Can my family apply for citizenship at the same time?

Each family member submits a separate application, but you can submit them at the same time. Adults apply for naturalisation, while children under 18 are registered. Different family members may become eligible at different times depending on their individual immigration history.

Do children need to meet the same requirements as adults?

No. Children under 18 are registered rather than naturalised. They do not need to pass the Life in the UK test or meet the English language requirement. The good character requirement is less stringent for children, and the Home Secretary has broad discretion.

How much does it cost for a family of four?

For two adults and two children, the application fees alone total approximately £3,160 for the adults plus the child registration fees. Add Life in the UK tests, English tests, passports, and you are looking at £4,000-£6,000+ for the whole family.

What if one family member is not yet eligible?

You do not need to apply together. Each person applies when they are individually eligible. It is common for the primary visa holder to become eligible before their spouse or children, depending on when each person received ILR.

Applying for British Citizenship as a Family

Family citizenship applications require separate submissions for each person. Adults naturalise; children are registered. Timing varies based on each person's immigration history. The total cost for a family can be significant but fee waivers may help.

Adults: Naturalisation

Each adult family member applies for citizenship by naturalisation individually. Each must meet all the requirements in their own right:

Hold ILR for at least 12 months
Meet the residence and absence requirements
Pass the Life in the UK test
Meet the English language requirement
Meet the good character requirement

If one adult is married to a British citizen, they may have a shorter qualifying period (3 years instead of 5). See citizenship for spouses.

Children: Registration

Children under 18 become British through registration, not naturalisation. The process is simpler:

No Life in the UK test
No English language requirement
Less stringent good character assessment
The Home Secretary has discretion to register children

For full details, see our citizenship for children guide. If a child was born in the UK and one parent is now British, they may already be eligible for registration under Section 1(3) of the British Nationality Act.

Timing Your Applications

Different family members may become eligible at different times:

The primary visa holder often gets ILR first, then their spouse
Children added as dependants may have different ILR dates
A child born in the UK after a parent becomes British is automatically British

You can submit applications at different times as each person becomes eligible. There is no requirement to apply together. However, some families prefer to coordinate so they can attend citizenship ceremonies around the same time.

Costs for a Family

The cost of citizenship for a family adds up quickly:

Adults: £1,344 per person
Children: Registration fee (check current rates on GOV.UK)
Life in the UK test: £50 per adult
English test: £150 per adult (if needed)
British passport: £82.50 per person

Fee waivers are available for both adult and child applications if the family faces financial hardship. Apply for the fee waiver before submitting the main application.

Practical Tips

Start preparing early — gather documents, book tests, and identify referees for each adult
Create a timeline showing when each family member becomes eligible
Budget for the total cost across all applications
If one family member has a complex case, consider getting professional advice for that application rather than all of them
Children's applications can often be done without a solicitor as they are more straightforward

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