You were born on or after 1 July 2006

You’re automatically a British citizen if you were born outside the UK and all of the following apply: you were born on or after 1 July 2006 your mother or father was a British citizen when you were born your British parent could pass on their citizenship to you If your father was a British citizen when you were born and your mother was married to someone else at the time, you may not automatically be a British citizen. You might be eligible to apply for citizenship using form UKF . Your British parent could pass on their citizenship to you if they were one of the following: born or adopted in the UK given citizenship after applying for it in their own right (not based on having a British parent) working as a Crown servant when you were born (for example in the diplomatic service, overseas civil service or armed forces) If you qualify for citizenship in this way, your children will not automatically become British if they’re born outside the UK. Check if you qualify another way . If you’re automatically a citizen, you can apply for: a child’s passport if you’re under 16 an adult passport if you’re over 16 a letter confirming your citizenship (your ‘immigration status’) If you live in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or a British overseas territory , there’s a different way to get a letter confirming your citizenship . If you’re not automatically a citizen You may be eligible to apply for citizenship in one of these situations: you’ve lived in the UK with your parents your British parent lived in the UK before you were born you were adopted outside the UK your father was a British citizen when you were born and your mother was married to someone else at the time you were born in the UK and your father had indefinite leave to remain in the UK when you were born, and your mother was married to someone else at the time If you’ve lived in the UK with your parents You can apply if all of the following are true: you’re under 18 your mother or father was a British citizen when you were born you’ve lived in the UK with your parents for the 3 years before the date you apply You must prove that you and your parents: have not spent more than 270 days outside the UK during those 3 years were in the UK exactly 3 years before the day the Home Office receives your application If your parents are divorced or legally separated, only one parent needs to live in the UK with you. Both parents must consent to your application. If your British parent lived in the UK before you were born You can apply if all of the following are true: you’re under 18 your mother or father was a British citizen when you were born your British parent lived in the UK for at least 3 years before you were born your British parent did not spend more than 270 days outside the UK during those 3 years your British parent had a British mother or father who could pass on their citizenship to them Your British parent’s mother or father could pass on their citizenship if they were one of the following: born or adopted in the UK given citizenship after applying for it in their own right (not based on having a British parent) working as a Crown servant when your parent was born (for example in the diplomatic service, overseas civil service or armed forces) Fees You’ll need to pay £1,214 to apply. You may be able to apply for a fee waiver if you’re under 18 and cannot afford to pay the fee. Before you apply Check if you can apply . It may take longer than the usual 6 months to get a decision because of coronavirus (COVID-19). You’ll get extra time to provide your fingerprints, photo and additional information, and to book a citizenship ceremony. This will not affect the decision. How to apply Fill in the form online . You’ll be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services ( UKVCAS ) service point to provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photo). You do not need to send your documents anywhere. You can either: upload copies into the online service have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment You can also apply by post . This will take much longer than applying online because of coronavirus. Avoid applying by post, especially if you need your documents back by a specific date. If you’re applying from the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or a British overseas territory If you live in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or a British overseas territory , you have to apply by post or in person instead - check which you can do with your governor’s office. You’ll be told where to give your biometric information after you apply. Get help to apply online You can get help with completing the online form if you: do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device do not have internet access You can only use this service if you’re applying in the UK. You cannot get immigration advice through this service.

You were born between 1983 and June 2006

You’re automatically a British citizen if you were born outside the UK and all of the following apply: you were born between 1 January 1983 and 30 June 2006 your mother or father was a British citizen when you were born (they must have been married if your father had British citizenship but your mother did not) your British parent could pass on their citizenship to you Your British parent could pass on their citizenship to you if they were one of the following: born or adopted in the UK given citizenship after applying for it in their own right (not based on having a British parent) working as a Crown servant when you were born (for example in the diplomatic service, overseas civil service or armed forces) If you qualify for citizenship in this way, your children will not automatically become British if they’re born outside the UK. Check if you qualify another way . If you’re automatically a citizen, you can apply for a UK passport or ask for a letter confirming your citizenship (your ‘immigration status’) . If you live in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or a British overseas territory , there’s a different way to get a letter confirming your citizenship . If your British father was not married to your mother You may be eligible to apply for citizenship if your father was a British citizen when you were born. He must also have been one of the following: born or adopted in the UK given citizenship after applying for it in his own right (not based on having a British parent) working as a Crown servant when you were born (for example in the diplomatic service, overseas civil service or armed forces) Fees You’ll need to pay £130 to attend a citizenship ceremony. How to apply Read the guidance to check you can apply . It may take longer than the usual 6 months to get a decision because of coronavirus (COVID-19). You’ll get extra time to provide your fingerprints, photo and additional information, and to book a citizenship ceremony. This will not affect the decision. Fill in the form online . You’ll be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services ( UKVCAS ) service point to provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photo). You do not need to send your documents anywhere. You can either: upload copies into the online service have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment You can also apply by post . This will take much longer than applying online because of coronavirus. Avoid applying by post, especially if you need your documents back by a specific date. If you’re applying from the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or a British overseas territory If you live in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or a British overseas territory, you have to apply by post or in person instead - check which you can do with your governor’s office. You’ll be told where to give your biometric information after you apply. Get help to apply online You can get help with completing the online form if you: do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device do not have internet access You can only use this service if you’re applying in the UK. You cannot get immigration advice through this service.

You were born before 1983

You may automatically be a British citizen if you were born before 1 January 1983 and: you were born outside the UK your father is British When you were born, your father must have been all of the following: a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies married to your mother able to pass on his citizenship to you Your father could pass on his citizenship to you if he was one of the following: born or adopted in the UK given citizenship after applying for it in his own right (not based on having a British parent) working as a Crown servant when you were born (for example in the diplomatic service, overseas civil service or armed forces) If you qualify for citizenship in this way, your children will not automatically become British if they’re born outside the UK. Check if you qualify another way . If you’re automatically a citizen, you can apply for a UK passport or ask for a letter confirming your citizenship (your ‘immigration status’) . If you live in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or a British overseas territory , there’s a different way to get a letter confirming your citizenship . If you’re not automatically a citizen You may be eligible to apply for citizenship if either: your parents were not married when you were born your mother was British, not your father Your mother or father must have been a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies when you were born. They must also have been one of the following: born or adopted in the UK given citizenship after applying for it in their own right (not based on having a British parent) working as a Crown servant when you were born (for example in the diplomatic service, overseas civil service or armed forces) Fees You’ll need to pay £130 to attend a citizenship ceremony. Before you apply Check you can apply if: your father is British your mother is British It may take longer than the usual 6 months to get a decision because of coronavirus (COVID-19). You’ll get extra time to provide your fingerprints, photo and additional information, and to book a citizenship ceremony. This will not affect the decision. How to apply You can: apply online if your father is British apply online if your mother is British You’ll be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services ( UKVCAS ) service point to provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photo). You do not need to send your documents anywhere. You can either: upload copies into the online service have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment You can also apply by post if your father is British or your mother is British . This will take much longer than applying online because of coronavirus. Avoid applying by post, especially if you need your documents back by a specific date. If you’re applying from the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or a British overseas territory If you live in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or a British overseas territory , you have to apply in person or by post instead - check which you can do with your governor’s office. The form you send depends on which of your parents is British: use form UKF if your father is British use form UKM if your mother is British You’ll be told where to give your biometric information after you apply. Get help to apply online You can get help with completing the online form if you: do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device do not have internet access You can only use this service if you’re applying in the UK. You cannot get immigration advice through this service.

You’ll usually get a decision within 6 months - some applications can take longer. It may take longer than the usual 6 months to get a decision because of coronavirus (COVID-19). This will not affect the decision. You’ll be told if you need to provide more information to help with your application. If your circumstances change You should contact UK Visas and Immigration (part of the Home Office) if your situation changes during your application (for example, you move house, get married or are arrested). Nationality contact centre nationalityenquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk You might be asked to attend an interview where you’ll need to speak without an interpreter. Attending a citizenship ceremony You’ll need to attend a citizenship ceremony if your application is successful and you’re 18 years old or over. Travelling to and from the UK Once you get a British passport you must use this to enter the UK. If you do not want a British passport you can apply for a certificate of entitlement instead. You cannot enter the UK using your certificate of British citizenship.

Apply for citizenship if you have a British parent

Who can apply

You may be eligible for British citizenship if you have a British parent.

It depends on where and when you were born, and your parents’ circumstances.

You were born in the UK

Check your eligibility for citizenship if you were born in the UK.

You were born outside the UK

British citizenship is normally automatically passed down one generation to children born outside the UK.

For example, you might automatically become a citizen if you’re born outside the UK to a British parent. But your children will not automatically be citizens if they’re born outside the UK.

If you’re not automatically a citizen, you may be eligible to apply to ‘register’ as one.

Check your eligibility if you were born:

on or after 1 July 2006
between 1983 and June 2006
before 1983

This is one way to apply for British citizenship. Check if you’re eligible to apply another way - including through the Windrush scheme.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Apply for citizenship if you have a British parent

Who can apply

You were born in the UK

You were born outside the UK

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Apply for citizenship if you have a British parent

Who can apply

You were born in the UK

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