British Citizenship Cost: The Full 2026 Breakdown
Adult naturalisation costs £1,839, ceremony included. Here is exactly what you pay, what tests add, and the realistic total for you and your family.
British citizenship costs £1,839 for an adult naturalising in 2026 — a £1,709 application fee plus a £130 ceremony fee, both paid when you apply. Registering a child under 18 costs £1,000. Unlike ILR, there is no separate biometric fee and no priority service. Once you add the Life in the UK test and, if needed, an English test, a realistic single-adult budget is closer to £2,100.
The headline cost
For most people, “the cost of British citizenship” means the fee for naturalisation on Form AN, which is how adults with settled status become British. From 8 April 2026 that fee is £1,839 in total, made up of a £1,709 application fee and the £130 citizenship ceremony fee, which the Home Office now collects upfront when you submit. The fee is the same whether you qualify through the 5-year route or the 3-year route as the spouse of a British citizen — it is a flat rate.
Full fee breakdown
These are the current Home Office charges for the different citizenship routes:
| Application | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Adult naturalisation (Form AN) | £1,839 | £1,709 application + £130 ceremony, paid together |
| Adult registration (where eligible) | £1,540 | Plus the £130 ceremony where an adult attends one |
| Child registration (under 18) | £1,000 | Per child; no ceremony fee unless they turn 18 first |
| Biometric enrolment | £0 | No separate biometric fee for citizenship |
| Priority / super priority | N/A | No priority service exists for citizenship |
Source: GOV.UK, fees for citizenship applications, in force from 8 April 2026. Different fees apply to British overseas territories citizens and some registration routes. Always confirm the live figure on GOV.UK before paying.
Your realistic total budget
The Home Office fee is not the whole picture. Most adults also need to have passed the Life in the UK test and to prove their English. If you already met these for ILR, you can usually reuse them — the Life in the UK pass never expires — but if not, budget for them. A typical single-adult total looks like this:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Naturalisation fee (incl. ceremony) | £1,839 |
| Life in the UK test (if not already passed) | £50 |
| English test (if still needed) | ~£150 |
| Document translations (if any) | from ~£50 |
| Typical total | ~£2,089–£2,100 |
Source: GOV.UK citizenship fees and Life in the UK test fee; English test fees vary by approved provider. Excludes any optional professional or adviser fees.
What it costs for a family
As with ILR, there is no family discount — each person is charged separately. A couple naturalising together pays two full fees, so £3,678 in Home Office fees alone, before tests. Where an adult naturalises (£1,709 + £130) and a child registers (£1,000), a parent-and-child total starts at £2,839 before tests and translations. Children register at the lower £1,000 rate, but with multiple children the total climbs quickly.
Refunds, waivers and a replacement certificate
- Refused after consideration: the application fee is not refunded — this is why eligibility and good character checks matter before you pay.
- Rejected as invalid: if your application is rejected before being considered, the fee is refunded less a £30 administration charge.
- Ceremony fee: the £130 element can be refunded if you are never invited to a ceremony.
- Child fee waivers: a waiver may apply to some children registering (for example, looked-after children, or those who cannot afford the fee). There is no general waiver for adult naturalisation.
- Replacing your certificate: a lost or damaged naturalisation certificate can be replaced for £433 using Form NatCert.
Once you know the cost, the next question is timing. Use the naturalisation calculator to find your earliest application date, and read the full British citizenship after ILR guide for the process end to end.
British citizenship cost: frequently asked questions
How much does British citizenship cost in 2026?
Is the citizenship ceremony fee included in the fee?
Do I have to pay for biometrics for citizenship?
How much does it cost to register a child as British?
Is the citizenship fee refundable if I am refused?
Is British citizenship more expensive than ILR?
Our editorial and accuracy standards
ILR Calculator UK is an independent, free settlement-planning resource. The figures here are taken from the published GOV.UK fees for citizenship applications, in force from 8 April 2026, and are reviewed after each fee change, with the review date shown above. Read our full editorial standards.
This is a cost guide and general information, not a quote or regulated immigration advice. Fees change at least once a year and vary by route — always confirm the current figure on GOV.UK before paying. For advice on your own application, use an adviser regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) or a solicitor.