HomeBritish CitizenshipRegistration
British citizenship by registration
Many children are already entitled to be British and their parents do not realise it. Registration is how that entitlement is recognised. Fixed-fee packages from £936 + VAT.
Written by Dipendra Fakira, Supervising Immigration Caseworker · Reviewed by Georgette Thomas, Principal Solicitor · Last reviewed 12 July 2026
At a glance
Home Office fee
Lower for children in local authority care
Decision time
Life in the UK test
Our package
+ VAT
Home Office fees and thresholds change - check gov.uk for the current figures. We confirm them in writing when we quote you.
Who can register as British?
Registration is not the same as naturalisation. It is for people who already have an entitlement, or who fall within a route where the Home Office can register them at its discretion.
- Born in the UK, parent later settled - a child born here who was not British at birth can register once a parent gets settlement.
- Born in the UK, ten years' residence - a child born here who has lived here for the first ten years of their life.
- Born abroad to a British parent - where citizenship did not pass automatically by descent.
- Discretionary registration - where a child does not qualify automatically but there are good reasons to register them.
- Stateless children - specific provisions apply where a child holds no nationality.
- Adults with an entitlement - including some people affected by historic unfairness in the law.
Worth checking even if you think you know the answer
The law here has changed several times, and entitlements depend on the date of birth, the parents' marital status and when a parent became settled. It is worth twenty minutes to be sure.
What it costs
| Service | Our fixed fee |
|---|---|
Full registration package Entitlement check, documents, form, submission and updates until decision | £358.33–£1,782 + VAT |
Entitlement check - initial consultation We tell you which provision applies, if any | from £50 + VAT |
Citizenship when your partner is British
Registration questions
It is the route by which a child, and in some cases an adult, becomes a British citizen where an entitlement or a discretionary basis exists. It is different from naturalisation.
Not always. It depends on the immigration status of the parents at the time of birth. Many UK born children are entitled to register but are not British automatically.
A child born in the UK who has lived here continuously for the first ten years of their life may have an entitlement to register, subject to the good character requirement where it applies.
There may be a discretionary route to register the child. These applications turn on the reasons given, so the covering submission matters.
It applies from the age of ten.
Full birth certificate, evidence of the parents' status at the time of birth, and evidence of the child's residence. Missing historic evidence is the most common obstacle and we help you obtain it.
Find out whether your child is already entitled
Twenty minutes, from £50 + VAT, and you will know exactly where you stand.