MN1 Application: Register Child Under 18 as a British Citizen

The MN1 application form is used by parents who wish to formally register their non-British child aged under 18 for British citizenship. The current fee payable to the Home Office to apply for registration as a British citizen using form MN1 is £1,012. If your child turns 18 during the application process, an additional £80 for a citizenship ceremony must be paid if granted. In most cases, MN1 applications are processed within 8 to 12 weeks, however, this may take longer for more complex or incomplete applications.

Applying to become a British citizen by registration means that a person has the right to citizenship in this country under British nationality law. A child can apply for registration as a British citizen in a number of circumstances, including if they:

• Were born in the UK to parents who have since settled here or become British citizens
• Were born in the UK to parents who joined the armed forces
• Have parents who are applying for British citizenship
• Were born outside of the UK to parents who are British by descent and have lived in the UK or a British overseas territory
• Were born outside of the UK to parents who are British by descent and have moved to the UK or a British overseas territory
• Have been adopted by parents abroad who are British citizens
• Have parents who previously renounced (i.e., at the time of their birth) and later resumed British citizenship
• Can show it is in the child’s best interests to be granted British citizenship
• Were born abroad to parents serving in the armed forces

For children under who are not eligible to apply for registration as a British citizen using form MN1, other options may include:

• a child visa under the family immigration route
• British citizenship by naturalisation based on residence in the UK
• As a person with settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
• A stateless person application
• Where special circumstances apply (e.g., if the law made an unfair decision in the past or if a government department or local authority made a mistake)

If you are unsure of the best route to citizenship for your child, speak to an immigration solicitor who will be able to explain the options available based on their unique circumstances.

For assistance with your child’s British citizenship application, please speak to our immigration lawyers for a free telephone consultation on 020 3744 2797 or complete our enquiry form.

Things to check before MN1 application

To make a successful application for registration for your child as a British citizen, it is essential that MN1 is completed carefully. Before submitting a form MN1 application, we recommend checking the following:

Check the eligibility criteria for registration

The MN1 guidance¹ notes published by the Home Office explain exactly who is eligible to apply for registration as a British citizen. It also explains who is automatically a British citizen and, therefore, there is no need to apply to register. It is important to check under which category your child is eligible for registration as a British citizen and that they meet all the necessary criteria. For example, there may be specific criteria, such as when and where the child was born, which must be met.

If you are unsure which category applies or if your child may already be automatically a British citizen, speak to an immigration solicitor before you go any further with the registration application.

Check you have the necessary documents to register your child as a British citizen

The documents you provide with your application will depend on the specific category under which your child is eligible for registration as a British citizen. The form MN1 guidance explains which documents to provide. For example, if your child was born overseas to British citizens, you will need to provide:

• The Child’s birth certificate shows both parents’ names
• The parent’s marriage certificate
• The British parent’s birth certificate or passport
• The British grandparent’s birth certificate, registration or naturalisation certificate, or passport
• The child’s grandparents’ marriage certificate
• Evidence of residence
• Evidence that the British parent lived in the UK for a period of 3 years at some time before the child’s birth
• Evidence that the child and both parents have lived in the UK for 3 years before the date of application

Please note the above list of documents is not exhaustive and covers one scenario. Contact our immigration lawyers if you have more questions.

Check if your child will lose their other nationality

Before submitting form MN1 on behalf of your child, we also recommend checking what will happen to any other nationalities they hold if their British citizenship application is granted. Depending on the country in question, your child may automatically lose their nationality if they become a citizen of another country.

What happens after MN1 application?

Once your child’s application for British citizenship has been submitted to the Home Office, you have provided all the necessary documents, and you have paid the application fee, the Home Office will then review their case and make a decision.

Once a decision is made, a decision letter will be sent stating whether they have been granted citizenship or refused. If they have been granted citizenship, they will be invited to attend a citizenship ceremony if they are 18 years or over (this is not necessary for those under 18). Your child will also now be able to apply for a British passport as a British citizen.

If your child’s MN1 application is refused, you may be able to submit a fresh application or ask for a reconsideration of the decision. The route you take at this stage will depend on why the application was refused and whether you can provide sufficient evidence to overcome the reasons provided.

How can Reiss Edwards help?

The rules relating to the registration of a child as a British citizen can be legally complex. Reiss Edwards specialises in all aspects of immigration and citizenship law, including form MN1 applications for children who are eligible to become British citizens. Our immigration solicitor can:

• Check whether your child meets the criteria to register for British citizenship under 18 years
• Apply for British citizenship for your child
• Deal with your child’s British citizenship refusal

References

¹ GOV.UK: MN1 guidance notes