Every adult applicant for British citizenship must satisfy the "good character" requirement. This is a statutory test set out in the British Nationality Act 1981 and applied by Home Office caseworkers. They will check your criminal record, immigration history, tax affairs, financial soundness and any record of dishonesty.
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Recent or serious convictions normally lead to refusal. Minor offences may not, but failure to declare them almost certainly will. The Home Office also expects applicants to have paid the correct tax and National Insurance, complied with their visa conditions, and not taken part in activities the Home Secretary considers contrary to British values.
The handbook does not list every disqualification because the rules change. It does emphasise that honesty in the application is essential and that even small omissions can lead to a refusal years after the event.
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