Shabana Bukhari 
In this blog, readers will gain an understanding of the Application Fee for British Citizenship and its associated costs.
What are the different routes to British citizenship?
Birth
The first route to obtaining British citizenship is being born in the UK.
For this route you must also consider your date of birth as there are slightly different requirements:
- After 1st January 1983.
At the time of your birth one of your parents must also have either settled status (ILR or EU Settlement Scheme) or British citizenship.
- Before 1983.
The requirement above is not necessary.
If your child automatically acquires British citizenship at birth you can apply for a UK passport: Getting your first adult passport: Who can apply – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) or apply for an immigration status letter (Form NS): Nationality Services Base Product (visas-immigration.service.gov.uk).
If your child does not automatically acquire British citizenship at birth you can apply for it, there are different forms depending on whether:
- You are under 18 years old.
Use Form MN1: MN1 (visas-immigration.service.gov.uk).
- You lived in the UK until the age of 10.
Use Form T: Nationality – Form T (visas-immigration.service.gov.uk).
For more information, please follow this link: Apply for citizenship if you were born in the UK: Who can apply – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Adoption
The second route to obtaining British citizenship surround adopted children, if either:
- It is compliant with the Hague Convention and at least one of the parents (adopter(s)) is a British citizen habitually resident in the UK.
This option is for those adopting a child from overseas.
- Or the court orders the adoption and at least one of the parents (adopter(s)) is a British citizen.
If one of the above applies, then no citizenship application is needed, and a parent may apply for a British passport: Getting your first adult passport: Who can apply – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
If neither applies, then a British citizenship application is needed, and the Home Office have discretion on this matter.
Descent
The third route to obtaining British citizenship is by descent. You must take notice of the following requirements:
- Firstly, you are not eligible for citizenship by descent if your British parent obtained their own citizenship by descent. They must have obtained citizenship ‘otherwise than by descent’ (birth, registration, adoption, naturalisation).
- Secondly, you may be eligible if your parents or grandparents obtained citizenship ‘otherwise than by descent’ at the time of your birth.
- Thirdly, the above depends on where you were born and your parents immigration status at that time:
- Born on or after the 1st of July 2006
- Born between 1983 and June 2006
- Born before 1983
If you have automatic British citizenship by descent you can apply for a UK passport: Getting your first adult passport: Who can apply – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) or apply for an immigration status letter (Form NS): Nationality Services Base Product (visas-immigration.service.gov.uk).
If you do not automatically acquire British citizenship by descent, you can apply/register for it. Select the correct application form depending on your date of birth discussed above: Nationality – UKF (visas-immigration.service.gov.uk).
Naturalisation
- Time spent living in the UK.
For those married to British nationals this must at least 3 years and for the rest of applicants this must 5 years. A record needs to be kept of the time you spent outside the UK to show that this does not exceed the prescribed number of days which is no more than 450 days overseas in the last 5 years and no more than 90 days in the last year.
If you are not married to a British national, you must also possess one of the following for 12 months:
- Indefinite leave to remain in the UK (ILR).
- ‘Settled Status’ (alternatively ‘indefinite leave to remain under the EU Settlement Scheme’)
- Indefinite leave to enter the UK (which is permission to move to the UK permanently from abroad)
- You must be over 18 years old.
- You must prove your (spoken and written) knowledge of English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic.
- You must have taken and passed the ‘Life in the UK test’.
- You must be of good character.
- Provide details of 2 referees.
Apply online for a quicker process: Apply online (form AN) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Or through post using a Form AN: form-an-06-2022.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)
Table of Application Fee for British Citizenship
The table below does not refer to the fees for British passport applications which are necessary when you automatically acquire British citizenship.
| Application | Fees |
| Birth | £1,214 (if using either Form MN1 or T discussed above). But please note that if the child is aged 18 at the time of application then an extra £80 for the citizenship fee will be applied |
| Descent | Form NS (which is confirmation of status as a British citizen) will cost £250.Form UKF will cost £80. |
| Naturalisation | £1,580 (includes the £80 fee for the citizenship ceremony) |
Please note that fees change often and these are taken from the 31st of January 2024: Home Office immigration and nationality fees: 31 January 2024 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
FAQs
Do I still have to attend a citizenship ceremony when applying for birthright citizenship?
This depends. You will only have to attend a citizenship ceremony if you turn 18 during your application for birthright citizenship.
Which is the best route for me to acquire British citizenship?
This depends. There are many ways of acquiring citizenship and naturalisation is the most common. But please factor in the time you have spent outside the UK as this may affect your ability to apply under the naturalisation route.
What are two important things to think about when applying for British citizenship by naturalisation?
Firstly, consider the amount of time you spent outside the UK during which differs depending on whether you are married to a British national or not.
Secondly, there has been changes to the good character requirements which means that immigration breaches may be disregarded.Do I get my money back if I am refused citizenship?
Yes, you will receive most of the application fee back.
Can I travel outside the UK before I get my British citizenship?
Yes. Ensure however that you do not exceed the maximum number of days you are able to be abroad for according to the residency requirement discussed above.
If my application is unsuccessful, will it affect my current right to stay in the UK?
No. You may still have the right to stay in the UK depending on which visa you are on and whether it needs renewal.
What happens if I fail the ‘Life in the UK’ test?
Although the test is non-refundable you may retake it as many times as you wish if you pay another fee of £50. But you must wait 7 days between each attempt.
Does marriage to a British citizen automatically grant the non-UK spouse citizenship?
No. Instead, applicants must meet the Home Office’s eligibility requirements for naturalisation.
How long on average does an application for British citizenship take?
Government guidance states that on average it takes 6 months for British citizenship processing.
Is it possible to lose British citizenship?
Yes. The Home Secretary can remove it if the application was untruthful and inaccurate.
Summary
Some clients automatically acquire British citizenship through the routes discussed above and others do not which means they must make an application. Therefore, the costs vary according to which route you are eligible for, and it is also important that you refer the latest Home Office advice to ensure that you know the most up to date fee prices.
Please contact our expert team of immigration lawyers at Henleaze Law on 0117 908 4625 for legal assistance. We can review your application for British citizenship and discuss the likelihood of your success. Additionally, we discuss the different application fees.
