British Citizenship Fees

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.

Once British citizenship has been granted by the Home Office, 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+) 34 page (standard): £82.50 (online)/ £93 (post).
• Adult (16+) 50 page (frequent traveller): £93.50 (online)/ £104 (post).
• Child (Under 16) 34 page (standard): £53.50 (online)/ £64 (post).
• Child (under 16) 50 page (frequent traveller): £64.50 (online)/ £74 (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.

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 £372.

Right Of Abode Certificate

All British citizens and some commonwealth citizens have the ‘right of abode’ in the UK. This means they are not subject to immigration control and can live and work in the UK without restriction. They do not need a visa to enter the UK and there is no limit on the length of time they can spend in the country. If they do not have a passport that describes them as a British citizen, they can apply to obtain a certificate that proves their ‘right of abode’. To do so they must pay the Home Office a fee of £372.

Further Examples

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

• Duplicate certificate: £250
• Confirmation of status as a British citizen: £250
• Confirmation of non-acquisition of British citizenship: £250
• Reconsideration of an application for naturalisation or registration: £372
• Reconsideration of an application for a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode: £372
• Correction to nationality certificate: £250

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.

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.