Can my child get British citizenship without paying the full fee?

If you're applying to register your child as a British citizen, the £1,214 application fee can feel like a huge barrier, especially if you're already managing the costs of your own citizenship or immigration application.

The good news is that fee waivers exist for children under 18. Here's what you need to know.

How much does child citizenship registration cost?

As of April 2025, the fee to register a child as a British citizen is £1,214. If your child turns 18 while their application is being processed, an additional £130 citizenship ceremony fee may be required.

This fee is non-refundable if the application is refused, so it's important to make sure the application is as strong as possible before submitting.

Can you get a fee waiver?

Yes, but only for children under 18. The Home Office introduced an affordability-based fee waiver scheme in 2022 for child citizenship registration applications.

To qualify, you'll need to demonstrate that you (as the parent or guardian) cannot afford the fee after covering essential living costs like housing, food, utilities, clothing, and transport.

You'll need to provide evidence of your financial situation, including bank statements, proof of income, and details of your outgoings for the last six months.

Children in local authority care** are fully exempt from the fee. No waiver application needed, just evidence of the care arrangement.

How to apply for a fee waiver

The fee waiver must be approved before you submit the citizenship application. You can't submit both at the same time.

You can apply for a fee waiver online through GOV.UK or by post using the Child Citizenship Fee Waiver form. The process involves:

1. Completing the fee waiver form with details of your income, savings, and essential outgoings
2. Providing supporting documents (bank statements, payslips, benefit letters, utility bills)
3. Waiting for the Home Office to assess your request
4. If approved, submitting the citizenship registration application without the fee

Be aware that waiver decisions can take several weeks, so factor this into your timeline.

What about a UK-born child with a Polish parent?

This is a common scenario. If your child was born in the UK but neither parent was British or settled at the time of birth, the child is not automatically British.

However, if one parent has since become British (through naturalisation), the child can apply for registration under Section 1(3) of the British Nationality Act 1981. The key requirement is that a parent has become British or settled since the child's birth.

The fee waiver is available regardless of which registration route you're using. It's based on affordability, not the type of application.

Key things to remember

• Fee waivers are only available for children under 18. Adults cannot get a waiver for naturalisation or registration.
• The waiver must be approved before you submit the main application.
• You'll need comprehensive financial evidence covering at least 6 months.
• Children in local authority care are automatically exempt.
• The £1,214 fee is non-refundable if the application is refused, making the waiver particularly important if money is tight.

If you're going through the citizenship process yourself and need to pass the Life in the UK test, try our free mock test (https://britpass.app/quiz). It's 24 questions in the real exam format, and you'll get your score instantly.