British citizenship for children: registration and Form MN1

When a child is already British, when they need to be registered, how Form MN1 works, and what it costs in 2026.

Checked against UK Visas and Immigration (Home Office) · Oct 20263 min read

Check first: is your child already British?

Many children are British automatically and do not need to apply.

A child born in the UK on or after 1 January 1983 is usually British automatically if, at the time of the birth, one parent was a British citizen or 'settled' in the UK (for example with ILR or EU settled status).
A child born outside the UK may be British automatically through a British parent, depending on how that parent became British.

Use the GOV.UK checker at https://www.gov.uk/check-british-citizenship. A child who is already British does not need to be registered and can apply directly for a British passport.

The main ways to register a child

Form MN1 is for children under 18. The most common routes are:

Section 1(3): the child was born in the UK, was not British at birth, and one parent has since become British or settled. The child is entitled to register, as long as the application is made before they turn 18.
Section 3(5): the child was born abroad to a parent who is British by descent. The child and their parents must have lived in the UK for the 3 years before the application, with no more than 270 days' absence, and both parents must consent. Guide MN1 says there is no discretion over absences above 270 days, and that if the parents' marriage has ended, only the child and one parent need to meet the residence requirement.
Section 3(2): the child was born abroad to a British by descent parent who had lived in the UK for 3 continuous years before the child's birth.
Section 3(1): the Home Secretary's discretion. Guide MN1 says caseworkers normally expect both parents to be British, or one British and the other settled, and look at where the child's future is likely to lie and the length of residence, usually at least 2 years, especially for children over 13.

A child born in the UK who lived here for their first 10 years uses Form T instead, and can apply at any age.

What the child does not need

There is no Life in the UK Test and no English language requirement for children who register.
Children under 18 do not attend a citizenship ceremony. If the child turns 18 before the application is decided, they will be invited to a ceremony, and the £130 ceremony fee is then payable.

Children aged 10 or over must meet the good character requirement, and the form asks about them. Guide MN1 explains how a child's age and understanding are taken into account.

Fees and fee waiver

From 8 April 2026, the Home Office fee to register a child under 18 as a British citizen is £1,000 per child. Before that date it was £1,214. The fee for registering a child under the provisions for Irish citizens is £607.

GOV.UK says a child who cannot afford the fee may be able to apply for a fee waiver, through the online fee waiver service. Check the current fee on GOV.UK before you pay, because fees usually change in April.

Referees and documents

Guide MN1 says the application must be endorsed by 2 referees who have each known the applicant for at least 3 years and are not related to the child or each other. For children, at least one referee should be someone who has dealt with the child in a professional role, such as a teacher, doctor or social worker.

You will normally need the child's full birth certificate showing the parents, evidence of the parents' nationality or settled status, and evidence of residence for the route you use. Guide MN1 lists the exact documents for each section of the Act.

How to apply and how long it takes

Most families in the UK apply online through GOV.UK. The paper Form MN1 is mainly for people in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or a British overseas territory, and for postal applications.

The Home Office aims to decide citizenship applications within 6 months. Since 20 July 2026, applicants inside the UK have been able to use the citizenship priority service, which usually gives a decision within 30 working days for an extra fee. Once registered, the child receives a certificate and can apply for a British passport.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Read Guide MN1 at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/form-mn1-guidance before you apply.

Not legal advice. This guide is general information compiled from official sources. Rules change — confirm your own situation with UK Visas and Immigration (Home Office).

Sources