The benefits of British citizenship are well-documented. As a British citizen, you’ll have access to the world, with 152 countries welcoming you without a visa.
You’ll also have access to the National Health Service (NHS) , one of the most advanced social healthcare systems in the world. There’s no denying that British citizenship is valuable, but there are also costs associated with this journey.
Before applying for British citizenship, it’s important to be aware of the associated costs and fees. We recommend making sure you have enough to cover the entire cost of your British citizenship application before you begin.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the costs you can expect to encounter on your journey to British citizenship.
Navigating British citizenship Application fees
There are multiple paths to British citizenship, and the fees that you pay will all depend on the route that you take. The most common route is British citizenship by naturalisation, which costs £1,500 from the 4th October 2023.
Naturalisation for citizens from British overseas territories costs £1,000.
To register British citizenship for an adult, the cost will be £1,351 from the 4th October 2023, whereas children will need to pay £1,214.
The full breakdown of fees associated with British citizenship applications can be found below. We have included the old prices in addition to the new fees valid from the 4th October 2023.
| Application type | Old fee | Fee from 4th October 2023 |
| Naturalisation (British citizenship) | £1,250 | £1,580 |
| Naturalisation British overseas territory citizens | £1,000 | £1,000 |
| Registration – Adult | £1,126 | £1,351 |
| Registration – Child | £1,012 | £1,214 |
| Citizenship ceremony | £80 | £80 |
| The administration of a citizenship oath | £5 | £5 |
| Adults nationality registration for British overseas territory citizen, British overseas citizens, British Subjects or British protected persons | £901 | £901 |
| Child nationality registration for British overseas territory citizen, British overseas citizens, British Subjects or British protected persons | £810 | £810 |
| Renunciation of nationality | £372 | £372 |
| Application for a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode in the UK | £372 | £372 |
| Nationality review | £372 | £372 |
| Status Letter | £250 | £250 |
| Non-acquisition Letter | £250 | £250 |
| Nationality correction to certificate | £250 | £250 |
| Nationality – supply of a certified copy of a notice, certificate, order or declaration | £250 | £250 |
| Nationality reissued Certificate | £250 | £250 |
For the vast majority of applicants, the only costs that will be payable on their application will be the application fee. Applications for naturalisation include the ceremony fee and the biometric information collection fee. For those applying for British citizenship by registration, these fees are not relevant.
During the naturalisation application, if your biometric information is not collected, your application will be considered incomplete and rejected. Your application fee will be refunded, minus an administration fee of £25.
Additional expenses to consider
Before you can submit your application, you may need to prove your knowledge of English with a recognised English language test. This can only be completed at a recognised test centre. This will usually cost around £150 for the test. If you fail this test, you will need to pay the fee again to resit the test.
Another fee to take into consideration is the Life In The UK test. This test is designed to show that you have a good understanding of British history, culture and etiquette. This test costs £50. If you fail this test, you will need to pay the fee every time you resit the test.
You might also need to pay for an appointment to collect your biometric data. This cost can vary from £0 – £300, depending on the time and centre you choose to have your appointment.
If you have indefinite leave to remain and have completed the English language requirement and the life in the UK test, you won’t need to complete these again.
If you submit an application for naturalisation for a child and they turn 18 before you receive a decision, you will then need to pay for the citizenship ceremony fee. This fee won’t be due until the child turns 18.
Legal guidance for British citizenship applications
There is no legal right to an appeal for a British citizenship application. All you can do is ask for UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to review your application if you believe they have not correctly applied the law to your case, or if you suspect your caseworker has made a mistake.
With limited scope for appealing in the event you make a mistake on your application, it makes sense to secure expert advice before submitting your application. This is why many applicants choose to seek legal guidance on their applications.
Good legal advice can help to remove any possibility of doubt in your application, helping to signpost everything clearly for your caseworker. This can help to speed up the application processing time and reduce the chances that your application will be rejected.
Additional fees to consider
One category of fees that will often catch applicants off guard is the cost of translating original documents. If any of your evidence documents are not in English or Welsh, you will need to pay for a certified translation. The cost of this can quickly add up if you aren’t expecting to have to pay this for every document you provide.
Taking the English language test and the Life in the UK test multiple times will also increase the overall cost of your application. This can happen if you are unprepared for the test and assume that you can pass these tests without preparation. Try taking practice tests online to determine when you are ready to take these important tests. This will help to keep the overall cost down.
You should also pay close attention to whether or not you even need to take these tests. If you have completed them for another application, you may not need to take these tests again.
Who is exempt from British citizenship charges?
If you are applying for British citizenship by registration, there is a chance you could be eligible for a fee waiver. The following are the instances when the British citizenship fees will not be applicable:
- Registration of a child under the age of 18
- Registration as a British citizen for a stateless person
- Registration as a British citizen if you were born in the UK on or after the 1st January 1983 and lived here until you were 10 years old
- Registration as a British citizen if you are a British Overseas citizen, British subject, British protected person, or British National (Overseas) and have no other citizenship or nationality
- Registration as a British citizen if you are a British Overseas Territories citizen, a British Overseas citizen, a British protected person, a British subject or a British National (Overseas)
- Registration as a British Citizen through residence in Hong Kong before 1997 (paper applications only)
You need to apply for your fee waiver before you submit your British citizenship application. If you are granted a fee waiver, you will be given a token to submit with your application in lieu of payment.
Fee waiver tokens are non transferable and can only be used by the original applicant. To be eligible for the fee waiver, you need to demonstrate why you are unable to afford the full application fee. In the case of a child’s application, you might need to demonstrate how paying the fee would be detrimental to the child’s wellbeing.
What is the total cost of applying for British citizenship in 2024?
The total cost of acquiring British citizenship in 2024 is a combination of the application fee and biometric enrolment fee. Other costs include the cost of obtaining legal advice and translation of documents, where required.
Are there any other fees for obtaining British citizenship?
Due to the extra requirements needed to obtain British citizenship, if you have not already done so, you have to pay an additional fee to sit the Life in the UK test and the requisite English language test.
Is there financial help towards the British citizenship application fee?
No, there are no provisions for financial aid, or waivers for the application fee for British citizenship. The applicants will have to bear the cost of this application process.
Can I pay the British citizenship application fees in instalments?
No, the British citizenship application fee is payable in full when submitting the online application. The UK government does not provide instalment options for the fee.
What happens if my British citizenship application is refused? Will I get a refund?
If your British citizenship application is refused, you will not receive a refund of your application fee. However, the small fee of £130 goes towards the citizenship ceremony when your application is approved. The citizenship ceremony fee will be refunded when the application is refused.
How to plan for unexpected citizenship expenses
If you are not eligible for the fee waiver, you will need to be prepared to pay the full fee at the time of the application. You will not be able to submit your application until the full fee has been paid.
To help avoid any delays to your application, it’s a good idea to let your bank know that you will be making a large transaction prior to submitting your application. It’s not uncommon for banks to reverse the payment if this triggers a fraud alert. If this happens, it could delay and derail your application.
For example, if you are unaware of the fee reversal and UKVI is unable to contact you for any reason, your application would be rejected. While this won’t cost you any money, since the application fee has not been submitted, it could result in your application taking a lot longer than it needs to.
Understanding the application process is the best way to avoid unexpected fees. If you are struggling with any aspect of the application, it’s helpful to seek out expert advice. This can help you to avoid unexpected fees.
How can A Y & J help?
A Y & J Solicitors is a specialist immigration law firm with extensive experience with British citizenship applications. We have an in-depth understanding of immigration law and are professional and results-focused. For assistance with your visa application or any other UK immigration law concerns, please contact us on +44 20 7404 7933 or contact us today. We’re here to help!
