(c) make provision by reference to attendance on a specified course;

(d) make provision by reference to attendance on a course of a specified kind;

(e) make provision by reference to a specified level of achievement;

(f) enable a person designated by the Secretary of State to determine sufficiency of knowledge in specified circumstances;

(g) enable the Secretary of State to accept a qualification of a specified kind as evidence of sufficient knowledge of a language.”

Commencement Information

I1 S. 1 wholly in force at 1.11.2005; s. 1 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 162(2); s. 1(3)(4) in force at 6.7.2004 by S.I. 2004/1707, art. 2; s. 1(1)(2) in force at 1.11.2005 by S.I. 2005/2782, art. 3(1) (subject to art. 3(2))