Key overviews
- Form MN1 registers a child under 18 as a British citizen by application.
- The Home Office fee is £1,000 per child as at 8 April 2026.
- Both parents must consent to the registration.
- Children aged 10 or over must meet the good character requirement.
- Two referees are required, with at least one having dealt with the child in a professional role.
Form MN1 for Registration and Form AN for Naturalisation
The biggest source of applicant confusion is treating Form MN1 like an adult naturalisation under Form AN. They are different forms, with different fees, requirements, and steps after a grant.
| Aspect | Form MN1 (child under 18) | Form AN (adult 18+) |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee (8 April 2026) | £1,000 | £1,709 |
| Life in the UK test | Not required | Required |
| English language (B1+) | Not required | Required (unless exempt) |
| Good character requirement | Applies from age 10 | Always applies |
| Citizenship ceremony | Only where child turns 18 during processing | Always required |
| Referees: professional contact with applicant | At least one referee must have dealt with the child in a professional role | Adult standard only |
| Both-parent consent | Required (with exceptions) | Not applicable |
| Home Office processing target | 6 months from receipt | 6 months from receipt |
For parents who are also naturalising, our Form AN guide explains the adult form. Where the family is applying together, it may be possible to apply jointly on application form AN.
Is Form MN1 the right form for your child?
Form MN1 is the correct form for most child registration routes under the British Nationality Act 1981.
A child who is already British automatically at birth, for example because a parent was a British citizen or settled in the UK at the time of birth, does not need to be registered. See British citizenship by automatic acquisition.
Application Form MN1 can be used in the following scenarios:
- birth in the UK to a parent who later settles or naturalises (section 1(3))
- birth in the UK to a parent who joins the UK armed forces (section 1(3A))
- discretionary registration (section 3(1))
- birth abroad to a British-by-descent parent (sections 3(2) and 3(5))
- birth abroad to a parent in the UK armed forces (section 4D)
- children of unmarried parents who would otherwise qualify (section 4F)
Form MN1 does not cover:
- the 10-years-in-UK route under section 1(4), which uses Form T
- stateless children, who use Form S
- British Overseas Territories citizenship, which uses Form MN2
For more information on eligibility, visit British citizenship by registration.
What documents are required for Form MN1?
All MN1 applications require evidence of identity: the child’s full birth certificate showing both parents’ names, the child’s passport or travel document, and proof of address. Beyond identity, the documents required depend on the case type. The documents required depend on the applicant’s circumstances.
Child living in the UK
- the child’s full birth certificate
- the child’s passport of entry to the UK and any subsequent passports
- the parents’ marriage or civil partnership certificate
- evidence of any guardian’s authority where the application is not made by a parent
Child born abroad to a British parent
- the child’s birth certificate
- the parents’ marriage certificate
- the British parent’s birth certificate or passport
- the British grandparent’s birth certificate, naturalisation or registration certificate, or passport
- the grandparents’ marriage certificate
- documentary evidence of the qualifying UK residence period (the British parent’s 3 years before the child’s birth, or the child and both parents’ 3 years before the application)
Two referee declarations sit alongside the document pack. Each referee completes their part of the form and supplies contact details for the Home Office to verify.
Form MN1 referee requirements
Form MN1 requires two referees to endorse the application, one professional of any nationality, and one British passport holder who is either a professional or aged 25 or over, each having known the applicant for at least 3 years, with no unspent imprisonable convictions in the last 10 years.
At least one of the two referees must be a person who has dealt with the child in a professional role, such as a teacher or a nurse.
Where a child cannot provide a professional referee, two referees who meet the adult standard may be accepted. Documents must be supplied showing that you have tried to obtain a professional referee and could not.
The 3-year acquaintance must be with the child, not the parent. For a very young child the 3-year rule cannot literally apply. In that case the referee should have known the child for as long as the child has been alive, with the supporting letter explaining the position.
The full baseline referee rules, including disqualifying factors and acceptable professions, are in our British citizenship referees guide.
How much does Form MN1 cost in 2026?
The Form MN1 application fee is £1,000 per child as at 8 April 2026. There is no joint family fee. Where two or more children are being registered, each child’s fee is charged separately.
The fee fell from £1,214 to £1,000 on 8 April 2026. Most other Home Office fees rose on the same date, including adult naturalisation under Form AN (now £1,709). The £214 reduction for MN1 follows years of campaigning and litigation over the unaffordability of child citizenship registration.
The fee covers Home Office processing of the application. A £130 citizenship ceremony fee applies only where the child turns 18 between submission and decision.
Form MN1 good character requirement for children aged 10 and over
A child aged 10 or over must meet the good character requirement at the date of application. Home Office caseworkers assess conduct against the same broad framework used for adult naturalisation: criminality, dishonesty, immigration history, and notoriety. The threshold is moderated by the child’s age, per the nationality policy on good character (updated 30 April 2026).
How long does Form MN1 take?
The Home Office aims to decide most MN1 applications within 6 months from the date the application is received and biometrics are provided. Straightforward cases often complete in 2 to 4 months. Cases involving discretionary registration, residence verification for born-abroad routes, or good character review for older teenagers can take longer. The Home Office writes to you where a decision is expected to take longer than 6 months.
Where the application is granted while the child is still under 18, a certificate of registration is issued directly. No ceremony is required. The child can then apply for a British passport using the certificate.
Where the child turns 18 between submission and decision, a citizenship ceremony is required. The Home Office cannot issue the certificate of registration until the oath and pledge of allegiance are taken at a ceremony. The £130 ceremony fee applies. The ceremony must normally be arranged through the local council within 3 months of the invitation. If the ceremony is not attended within that window without good reason, the grant may lapse and the application be refused.
Worked example. A child aged 17 years and 9 months at the date the application is submitted will reach 18 during the 6-month processing window. The application itself remains under MN1 and does not need to be re-made under Form AN. A ceremony is required, the £130 ceremony fee applies, and the parent should plan for the ceremony from day one rather than treat it as a contingency.
The child does not lose any other nationality through registration, unless the other country of nationality requires renunciation under its own law. That is a matter of the other country’s domestic law, not UK law.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The Knowledge of Language and Life in the UK (KoLL) requirements apply only to adult naturalisation under Form AN. Children under 18 registered under MN1 are not tested on Life in the UK or English. KoLL becomes relevant only where a separate adult application is made later, for example where the child turns 18 before the application is decided.
The fee is paid online through the Home Office payment portal as part of the form submission. Major UK and international debit and credit cards are accepted.
Where the child’s route allows an overseas application, yes. The form and fee are the same. The biometric appointment is booked at a UK Visa Application Centre abroad, not at a UK biometrics centre.
A citizenship ceremony is required where the child turns 18 between submission and decision. The Home Office cannot issue the certificate of registration until the oath and pledge of allegiance are taken. The £130 ceremony fee applies. The ceremony must normally be attended within 3 months of the invitation.
How Whytecroft Ford can help with Form MN1
Form MN1 is procedurally clear, but small errors can cause complexities or refusals. Our immigration team supports families through the registration route.
To speak to our naturalisation and registration team, call 0208 757 5751 or use the contact form at whytecroftford.com.
Sources
- Home Office, Guide MN1: Registration as a British citizen (February 2026)
- MN1 Application Form, GOV.UK
- Fees for citizenship applications (8 April 2026). British Nationality Act 1981
This article provides general information on UK immigration matters as at 18 May 2026 and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration rules, Home Office guidance, processing times, and fees change frequently and sometimes without notice. You should not rely on this content as a substitute for advice on your individual circumstances. Whytecroft Ford is regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) at Level 1 and provides advice and representation within the Immigration Rules.
