Those who apply for naturalisation under section 6(1) or 6(2) of the British Nationality ACT 1981 (BNA 1981) are required to have both sufficient Knowledge of the English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic language and sufficient knowledge of life in the UK.

However, applicants under the Windrush Scheme are exempt from both Requirements. For further information on who can apply under the scheme, see Practice Note: The Windrush Scheme.

It may also be possible to request that the requirement is waived where the applicant entered the UK as the wife of a Commonwealth citizen who was settled in the UK before 1 January 1973. This is because section 1(5) of the Immigration Act 1971 as enacted covered the wives as well as the children of these Commonwealth citizens.

The British Nationality (General) Regulations 2003, SI 2003/548 make provision for how the requirements in respect of a sufficient knowledge of language and of life in the UK are to be satisfied.

The regulations underwent significant amendment with