LumenHow much does it cost to apply for British citizenship in 2026?
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An adult application for British citizenship by naturalisation costs £1,839 in total: the Home Office fee of £1,709 plus £130 for the citizenship ceremony, which is added to the application fee. These are the fees in the Home Office table from 8 October 2026. Registering a child as a British citizen costs £1,000.
Key facts
| What | The source says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Naturalisation as a British citizen (adult) | £1,709 | Home Office fees table, 8 October 2026, section 10 |
| Citizenship ceremony | £130, added to the application fee | Fees table, section 10 and footnote 5 |
| Total for an adult | £1,839 | GOV.UK, “Apply for citizenship if you have ILR”, Eligibility and fees |
| Registering a child as a British citizen | £1,000 per child (plus £130 if the child turns 18 during the application) | Fees table, section 10 and footnote 6; GOV.UK, Apply for your children |
| Registering an adult as a British citizen | £1,540 | Fees table, section 10 |
| Biometrics (fingerprints and photo) | No fee | GOV.UK, Eligibility and fees |
| Life in the UK Test | £50, paid separately when you book | GOV.UK, Life in the UK Test; fees table |
What you pay and when
The Home Office fees table that applies from 8 October 2026 lists naturalisation as a British citizen at £1,709, with no change from the previous fee. A footnote says the £130 citizenship ceremony fee is added to the application fee. The Home Office guidance gives the total: £1,839.
The fee covers the application only. You also need to have passed the Life in the UK Test, which costs £50 per attempt and is booked separately.
Children
Children are not included in a parent’s naturalisation. GOV.UK says you must apply separately for each child: registering a child costs £1,000, and if the child turns 18 during the application, £130 for the ceremony is due too. GOV.UK says a fee waiver may be available if the child is under 18 and you cannot afford the fee.
How long it takes
The Home Office guidance says you will usually get a decision within 6 months; some applications take longer, and you will be told before 6 months have passed if yours will.
Sources
- Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 October 2026, section 10 "Nationality" (GOV.UK) checked 2026-10-25
- GOV.UK: Apply for citizenship if you have indefinite leave to remain or 'settled status', sections "Eligibility and fees", "Apply for your children" and "After you've applied" (Home Office) checked 2026-10-25
- GOV.UK: Life in the UK Test, section "Book the Life in the UK Test" (Home Office) checked 2026-10-25
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