Understanding the total cost of applying for British citizenship by naturalisation is essential before you apply. The process of Naturalisation is governed by the British Nationality Act 1981, and the application fee is substantial and non refundable. As of 08 April 2026, the total application fee is £1,839 per adult applicant, which includes the citizenship ceremony fee of £130.
In addition to the application fee, applicants should budget for tests, biometric processing and, where relevant, document translation or professional representation. This guide outlines the current Home Office fees for 2026 and explains the additional costs commonly associated with applying for British citizenship by naturalisation.
British Citizenship Application Fees 08 April 2026 Breakdown
| Fee Type | Cost |
| Naturalisation application fee (Form AN) | £1,709 |
| Citizenship ceremony (mandatory) | £130 |
| Life in the UK Test | £50 |
| English language test (B1 CEFR) | £150 |
| Document translation, if required (estimated) | £20+ per document |
| Standard Service for a decision in 6-months | £0 |
| Priority Service for a decision in 6-weeks | £500 |
| TLScontact Services (UKVCAS) | £0 – £50+ |
| Legal Assistance | £500 – £1000+ |
| British Passport (first adult application) | £94.50 |
For the latest application fees, visit: Fees for citizenship applications
Application Fee (£1,709)
This is the primary fee for applying for naturalisation under section 6 of the British Nationality Act 1981. Fees must be paid in full in order to complete your online application(s) or if you send your paper form application(s) to the Home Office.
It covers assessment of:
- Residence requirements
- Absence calculations
- Good character
- English language requirement
- Life in the UK requirement
The application fee is non-refundable, even if the application is refused, rejected or withdrawn.
Only the ceremony element is refunded if the application does not proceed to approval.
Citizenship Ceremony Fee (£130)
All successful applicants must attend a citizenship ceremony within three months of receiving the invitation.
This fee covers:
- Administrative arrangements
- Issuance of the Certificate of Naturalisation
If your application is refused, this fee is refunded.
The Life in the UK Test Fee (£50)
The Life in the UK Test is mandatory unless an exemption applies.
The test:
- Must be passed before submitting Form AN
- Is booked online through the official government portal
- Can be retaken if unsuccessful
Each attempt costs £50.
Approved English Language Test (£150)
Applicants aged 18 to 64 must demonstrate English language ability at B1 CEFR level or higher unless exempt.
This is typically satisfied by:
- Passing a Secure English Language Test
- Holding a UK degree
- Holding an overseas degree confirmed by Ecctis
- Being a national of a majority English speaking country
Test provider fees vary slightly by location.
For more information on how to demonstrate the appropriate level of English proficiency, visit British Citizenship English Language Requirement.
Document Translation and Certification (£20+ per document)
All documents not in English or Welsh must be translated by a certified translator. Common documents requiring translation include birth certificates and marriage certificates. The cost depends on volume, language, and urgency.
Standard Service (£0)
The Home Office’s published processing time for naturalisation applications is up to 6 months, and complex applications may take longer. Well prepared applications usually get processed within 2-3 months, where there are no requests for further information.
Priority Services (£500)
In July 2026, the Home Office UKVI has for the first time introduced priority processing services for citizenship applications, including for naturalisation – when applying online. This service is subject to availability and you will be told if you are eligible for the priority service when you are apply. The priority service aims to give a decision within 30 working days.
UKVCAS Service Fee (£0 to £50+)
To make a valid application, you will need to submit your biometric information and supporting documents to UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS). There is no fee for:
- Submitting biometric information under a free time slot
- Self-uploading documents
However, applicants may choose optional paid services such as:
- Document scanning
- Prime time appointments and locations
TLScontact acts as the third-party provider for UKVCAS appointments in the UK. The services provided by the UKVCAS are optional.
Legal Representation Fee (£500 to £1200+)
Applicants who are uncertain about the requirements for naturalisation, lack experience with the immigration process, or wish to benefit from the support and guidance of a qualified immigration adviser are encouraged to seek professional advice or representation. Fees for legal advice and representation will vary depending on the chosen firm and the complexity of your case.
If you are unsure whether you meet the requirements for British citizenship by naturalisation, our immigration team can assess your eligibility and advise on the appropriate next steps. Call our team on 0208 757 5751 or use our Contact Form to discuss your application and receive clear, professional guidance.
British Passport Application (£94.50)
Once you receive your Certificate of Naturalisation, you may apply for your first British passport. For adults, applying online costs £94.50, while applying with a paper form costs £107. Children pay £61.50 online and £74 with a paper form for a standard passport.
What is the total cost to budget for?
The £1,839 Home Office fee is the largest single cost, but it is not the whole outlay. Most applicants also pay for the Life in the UK test, an approved English language test where one is needed, and the certified translation of any document not in English. The two worked examples below set out a realistic total, using the fees current as of 8 April 2026.
A single applicant who already meets the English requirement. An applicant who is a national of a majority English speaking country, or who holds a degree taught in English, does not pay for a separate English test. Their outlay is the £1,839 Home Office fee, the £50 Life in the UK test, and any document translation. On these figures the total is about £1,889, before translation and any legal fees.
An applicant who needs an English test, applying with a spouse. An applicant who must sit an approved B1 speaking and listening test pays that test fee on top. For a couple applying at the same time, each pays a separate Home Office fee, because every applicant makes a separate application. Two Home Office fees at £1,839, two Life in the UK tests at £50, and two English tests at about £150 come to roughly £4,078, again before translation and legal fees.
Neither example includes the optional priority service. An applicant who pays for a faster decision adds £500 per applicant to the totals above (as of July 2026).
The figures are illustrative. Test and translation costs vary by provider, and only the Home Office fees are fixed. The current Home Office figures are published on the fees for citizenship applications guide.
When Are Fees Paid?
All fees must be paid at the point of submitting the online application.
Applications submitted without payment are invalid.
What happens to the fee if my application is refused or rejected?
A refused application and a rejected application are treated differently, and the difference matters because most of the fee is not returned on a refusal. The distinction turns on whether the application was valid in the first place.
Where an application is rejected as invalid, because the full fee or the biometric information was not provided, it is not considered at all. The fee is refunded, less an administration fee of £30, as set out in the Home Office fees guidance (as of 8 April 2026).
Where a valid application is refused, the £1,709 application fee is not refunded, because it pays for the Home Office to consider the application rather than for a grant of citizenship. The £130 citizenship ceremony fee is returned where citizenship is not granted, because the ceremony does not take place. This is why a carefully prepared application matters: the main fee is spent whatever the outcome.
How much do other citizenship applications cost?
Naturalisation on Form AN is the most common route for an adult, but it is not the only citizenship application, and the fee depends on the route. The table below sets out the total fee payable for the main nationality applications, as published in the Home Office fees for citizenship applications (as of 8 April 2026).
| Application | Who it is for | Total fee payable |
|---|---|---|
| Naturalisation (Form AN) | An adult becoming British by naturalisation | £1,839 |
| Registration as an adult | An adult with an entitlement or discretion to register as British | £1,670 |
| Registration of a child (Form MN1) | A child under 18 registering as British | £1,000 |
| Renunciation of citizenship (Form RN) | A person giving up a citizenship or status | £513 |
| Right of abode (Form ROA) | A person proving the right of abode in the UK | £589 |
The naturalisation and adult registration totals both include the £130 citizenship ceremony fee, because an adult granted citizenship attends a ceremony. The child registration fee does not include a ceremony fee, as a child under 18 is not required to attend one.
How do you pay, and can you pay in instalments?
The fee is paid in full at the point of submitting the application, which for most applicants is done online through the Home Office. The Home Office does not offer a payment plan, so the whole fee is due when the application is made. An application submitted without the full fee is rejected as invalid and is not considered.
Budgeting for the full amount in advance is therefore part of preparing to apply. Because the application fee is not refunded once a valid application is considered, an applicant benefits from confirming that every requirement is met before paying and submitting.
Do the citizenship fees change with age?
The Home Office fee is the same whatever the applicant’s age. There is no reduced naturalisation fee for older applicants, and a person aged 65 or over pays the same £1,839 as any other adult.
Age can still reduce the surrounding costs. An applicant aged 65 or over is exempt from the Life in the UK test and from the English language requirement under Appendix KoLL, so they do not pay the £50 test fee or an English test fee. The Home Office application fee itself is unchanged.
Why did the citizenship fees increase in 2026?
Home Office fees are set by regulations and are reviewed from time to time, so the amount payable depends on the date of the application. The figures on this page are those in force under the fees table updated on 8 April 2026, when the naturalisation application fee became £1,709 and the total, with the ceremony fee, became £1,839.
Because the figures change, an applicant confirms the current amount before paying. The live figures are published on the Home Office fees for citizenship applications guide, and this post is updated when they change.
Are there any fee waivers or exceptions?
There is no general fee waiver for an adult applying to naturalise, so most adults pay the full fee. A fee waiver is not available simply because the fee is difficult to afford.
A limited exception applies to some children registering as British on Form MN1. Where a child is being looked after by a local authority, the fee does not apply, and a child who can show they cannot afford the fee may be able to apply for it to be waived. These exceptions are for child registration, not for adult naturalisation.
Glossary of citizenship fee terms
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Form AN | The application form used by an adult to naturalise as a British citizen |
| Naturalisation | The grant of British citizenship to an adult under section 6 of the British Nationality Act 1981 |
| Registration | The grant of British citizenship under other provisions of the Act, most often to a child on Form MN1 |
| Citizenship ceremony fee | The £130 charged for the ceremony at which an adult takes the oath and pledge and becomes British; it is included in the £1,839 total |
| Biometric enrolment | Providing fingerprints and a photograph; there is no fee for this on a citizenship application |
| Life in the UK test | The £50 test of knowledge of British life, required unless an exemption applies |
| Appendix KoLL | The Immigration Rules appendix setting the knowledge of language and life requirement, and its exemptions |
Related insights:
- British Citizenship 2026 Timeline Explained
- British Citizenship by Naturalisation FAQs 2026
- British Citizenship Mistakes to Avoid
- British Citizenship Refused – What’s Next?
Frequently Asked Questions
As of 08 April 2026, the Home Office fee is £1,839 per adult applicant, made up of a £1,709 application fee and a £130 citizenship ceremony fee. Most applicants should also budget for the Life in the UK test, an approved English language test where required, and any document translation. The current Home Office figures are published on the UK visa and immigration fees guide.
Both figures are correct but they describe different things, which is why published fees often disagree. £1,709 is the Home Office application fee on its own. £1,839 is the total you actually pay, because the £130 citizenship ceremony fee is collected at the same time and is already included. GOV.UK states the total as £1,839. You do not pay £1,839 and then a further £130.
No. The Home Office fee must be paid in full when the application is submitted, and there is no payment plan. An application sent without the full fee is rejected as invalid and is not considered, so the whole amount needs to be available before you apply.
No. The application fee is £1,839 whatever your age. An applicant aged 65 or over does, however, avoid the Life in the UK test fee and the English test fee, because they are exempt from those requirements under Appendix KoLL. The Home Office application fee itself does not change with age.
Registering a child as a British citizen on Form MN1 costs £1,000 as of 8 April 2026, which is lower than the adult naturalisation fee and does not include a ceremony fee. A child being looked after by a local authority does not pay the fee, and a child who cannot afford it may be able to have it waived.
The fee is set by regulations and is higher than the administrative cost of processing, because the Home Office is permitted to set nationality fees above cost. The £1,709 application fee is not refunded even if the application is refused, because it pays for the application to be considered rather than for a grant of citizenship, which is why preparing the application carefully matters.
The £1,709 application fee is not refunded if the application is refused, because it covers the cost of considering the application rather than the outcome. The £130 ceremony fee is returned where citizenship is not granted, as the ceremony does not take place. This makes preparing the application carefully the first time important.
There is no general fee waiver for adult naturalisation, so most applicants pay the full Home Office fee. A limited fee exception can apply to some children registering under Form MN1 who are in local authority care or cannot afford the fee. Adults applying to naturalise are expected to pay the standard fee.
The £130 ceremony fee is paid at the same time as the application, as part of the £1,839 total. You do not pay it again when you attend the ceremony. If citizenship is not granted, the ceremony fee is returned.
How We Can Assist You
Applying for British Citizenship by Naturalisation is a significant legal and financial commitment. A well-prepared application reduces the risk of refusal, protects your investment, and ensures peace of mind. At Whytecroft Ford, we offer:
- Tailored eligibility assessment for naturalisation
- Fixed-fee application preparation and document guidance
- Legal advice on absences, language exemptions, and good character
- Representation and communication with the Home Office
- Support with joint family applications
Our legal team brings years of experience in assisting clients through the final step of their UK immigration journey. We take pride in delivering a meticulous, client-centred approach to every application.
Contact us today to arrange a consultation and begin your British citizenship journey with confidence. Call our team on 0208 757 5751 or use our contact form.
