British Citizenship Application: Cost and Who Can Apply

There are different ways to apply for British citizenship, based on your circumstances. To apply by naturalisation you must be 18 or over and of good character, and on the 5 year route you must intend to continue living in the UK.

There are other ways to become British, including through a British parent, if you are stateless, or under the Windrush Scheme if you or a parent arrived in the UK before 1973. Our Windrush Scheme guide covers that route, and our immigration guides cover the other visas and statuses. If you have not settled yet, start with our guides to indefinite leave to remain and the EU Settlement Scheme.

It costs £1,839 for an adult, made up of £1,709 to apply and a £130 citizenship ceremony fee. Your fingerprints and photo are taken for free.

You cannot use the super priority service for citizenship applications. If your child is under 18 and you cannot afford the fee, you may be able to apply for a fee waiver.

There are two limits on each route: one for the whole qualifying period and one for the last 12 months. The limits for the 5 year route are set by Schedule 1 to the British Nationality Act 1981.

You must have been physically present in the UK exactly 5 years, or 3 years on the spouse route, before the Home Office receives your application. If you apply online, it is received on the same day. When you apply, you are asked about your time outside the UK, and the Home Office checks its own records and fills in any gaps.

You can prove your knowledge of English with an English qualification at B1, B2, C1 or C2 level, or a degree taught or researched in English. You must have a relevant English qualification when you apply, and if you were exempt when you were granted settlement, you need to submit an exemption form again.

You do not need to prove your knowledge of English if you are aged 65 or over, or unable to because of a long-term physical or mental condition. Nationals of some countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA, are also exempt, and Ireland is on the list for citizenship only.

You also need to have passed the Life in the UK Test. Our Life in the UK Test guide explains booking and the pass mark.

Having a criminal record does not necessarily mean that an application will be refused. Under the Home Office guidance, an application will normally be refused if you have received a custodial sentence of at least 12 months in the UK or overseas.

A custodial sentence of less than 12 months counts unless 10 years have passed since the end of the sentence. Anyone applying for citizenship from 10 February 2025 who previously entered the UK illegally will normally be refused, regardless of the time that has passed since the illegal entry.

1. Read the guidance and fill in the form online.
2. Make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services service point to give your fingerprints and a photo.
3. Upload copies of your documents, or have them scanned at your appointment.
4. Wait for a decision. You might be asked to attend an interview where you will need to speak without an interpreter.

You will usually get a decision within 6 months, and you will be told before then if yours will take longer. You need permission to stay in the UK until you have had your citizenship ceremony, and indefinite leave to remain or settled or pre-settled status counts.

An agent can help you, but check they are registered with the Immigration Advice Authority, or are a solicitor or barrister registered with one of the professional bodies GOV.UK lists, such as the Law Society of England and Wales. Our guide to getting immigration advice explains how to check.

You must attend a citizenship ceremony within 3 months of receiving your invitation from the Home Office if you are 18 or over. Your local authority organises it, and you are usually allowed to take 2 guests.

You make an oath of allegiance, or an affirmation if you prefer not to swear by God, and a pledge. At the end you are presented with your certificate of British citizenship and a welcome pack.

You must send your biometric residence permit back to the Home Office within 5 working days of getting your certificate, even though it has expired, or you can be fined up to £1,000. You cannot enter the UK using your certificate of British citizenship. Once you have a British passport you can use it to enter the UK, or you can apply for a certificate of entitlement instead.

Dual citizenship is allowed in the UK, but many countries do not accept it, so check with that country's consulate or embassy in the UK.

As a dual national, you cannot get diplomatic help from the British government when you are in the other country where you hold citizenship.

You must apply separately for your children. You can apply to register a child who was born outside the UK, or born in the UK before you were granted indefinite leave to remain. It costs £1,000 for each child.

Your child may automatically be a British citizen if they were born in the UK after you were granted indefinite leave to remain.