UK Citizenship: 6 Registration Routes Where Children Can Request a Fee Waiver

The UK government has identified six British citizenship registration routes under which children under 18 may request a waiver of the application fee.

The guidance applies to children who are eligible to register as British citizens under the British Nationality Act 1981. However, being eligible for one of the routes does not automatically mean the fee will be waived.

Applicants must make a fee waiver request, and the relevant conditions must be met before the charge can be removed.

The guidance could be significant for families facing the high cost of citizenship registration, particularly where several children are applying or where a child’s nationality circumstances are complicated.

Which children can request a UK citizenship fee waiver?

The UK government has outlined six application routes that can be used when requesting a citizenship registration fee waiver.

They cover children who are stateless, certain children born in the UK, some people with specific British nationality statuses and a route connected to residence in Hong Kong before 1997.

1. Form MN1 for children under 18

The MN1 application is used for the registration of children under 18 as British citizens in a range of circumstances.

Children who are eligible to register through this route can request a fee waiver if they meet the requirements for financial assistance.

This is one of the broader routes covered by the government’s guidance because it applies to several circumstances in which a child may be entitled to British citizenship registration.

2. Forms S2 and S3 for stateless children

The second category covers Forms S2 and S3, which relate to stateless people seeking registration as British citizens.

Statelessness can create particularly complex nationality situations because a person may not be recognised as a citizen of any country.

The inclusion of these routes means eligible applicants under 18 who fall within the relevant statutory provisions can ask for the registration fee to be waived.

3. Form T for certain children born in the UK

The third route uses Form T.

It applies to people who were born in the UK on or after January 1, 1983, and who lived in the country until they reached the age of 10.

This route can be relevant to people whose connection to the UK began from birth and continued throughout their childhood.

Applicants who meet the citizenship registration requirements under Form T can request consideration for a fee waiver.

4. Form B(OS) for certain British nationality statuses

The fourth route is Form B(OS).

It covers people with certain British nationality statuses, including British Overseas citizens, British subjects, British protected persons and British Nationals (Overseas).

The guidance specifies that the relevant applicants must not hold another citizenship or nationality.

This makes the route particularly specific. Having one of the listed British nationality statuses alone does not mean every person automatically qualifies for citizenship registration or a fee waiver.

The underlying nationality requirements still have to be satisfied.

5. Form B(OTA) for British Overseas Territories-related cases

The fifth route is Form B(OTA).

This route covers certain people connected to British Overseas Territories and related British nationality statuses.

As with the other routes, the fee waiver is linked to eligibility for citizenship registration under the relevant provisions of British nationality law.

Families considering this route need to establish whether the applicant’s nationality and circumstances fall within the requirements before submitting a waiver request.

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6. Form EM and pre-1997 Hong Kong residence

The sixth route is Form EM, which relates to registration as a British citizen based on residence in Hong Kong before the territory’s 1997 handover.

The government guidance lists this route as eligible for fee waiver requests, although it is described as being available on paper only.

That means its inclusion in the guidance does not necessarily indicate that it represents a commonly available route for new applicants today.

Does everyone under 18 get British citizenship for free?

No.

This is one of the most important details in the UK government’s guidance.

The six routes identify situations where an eligible applicant can request a citizenship registration fee waiver. They do not create a general rule allowing every child under 18 to register as a British citizen without paying.

The applicant must first qualify for citizenship registration under the relevant part of the British Nationality Act 1981.

The fee waiver is a separate part of the process.

Why the fee waiver matters to families

The cost of registering a child as a British citizen has been a significant issue for families who may already meet the legal requirements for citizenship but struggle to afford the application.

For households with more than one eligible child, the financial burden can be even greater.

The government’s guidance provides a clearer framework for families to determine whether their child’s particular registration route is one for which a fee waiver request can be submitted.

It also highlights an important distinction between being entitled to apply for citizenship and being able to have the application fee waived.

What documents may families need?

The exact evidence required depends on the citizenship registration route.

Applicants generally need to provide documents supporting the child’s identity, nationality circumstances, residence history, parentage or other facts relevant to the particular application.

A family seeking a fee waiver may also need to provide information demonstrating why paying the fee would create a financial barrier.

The evidence requirements can differ significantly depending on the form being used, so applicants should check the requirements attached to their specific route before submitting an application.

What the UK citizenship fee waiver means for Nigerian families

For Nigerians living in the UK, the announcement may be relevant where a child has a British citizenship registration route under the British Nationality Act.

However, being Nigerian does not itself qualify a child for the waiver.

The child’s circumstances must fall under one of the eligible registration routes, and the fee waiver request must satisfy the applicable requirements.

A Nigerian family with a child born in Britain, for instance, would still need to establish whether the child qualifies under the relevant citizenship provisions. Birth in the UK does not automatically make every child a British citizen.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can request a UK citizenship fee waiver?

Children under 18 who are eligible to register as British citizens under the British Nationality Act 1981 may request a fee waiver through the routes identified by the UK government.

How many UK citizenship routes are covered by the fee waiver guidance?

The government has identified six registration routes: MN1, S2/S3, T, B(OS), B(OTA) and EM.

Can every child under 18 get British citizenship for free?

No. The fee waiver is not automatic. The child must qualify for citizenship registration under an eligible route and meet the requirements for the fee waiver.

What is Form MN1 used for?

Form MN1 is used for registering children under 18 as British citizens in circumstances covered by the relevant provisions of British nationality law.

What is Form T for UK citizenship?

Form T relates to people born in the UK on or after January 1, 1983, who lived in the UK until they reached the age of 10, subject to the applicable citizenship requirements.

Can stateless children request a UK citizenship fee waiver?

Yes. Forms S2 and S3 are among the routes identified for fee waiver requests involving stateless persons seeking British citizenship registration.

Can Nigerians apply for the UK citizenship fee waiver?

Nigerian nationality alone does not qualify someone for the waiver. A Nigerian child must meet the requirements of an eligible British citizenship registration route and satisfy the fee waiver conditions.

Does being born in the UK automatically give a child British citizenship?

No. British citizenship is not automatically granted to every person born in the UK. The circumstances of the child’s birth, including the parents’ immigration or citizenship status, can affect eligibility.

What is Form B(OS)?

Form B(OS) covers certain people with British nationality statuses such as British Overseas citizens, British subjects, British protected persons and British Nationals (Overseas), subject to the requirements of the relevant citizenship route.

What is Form EM?

Form EM is connected to registration as a British citizen through residence in Hong Kong before 1997. The route is listed in the fee waiver guidance but is described as being available on paper only.