Before starting the process of applying for British citizenship, either on behalf of your family or applying for yourself, it is essential to understand the costs of British citizenship. Most British citizenship require the payment of the British nationality fee upfront (and, in the case of children, the British citizenship application fee), which for large families will mean a pretty heavy initial outlay.
How to Apply for British Citizenship
You can visit the official website of the UK government for immigration and visas and fill out your application form. You will need to pay £1,630 for naturalization and £130 for the naturalization ceremony. You will also be required to pay additional fees for biometric enrollment and tests that you are required to take.
How Much Does It Cost to Apply?
Normally, an adult citizenship application will require some fee payment amounting to £1,630. This amount will be reduced to £1,214 if the application is being made for a child. Prices to apply for adult citizenship also include:
- £50 for taking the Life in the UK Test
- Around £150 for the English test
You will not get the money you paid back if your application is rejected. Refusal may happen for many reasons, such as being ineligible or sending the wrong supporting documents.
If you are planning to apply for British Citizenship and you cannot afford the fee, then you can apply for a 'fee waiver.' The waiver means you are not required to pay the fee.
To apply for the fee waiver, you will have to demonstrate that you do not have enough access to income or savings to pay both the fee and necessary expenses such as food and rent. For the last six months, amongst others, you will have to provide documentation of income and expenditure, such as:
- Bank statements for all accounts
- Pay slips
- Utility bills
- Tenancy agreement
Also, if the social services make payment to you to help you look after your child, you will obtain an automatic waiver of the fee as long as you submit the documentary evidence.
To apply for a fee waiver, visit the GOV.UK website and apply there.
You may also need to pay £19.20 for Biometric enrollment after submitting your visa and also £82.50 if you want to apply for a British passport as well. The British passport application fee will be reduced to £53.50 if you are applying for a child.
Conclusion
Once you have submitted your application form along with the fees, you will need to wait till the Home Office arrives at a decision. It usually takes around 6 months for the Home Office to process British Citizenship visas. Unfortunately, there is no premium fast-track service available for these types of applications.
