How do I register my child as a British citizen?

For parents of a child born in the UK who is not automatically a British citizen.

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

If your child was born in the UK and is not automatically British, you can apply to register them as a British citizen.

They can apply if, after their birth, a parent became British or got indefinite leave to remain or settled status.
Children who lived in the UK until age 10 may also be able to register.
It costs £1,000 for a child under 18.
You apply online and go to an appointment to give fingerprints and a photo.
A decision usually takes up to 6 months.

Key facts

Fee: £1,000 (under 18)
Decision usually within 6 months
Biometrics appointment needed
£130 ceremony if 18 by the end

Check first: is your child already British?

Many children born in the UK are British from birth. For a child born in the UK on or after 1 January 1983, this is usually the case if one parent was a British citizen or settled in the UK when the child was born. If your child is already British, you do not register them. You can apply for their passport instead.

Registration is for UK-born children who were not British at birth.

Which route fits your child

Route	Who it is for
Under 18, parent's status changed	Your child is under 18 and, since their birth, a parent who sees the UK as home became British, or got indefinite leave to remain, settled status, indefinite leave to enter or permanent residence
Lived in the UK until 10	Your child lived in the UK for their first 10 years and spent no more than 90 days outside the UK in each of those years

If your child spent more than 90 days abroad in any of their first 10 years, you can explain the special reasons on the form.

What you need

documents for your child and proof of the parent's British citizenship or settled status (the online form lists exactly which ones)
a debit or credit card for the fee
time to attend a biometrics appointment with your child

How to apply

Check your child is not already British.
Pick the right route from the table above.
Fill in the form online on GOV.UK. You can also apply by post. For the under 18 route the form is called form MN1, and for the lived in the UK until 10 route it is form T.
Pay the fee.
Book an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to give your child's fingerprints and photo.
Upload copies of your documents online, or have them scanned at the appointment.

Time and cost

Item	Cost or time
Application fee, under 18	£1,000
Citizenship ceremony	£130, only if your child is 18 or over by the time it is approved
Decision time	Usually within 6 months, sometimes longer

A fee waiver may be available if you cannot afford the fee.

Example: your child is 17 and a half when you apply, and turns 18 before the decision. You pay £1,000 to apply, then £130 for the ceremony, so £1,130 in total.

After you apply

If the application is approved and your child is under 18, they get a certificate of British citizenship. They do not need a ceremony. You cannot use the certificate to travel, so apply for a British passport next: a child passport if they are under 16, or an adult passport if they are 16 or over.

If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

British citizenship is handled by the Home Office for the whole UK. The rules, fees and steps are the same wherever you live.

Related guides

Where this comes from

Apply for citizenship if you were born in the UK on GOV.UK
If you're under 18 on GOV.UK
If you lived in the UK until you were 10 on GOV.UK
After you've applied on GOV.UK

Get it done

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

Common questions

Does my child need to attend a citizenship ceremony?

Only if they are 18 or over when the application is approved. If they turn 18 during the application, there is a £130 ceremony fee.

Is my UK-born child already British?

They may be, if a parent was British or settled when they were born. If so, you can apply for a passport instead of registering.

Official sources

1.Apply for citizenship if you were born in the UKwww.gov.uk/apply-citizenship-born-uk
2.Born in the UK: if you're under 18www.gov.uk/apply-citizenship-born-uk/under-18
3.Born in the UK: if you lived in the UK until 10www.gov.uk/apply-citizenship-born-uk/uk-until-10
4.Born in the UK: after you've appliedwww.gov.uk/apply-citizenship-born-uk/after-youve-applied

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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