Form MN1 is the Home Office paper application form to register a child under 18 as a British citizen if the child qualifies through birth or adoption. People in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or a British overseas territory use it, as do people elsewhere who choose to apply by post. Others apply online.
Key points
- Form MN1 is for a child who is under 18 on the date the Home Office or receiving authority gets the application. After 18 the person applies as an adult.
- It covers several sections of the British Nationality Act 1981, including 1(3), 3(1), 3(2), 3(5) and 4D. It does not cover stateless children or British overseas territories citizenship.
- The form asks you to say which section of the Act the application is made under. The MN1 guide says including this helps with processing.
- A child aged 10 or over must be of good character. Both parents must consent for section 3(5) and 4D, and consent is expected for all other applications.
- You may be able to apply for a fee waiver if the child is under 18 and cannot afford the application fee.
How Form MN1 works
Form MN1 is the paper form for registering a child under 18 as a British citizen if they qualify through birth or adoption. GOV.UK says to use it if you live in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or a British overseas territory. You can also use it if you live elsewhere and want to apply by post, and you then submit your documents with the form.[1]Home Office, Register child under 18 as British citizen (form MN1) If you do not live in those places, you can apply online.[1]Home Office, Register child under 18 as British citizen (form MN1)
The child must be under 18 when the application is made. The date of application is the date the Home Office or the receiving authority gets it. A child aged 10 or over must be of good character.[3]Home Office, Form MN1: guidance (accessible version) Once the child reaches 18 they apply as an adult, either by registration if they have an entitlement or by naturalisation.[3]Home Office, Form MN1: guidance (accessible version) See Form AN and naturalisation vs registration.
Read the MN1 guide before you apply. The form says to fill in the parts that apply to the child’s application and cross out the rest.[2]Home Office, Form MN1: application for registration of a child under 18 as a British citizen (version 03/2026) You send the form, the payment slip with the fee and the documents to the Lieutenant Governor if you are in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, to the Governor in a British overseas territory, or to UK Visas and Immigration at the postal address on the GOV.UK page.[1]Home Office, Register child under 18 as British citizen (form MN1)
Routes MN1 covers
The MN1 guide lists the sections of the British Nationality Act 1981 it covers.[3]Home Office, Form MN1: guidance (accessible version)
| Section | Who it covers |
|---|---|
| 1(3) | Born in the UK to parents who are now settled in the UK or have become British citizens |
| 1(3A) | Born in the UK to parents who have joined the armed forces |
| 3(1) | A child whose parents are applying for British citizenship, or registration at the Home Secretary’s discretion |
| 3(2) | Born abroad to a parent who is British by descent and has lived in the UK or a qualifying overseas territory |
| 3(5) | Born abroad to a parent who is British by descent, where the child and parents now live in the UK or a qualifying territory |
| 4D | Born abroad to a parent serving in the armed forces |
The guide does not cover British overseas territories citizenship, British overseas citizenship or British subjects. It also does not cover children who are and always have been stateless. A child born in the UK who has lived there for the first 10 years of life uses a different form. A child born in Hong Kong on or after 4 February 1997, or one who would have become British automatically had their parents been married, also uses a different guide.[3]Home Office, Form MN1: guidance (accessible version)
The form says which section of the Act you want the application considered under. The MN1 guide says including this helps the Home Office process the application.[2]Home Office, Form MN1: application for registration of a child under 18 as a British citizen (version 03/2026)[3]Home Office, Form MN1: guidance (accessible version) Routes such as 3(2) and 3(5) are explained under double descent and British citizen by descent.
What the form asks
The form has eight sections.[2]Home Office, Form MN1: application for registration of a child under 18 as a British citizen (version 03/2026) They are personal information, residence requirements, the parents’ residence where relevant, good character, referees and identity, biometric enrolment, consent and a declaration.
Section 7 covers consent. The form says both parents must consent for applications under section 3(5) and 4D, and consent is expected for all other applications.[2]Home Office, Form MN1: application for registration of a child under 18 as a British citizen (version 03/2026)
For referees, the MN1 guide says at least one referee must be a person who has dealt with the child in a professional role, such as a teacher, doctor, health visitor or social worker. See citizenship referee.[3]Home Office, Form MN1: guidance (accessible version) A child must also enrol biometric details. A child under 5 has a photograph only. A child under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.[3]Home Office, Form MN1: guidance (accessible version)
A parent who applies for citizenship at the same time as the child can say on the form that the child should still be registered if the parent’s own application is refused. If that section is left blank, the child’s application is treated as withdrawn when the parent’s is refused, and there is no refund.[2]Home Office, Form MN1: application for registration of a child under 18 as a British citizen (version 03/2026)[3]Home Office, Form MN1: guidance (accessible version)
Fees and timing
GOV.UK shows a fee of £1,000 to apply for a child born in the UK who registers under 18. If the child turns 18 during the application there is a £130 citizenship ceremony fee. A fee waiver may be available if the child cannot afford the fee.[4]GOV.UK, Apply for citizenship if you were born in the UK: if you are under 18 The Home Office service level for a decision is 6 months, and applicants in the UK can use the citizenship priority service from 20 July 2026.[1]Home Office, Register child under 18 as British citizen (form MN1)
Example
Ben was born in the UK to parents who were not settled. His mother has since become settled, and the family lives on the Isle of Man. Ben is 11. His parents choose to apply by post on Form MN1 under section 1(3). Both parents sign the consent section. One referee is Ben’s teacher, who has dealt with him in a professional role. They send the form, fee, payment slip and documents to the Lieutenant Governor. Ben must also attend a biometric appointment with a parent.[2]Home Office, Form MN1: application for registration of a child under 18 as a British citizen (version 03/2026)[3]Home Office, Form MN1: guidance (accessible version)
What people get wrong
Many parents assume Form MN1 covers every child. It does not. The MN1 guide lists the sections it covers and says other children, such as stateless children, use a different guide.
The second mistake is timing. The child must be under 18 on the date the Home Office or the receiving authority gets the application. After that the person applies as an adult.[3]Home Office, Form MN1: guidance (accessible version)
The bottom line
Form MN1 is the paper form for registering a child under 18 as a British citizen. It covers specific routes under the British Nationality Act 1981 and asks for consent, residence evidence, good character and referees. Most people in the UK apply online. See British citizenship by registration for how Compass can help.
Common questions
It is for registering a child under 18 as a British citizen. GOV.UK says to use it if you live in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or a British overseas territory, or elsewhere if you want to apply by post. Otherwise you can apply online.
No. The MN1 guide does not cover children who are stateless, children born in the UK who lived there for the first 10 years of life, or children seeking British overseas territories citizenship. Other forms and guides apply to those.
For applications under section 3(5) and 4D both parents must consent. The form says consent is expected for all other applications. If one parent has died, the surviving parent's consent is enough for 3(5) and 4D.
GOV.UK says you may be able to apply for a fee waiver if you are under 18 and cannot afford to pay the application fee.
Sources
We cite the Immigration Rules, legislation and GOV.UK guidance directly. Rules change, so each source shows the date we last checked it.
- Home Office. Register child under 18 as British citizen (form MN1). Checked 11 November 2026. ↩
- Home Office. Form MN1: application for registration of a child under 18 as a British citizen (version 03/2026). Checked 11 November 2026. ↩
- Home Office. Form MN1: guidance (accessible version). Checked 11 November 2026. ↩
- GOV.UK. Apply for citizenship if you were born in the UK: if you are under 18. Checked 11 November 2026. ↩