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Is my child born in the UK automatically a British citizen?

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Not automatically. Under the British Nationality Act 1981, a child born in the UK is a British citizen at birth only if the father or mother was a British citizen or settled in the UK, for example with indefinite leave to remain, at the time of birth. Otherwise the child can be registered later, for example when a parent settles.

Key facts

What The law says Source
Born in the UK, a parent British or settled at birth British citizen from birth British Nationality Act 1981, s. 1(1)
Born in the UK, a parent in the armed forces at birth British citizen from birth (births on or after the relevant day) BNA 1981, s. 1(1A)
Born in the UK, parent settles or becomes British later Child is entitled to be registered, if the application is made while the child is under 18 BNA 1981, s. 1(3)
Born in the UK, lived here for the first 10 years Entitled to be registered after age 10 if absent no more than 90 days in each of the first 10 years BNA 1981, s. 1(4)
Registration fee for a child £1,000 Home Office fees table, 8 October 2026, section 10

The rule at birth

GOV.UK says being born in the UK does not automatically make you British; it depends on when you were born and your parents’ circumstances. For births after the Act came into force, section 1(1) gives British citizenship at birth if, at the time of birth, the father or mother is a British citizen or “settled” in the UK. The Home Office guidance says, in line with this, that a child born in the UK after you were granted indefinite leave to remain may automatically be a British citizen.

If the child was born before you settled

A child born in the UK before you got indefinite leave to remain is not British at birth through you, but section 1(3) gives the child an entitlement to be registered as a British citizen if, while the child is under 18, a parent becomes British or settled in the UK and an application is made. GOV.UK’s guidance says you can apply to register a child born in the UK before you were granted ILR, and that you must apply separately for each child.

The 10-year route

Even if neither parent settles, section 1(4) entitles a person born in the UK to be registered as a British citizen on an application made after age 10, if they were not absent from the UK for more than 90 days in each of their first 10 years.

Cost

Registering a child costs £1,000 per child under the Home Office fees table from 8 October 2026. GOV.UK says that if the child is under 18 and you cannot afford the fee, you may be able to apply for a fee waiver. If the child turns 18 during the application, £130 for the citizenship ceremony is due as well.

Sources

  1. British Nationality Act 1981, section 1 (revised text, legislation.gov.uk) checked 2026-10-25
  2. GOV.UK: Apply for citizenship if you have indefinite leave to remain or 'settled status', section "Apply for your children" (Home Office) checked 2026-10-25
  3. GOV.UK: Check if you can become a British citizen, section "If you were born in the UK" (Home Office) checked 2026-10-25
  4. Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 October 2026, section 10 "Nationality" (GOV.UK) checked 2026-10-25

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