How much does it cost to become a British citizen?

For adults with settled status or indefinite leave to remain who want to become British citizens.

Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

Applying for British citizenship by naturalisation costs £1,839.

That is a £1,709 application fee plus a £130 citizenship ceremony fee.
The fee is the same if you apply as the husband, wife or civil partner of a British citizen.
There is no fee for giving your fingerprints and photo.
Registering a child under 18 costs £1,000 per child.
You usually get a decision within 6 months.

Key facts

Adult total: £1,839
Application £1,709 + ceremony £130
Child registration: £1,000
Life in the UK Test: £50

British citizenship fees (as shown on GOV.UK, October 2026)

What you pay for	Cost
Naturalisation application fee	£1,709
Citizenship ceremony fee	£130
Total for one adult	£1,839
Fingerprints and photo (biometrics)	Free
Registering a child under 18 as British	£1,000 per child
Ceremony for a child who turns 18 during the application	£130
Life in the UK Test (booked separately)	£50 per attempt

The £1,839 is the same whether you apply after 5 years with settled status or indefinite leave to remain, or after 3 years as the husband, wife or civil partner of a British citizen.

Worked examples

Example 1: one adult. You pass the Life in the UK Test first time (£50), then apply for citizenship (£1,839). Total: £1,889.

Example 2: a couple and one child. Both adults apply (2 x £1,839 = £3,678). They also register their 10 year old child (£1,000). Total: £4,678, plus £50 each for the Life in the UK Test if they have not already passed it.

Example 3: failing the test. If you fail the Life in the UK Test once and pass the second time, the test costs you £100 in total, as you pay £50 each time.

What the ceremony fee covers

If your application is approved, you must go to a citizenship ceremony within 3 months of getting your invitation. Your local council organises it. The cost is included in your application fee. You might pay more if you want a private ceremony, so check with your council.

A child only pays the £130 ceremony fee if they turn 18 during the application.

Who can apply

To apply for naturalisation, you usually must:

be 18 or over
have lived in the UK for 5 years
have had indefinite leave to remain, settled status or indefinite leave to enter for 12 months (you do not need to wait the 12 months if you are married to a British citizen)
not have spent more than 450 days outside the UK in the 5 years, or more than 90 days in the last 12 months
meet the English language requirement and pass the Life in the UK Test
be of good character

If your spouse or civil partner is British, you need 3 years in the UK instead, with no more than 270 days outside the UK in that time and no more than 90 days in the last 12 months.

Things that change what you pay

More family members: each adult pays £1,839 and each child £1,000.
Life in the UK Test: you pay £50 every time you take it.
Fee waiver: a child whose parents cannot afford the fee may be able to get a fee waiver.

How long it takes

You will usually get a decision within 6 months. Some applications take longer.

Related guides

Where these figures come from

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Apply for British citizenship

Common questions

Is the citizenship ceremony included?

Yes. The £130 ceremony fee is part of the £1,839 you pay when you apply.

Can I get a fee waiver for my child?

A child under 18 whose parents cannot afford the fee may be able to apply for a fee waiver.

Does the fee include the Life in the UK Test?

No. The test is booked and paid for separately, and costs £50.

Official sources

1.Apply for citizenship if you have indefinite leave to remain or settled status (GOV.UK)www.gov.uk/apply-citizenship-indefinite-leave-to-remain
2.Apply for citizenship if your spouse is British (GOV.UK)www.gov.uk/apply-citizenship-spouse
3.Apply for citizenship: apply for your children (GOV.UK)www.gov.uk/apply-citizenship-indefinite-leave-to-remain/apply-for-your-children
4.Citizenship ceremonies (GOV.UK)www.gov.uk/citizenship-ceremonies
5.Life in the UK Test (GOV.UK)www.gov.uk/life-in-the-uk-test

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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