Biometrics for British Citizenship Applications
Biometric enrolment is a required step in a British citizenship application, and one with a hard deadline attached. This guide covers when it has to be done, where, what it costs, and what to take.
- Section
- British Citizenship
- Reading time
- 7 min
- Last checked
- 5 February 2026
- Source
- The published Immigration Rules and GOV.UK guidance, linked throughout this guide.
- Rowan does not
- Look at your own case, tell you which route to choose, or say what the Home Office will decide. This guide shows the published rules and where to read them.
In short
- Biometric enrolment is required for every citizenship application, including children's registrations.
- Usually within 45 days of submitting. The Home Office says failing to do so would invalidate the application.
- There is no Home Office fee for giving fingerprints and a photo. UKVCAS charges for some appointment types and extras.
- Children under 5 give a photograph but not fingerprints. There is no upper age limit.
After submitting a citizenship application you must give your fingerprints and a photograph, usually at a UKVCAS service point. There is no Home Office fee for this. The Form AN guidance says it must usually be done within 45 days of submitting, and that missing that deadline invalidates the application.
When to complete biometrics
Biometrics come after you submit your online citizenship application. The Home Office says it will contact you with instructions on how to enrol once you have submitted.
The Form AN guidance says: “You will usually need to complete this step of the application process within 45 days of submitting your application and failure to do so would invalidate your application.” That is the deadline to work to.
What it costs
GOV.UK is explicit that the Home Office does not charge for this step: “You’ll also need to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken - there’s no fee for this.”
Separately, GOV.UK says that at a UKVCAS service point how much you pay “depends on the type of service point and whether you need extra services”, and that you can pay extra for out of hours or weekend appointments, and for next day or same day appointments if your application is urgent. GOV.UK does not publish the amounts, so the prices shown in the UKVCAS booking system are the ones to rely on. Our biometrics fee guide covers the structure.
UKVCAS service points
UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services is used for visas, settlement and citizenship applications made in the UK. You create a UKVCAS account when you apply and book online, and GOV.UK says you can only attend a service point if you have an appointment.
GOV.UK says to bring:
- a printed copy of your appointment confirmation document with a QR code
- your passport or travel document
- any supporting documents you have not already uploaded online
If you cannot bring your passport or travel document, GOV.UK says to contact UK Visas and Immigration before the appointment. See our biometrics appointment guide for what happens on the day.
Your documents
For a citizenship application, GOV.UK says: “You do not need to send your documents anywhere.” You either upload copies into the online service or have them scanned at your appointment. Your passport stays with you throughout.
The Form AN guidance also says you do not need to resubmit documents already uploaded with earlier immigration applications, because the Home Office has a record of them.
When you may not need an appointment
The Form AN guidance says the Home Office “may be able to re-use biometrics previously provided with earlier immigration applications”. GOV.UK also lists a narrower set of circumstances in which no UKVCAS appointment is needed, but the application types it names are visa routes such as the Graduate, Student and Skilled Worker visas, not citizenship. You will be told after you apply which applies to you.
Children
- Every citizenship application requires biometric enrolment, including a child’s registration made at the same time as a parent’s naturalisation.
- Children under 5 do not need to provide fingerprints, but must have a digital photograph of their face taken.
- There is no upper age limit for biometric information to be taken.
- Children under 16 must attend with the person named as the responsible adult on their application, who must bring photo identification. GOV.UK says a valid or expired passport, photo driving licence, national identity card, biometric residence permit or biometric residence card is acceptable, as long as the adult still clearly looks like the photo.
- If the responsible adult is not the parent or legal guardian, they must also bring written proof of responsibility from the parent or legal guardian, or from a registered foster carer or social services representative.
- Where an application includes family members, GOV.UK says you must all attend an appointment together.
After biometrics
GOV.UK says you will not get a decision at your appointment. For naturalisation, the Home Office aims to decide within 6 months of receiving the application, and says it will contact you if it expects to take longer. Our guide on citizenship processing times covers this, and you can track your application.
A citizenship application does not give you immigration permission of its own, so keep your existing status valid until your ceremony. Our eVisa guide covers proving that status while you wait.
Related guides
- How to apply for citizenship online
- Biometrics appointment guide
- Biometrics fee guide
- Citizenship processing time
The sources for this page are GOV.UK: apply for citizenship, GOV.UK: UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services and the Form AN guidance.
Questions and answers
Do I need to provide biometrics for a citizenship application?
Yes. The Home Office says all citizenship applications require biometric enrolment: fingerprints and a photograph. GOV.UK says there is no fee for this. It is done at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services service point, unless the Home Office can reuse biometrics you gave for an earlier immigration application.
How do I book a biometrics appointment for citizenship?
You create a UKVCAS account when you apply and book the appointment online. GOV.UK says you can only attend a service point if you have an appointment.
How much does a biometrics appointment cost?
GOV.UK says there is no fee for providing your biometric information. It also says how much you pay at a UKVCAS service point depends on the type of service point and whether you want extra services, and that you can pay extra for out of hours or weekend appointments and for next day or same day appointments. GOV.UK does not publish those amounts, so check them in the UKVCAS booking system.
How soon after submitting my application do I need to do biometrics?
The Form AN guidance says you will usually need to complete this step within 45 days of submitting your application, and that failing to do so would invalidate the application.
This guide is general information about published immigration rules. It is not advice about an individual application under s.82 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, and Rowan is not regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority. Immigration rules change several times a year. For advice on a particular situation, contact an adviser authorised by the Immigration Advice Authority or an immigration solicitor. Always check GOV.UK for the authoritative current rules.