Does your child need to register?
A child who is entitled to British citizenship does not always become British automatically. Many children, including those born in the UK to parents who were not British or settled at the time, must be registered. Until then they have no right to a British passport and an uncertain immigration position. Some children have a legal right to register; for others the Home Secretary has a discretion.
The routes to registration
| Route | Who qualifies |
|---|---|
| A parent became British or settled | A child born in the UK whose parent became a British citizen or settled while the child was under 18. A right to register. |
| Ten years in the UK | A child born in the UK who has lived here for the first ten years of life with no more than 90 days’ absence in any of those years. A right to register. |
| Born abroad to a British parent | Where a parent is British by descent and meets the conditions, including time lived in the UK before the birth. See citizenship by descent. |
| Stateless children | A child born in the UK who has never held another nationality and meets the residence conditions. |
| Discretion | A child under 18 whose future clearly lies in the UK, where no right to register applies. |
The route depends on the child’s date of birth, where they were born and the parents’ status on the day, so we examine the dates before choosing one. Whether a child is already British is covered in born in the UK: are you a British citizen?
Fee
The fee to register a child under 18 is £1,000, reduced from £1,214 on 8 April 2026. It is waived where a child can credibly show they cannot afford it, and no fee is payable for a child looked after by a local authority. A fee waiver request needs evidence of the family’s income, savings and living costs, and is better prepared with the application than after a refusal.
Good character
A child aged 10 or over must be of good character. For most children that is a formality, but a caution, a conviction or a finding of misconduct needs careful handling. See good character.
The evidence
- The child’s birth certificate and passport or travel document.
- Evidence of the parents’ status at the date of the birth, and of any later change.
- For the ten-year route, proof of residence for every year: school, health and immigration records, with a note of every absence.
- Identity documents for the parents, and the consent of those with parental responsibility.
After registration
When the child is registered they receive a certificate of registration, and can apply for a British passport. See British passports. A child under 18 does not usually need to attend a citizenship ceremony.
If an application is refused
A refusal can be challenged by asking for a reconsideration, which has its own fee and a short time limit. See citizenship refusal and reconsideration.
How we help
We assess which route applies, check the dates and absences, prepare the evidence and the application, and advise on a fee waiver where the family cannot pay. A consultation costs from £99.
