UK Citizenship Costs and Passport Fees

How Much Does British Citizenship Cost in 2025? (Summary)

Citizenship Application Fee

Many foreign nationals become British citizens through naturalisation. To be eligible, applicants must be over the age of 18 and have lived in the UK for at least 5 years. In addition, they must have held either ILR, settled status or indefinite leave to enter the UK for at least 12 months unless they are married to a British citizen. They must also intend to continue living in the UK once citizenship is granted and be of ‘good’ character. Once granted citizenship and when invited, all applicants should attend a citizenship ceremony.

The British citizenship by naturalisation application fee is currently £1,605. This includes £130 citizenship ceremony administration charge.

There may be other circumstances that grant an applicant the right to ‘naturalise’. For example, an individual may be eligible if they became a British overseas territory citizen after 21 May 2002 and they meet specific criteria. The fee for naturalising as a British overseas territory citizen is currently £1,070.

Life in the UK Test Fee

In addition to the above criteria, all naturalisation applicants (unless exempt) must also pass a ‘Life in the UK Test’. Applicants are given 45 minutes to answer 24 questions about life in the UK to prove their understanding of the country’s core values.

The fee for completing the Life in the UK Test is currently £50.

Proof Of English Language Fee

Depending on the country that they are originally from, some applicants may also have to prove their knowledge of either English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic language. To do this applicants must pass a listening and speaking test for which the fee is £150-250.

Biometric Information Fee

All applicants must agree to have their biometric information (fingerprints and photograph) taken and stored on UK government systems. There is currently no charge for this service.

How Much Does It Cost to Register as a British Citizen?

Under 18s

The fee to register a child as a British citizen is currently £1,214. However, if the registering child turns 18 during the application process, they are also expected to pay the £130 citizenship ceremony and administration charge.

The process of registering as a British citizen usually applies to children under the age of 18 that do not automatically have British citizenship. Children who were born in the UK to foreign parents can apply to register as British citizens as soon as their parents are granted ILR. Children born outside of the UK may be able to register if they have a British mother or father or have lived in the UK for at least 10 years.

Adults

The fee to register an adult as a British citizen is currently £1,446. However, British overseas citizens, British subjects and British protected persons can apply to register as British nationals for a lower cost of £964.

There are certain circumstances where adults may also be able to register. For example, British overseas nationals or British overseas territories citizens with a connection to Gibraltar or Hong Kong could be eligible, alongside those with a British parent that had the right to become a British citizen when they were born.

How to Save Money on Your British Citizenship Application

From possible waivers to hiring an immigration lawyer to make sure your application is right first time, here are some top tips to help you save money on your British citizenship application

Use Fee Waivers (If Applicable)

The Home Office allows eligible British citizen applicants under 18 to apply for waivers. Individuals can apply for a waiver through the online portal or by mail using the Child Citizenship Fee Waiver form. They must also submit proof that their financial situation makes it difficult to afford the application fee, such as bank statements, evidence of income, and utility bills. 

Adult applicants are ineligible for a fee waiver, and the Home Office only allow child applicants to request a waiver if they or their parents or guardians.

Can I Get a Fee Waiver?

Fee waivers are available under the British Nationality Act of 1981 for applicants that are under 18 and meet specific criteria. Applicants are eligible to apply if they or their parent/guardian:

• Does not have a place to live and cannot afford one.
• Is unable to afford essential living costs such as food and heating.
• Cannot afford the fee after paying for other essential living costs (like rent, food, etc).
• Could not meet the child’s needs after paying the fee.

Children being looked after by a local authority are exempt from paying the fee completely so long as they can provide evidence of this on their citizenship application.

The Home Office provides further information on affordability in the fee waiver application guidance notes but it is worth noting that applicants will have to prove their income as part of their fee waiver application form. The proof is usually provided in the form of documentation such as bank statements.

Hire an Immigration Lawyer

An immigration lawyer will help you create a detailed application to increase your chances of approval. By increasing your approval rate, you reduce the possibility of rejection and the need for possible reapplication, which can incur additional costs.

You can consider one-off consultation or application-checking services if getting full-time solicitor services is in your budget. It would afford you an expert review of your application while minimising costs. Consider seeking the services of lawyers with a flexible or installment-based payment system to make paying the fee easier.

Avoid Unnecessary UKVCAS Centre Fees

You’ll typically need to attend a biometric appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) centre as part of your application. At the centre, you should try to book one of the free standard appointments. You may need to pay for out-of-hours appointments like weekends.

Additional services, such as document submission or translation, can also incur higher fees. Using translation services ahead of time can help avoid delays and last-minute fees. Consider booking the centre early to avoid paying for out-of-hours booking fees. Additionally, submit your documents during the online application process to save on in-person document submission costs.

Prepare for the Life in the UK and English Proficiency Tests

The Life in the UK and English proficiency tests require a resit if you do not meet the pass mark for your citizenship application. You will need to pay a new booking fee to retake the tests, although some tests may offer a free retake option. Prepare adequately for the tests to ensure you pass on the first attempt. The Life in the UK and most English language proficiency tests have test-specific practice resources to help you prepare.

How Much Does It Cost To Get a British Passport in 2025?

Once the Home Office has granted British citizenship, applicants can apply for a British passport. The process takes approximately 10 weeks but this can be fast-tracked in certain circumstances.

Applicants can apply online or by post, however, it is cheaper to apply online. Fees also depend on whether or not the applicant is applying from inside or outside of the UK.

Applying From Inside the UK

The following fees apply to those applying from inside the UK:

• Adult (16+) passport with 34 page (standard): £88.50 (apply online)/ £100 (apply by post).
• Adult (16+) passport with 50 page (frequent traveler): £100.50 (apply online)/ £112 (apply by post).
• Child (Under 16) passport with 34 page (standard): £57.50 (apply online)/ £69 (apply by post).
• Child (under 16) passport with 50 page (frequent traveler): £69.50 (apply online)/ £81 (apply post).

Applicants born on or before 2 September 1929 do not have to pay any fees and can obtain a passport free of charge.

Applying From Outside the UK

Processes and fees vary depending on the individual’s circumstances and where they are applying from.

Other British Citizenship Costs

There are other fees applicable to other processes that relate to British citizenship. For example, if somebody wants to renounce their citizenship or apply to the Home Office for a certificate for the right of abode, then they are charged fees to do so.

Renouncing British Citizenship

To apply to renounce British citizenship (including that of British Overseas citizenship, British Overseas Territories citizenship, a British subject, British protected person status or British National Overseas) the fee payable to the Home Office is £589.

Further Examples

Further examples of when fees may apply in relation to British citizenship are as follows:

• Duplicate certificate: £400
• Confirmation of status as a British citizen: £429
• Confirmation of non-acquisition of British citizenship: £429
• Reconsideration of an application for naturalisation or registration: £450
• Reconsideration of an application for a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode: £550
• Correction to nationality certificate: £428

What Is An Invalid Application?

An application will be considered invalid if the fee is not paid in full upon submission or if the biometric information is missing. If an application is invalid it will not be considered by the Home Office and the fee will be refunded to the applicant less a £25 administration charge.

British Citizenship Fees vs. Other Countries

British citizenship is expensive compared to other countries. It costs less than half the UK fee to apply for citizenship in countries like Canada, Australia, France, Germany, and the United States. Irish applicants also pay a high citizenship fee, but a large part of the payment is made after a successful application.

Like the UK, most countries offer waivers and reduced fees for eligible applicants. For example, Australia charges AU$80 for concession applications, which covers those made by asylum seekers or applicants in severe economic hardship. Here’s a breakdown of the citizenship application fees across some countries:

Hidden Costs & Additional Financial Considerations

There are some hidden costs and additional financial considerations for British citizenship applications. These include:

• Courier fees (if you send documents by post): £5 to £50
• UKVCAS Appointments: Paid appointments start at around £60 but could be more depending on the centre and type of additional service required 
• Documents Scanning and Upload: £50.

Benefits of Becoming a British Citizen

There are various reasons why foreign nationals may wish to become British citizens. If they have settled in the UK and built a life, it gives them security. Once citizenship is granted they have full rights to live and work in the UK indefinitely and can travel without restriction as a UK citizen. Citizenship also gives the right to vote in all local and general elections in the UK and allows access to the UK’s state benefits and National Health Service (NHS).

Can I Become a British Citizen?

Being born in the UK does not automatically grant British citizenship and status at birth mainly depends on where an individual’s parents were born. It is possible to check citizenship status on the UK government’s website.

There are several reasons why an applicant may be eligible to apply for British citizenship. They include:

• Through marriage or civil partnership.
• By having ‘settled status’ under the EU settlement scheme.
• By having indefinite leave to remain (ILR).
• By being born in the UK.
• By having a British parent.
• By having another type of British nationality.
• By having a parent with British overseas territories citizenship.
• By being ‘stateless’.
• By having previously renounced citizenship.
• By being a Chagossian descendant (a direct descendant of someone born in the British Indian Ocean Territory).
• By being a commonwealth citizen under the Windrush scheme.
• Where other special circumstances apply.

How Do I Become a British Citizen?

There are different routes available to obtain British citizenship depending on the applicant’s circumstances. For example, those with ILR or settled status under the EU scheme should apply for British citizenship by naturalisation, and those under 18 who were born in the UK but do not automatically qualify for citizenship should register as British citizens.

The eligibility requirements and fees needed for British citizenship differ depending on the route taken to secure citizenship. However, all British citizenship applicants must have permission to stay in the UK whilst their application is being processed. Permission needs to last until the applicant has attended their citizenship ceremony.

How Can IAS Help?

British citizenship applications can often be complex and daunting. However, our team of immigration specialists at IAS can help you complete your application quickly and easily no matter what your circumstances may be.

Our expert immigration lawyers can advise you on the most suitable pathway to citizenship, help you fill out your application form, gather evidence and inform you of all eligibility requirements and residence rules that you must meet to be granted British citizenship.

We can inform you of the total amount of fees that you will be liable for when you submit your application and can help you apply for a fee waiver if you are eligible. We can guide you through any application and service issues that may arise during the process and help you combat them lawfully.

For accurate help and advice regarding your British citizenship application or to get answers to queries about citizenship fees, call IAS today at +44 (0)333 414 9244 or contact us online.