Guide: Registering a Child as a British Citizen

Last updated: May 2025

This Citizenship.uk guide explains when a child under 18 can register as a British citizen using Form MN1, what “entitlement” vs “discretion” means, how the good character rule works for children aged 10+, and what you’ll typically need to upload.

Important: Registration is different from naturalisation. Once someone turns 18, they usually apply as an adult (see our Naturalisation Guide).

Contents

1. Introduction
2. Step-by-step: how MN1 registration works
3. Who qualifies for registration using MN1?
4. Entitlement vs discretion (what it means in practice)
5. MN1 routes covered (sections of the law)
6. Good character (children aged 10+)
7. Referees
8. Biometric enrolment
9. Application processing times
10. Documents checklist (what you’ll usually upload)
11. Citizenship ceremonies for child registrations
12. After registration: certificate, BRP/BRC return & travel
13. Citizenship-related queries

Introduction

Form MN1 is used to register a child under 18 as a British citizen in certain situations set out in the British Nationality Act 1981. Some children have a legal right to be registered if they meet the rules (an “entitlement”). Other children can only be registered if the Home Secretary agrees it is right to do so (a “discretion” route).

This MN1 guide is for children under 18. If the applicant is already 18, they’ll normally need an adult route instead (often naturalisation).

Not covered by MN1: There are other child citizenship forms/guides for specific statuses (for example British Overseas Territories citizenship and other categories). MN1 also is not the right form for children who qualify under certain other child routes such as “10 years in the UK” (usually Form T) or stateless routes (usually a different form/guidance depending on the facts).

Step-by-step: how MN1 registration works

1) Confirm the child is eligible for MN1
Start by working out whether the child is already British automatically (no application needed), has an MN1 entitlement, or needs MN1 discretion.

2) Check age and “good character”
The child must be under 18 on the date the application is made (the date it’s received). If the child is 10 or over, the Home Office will assess good character.

3) Prepare documents and referees
You’ll provide identity evidence for the child and supporting evidence for the route you’re applying under, plus 2 referees (see below).

4) Submit MN1 and pay the fee
Apply via the official route for Form MN1 and pay the registration fee. Make sure the child will still be under 18 when the Home Office receives the application.

5) Biometric enrolment (fingerprints/photo)
After submission, the Home Office will tell you how to enrol biometrics. In many cases, previous biometrics can be reused, but you must follow the instructions you receive.

6) Decision
Typical processing is up to 6 months, but some cases take longer. If Home Office needs more information, they’ll contact you.

7) Certificate (and ceremony if applicable)
Most children do not have to take an oath/pledge. However, if the applicant turns 18 before the decision, they may be invited to a ceremony and will need to take the oath and pledge.

Who qualifies for registration using MN1?

Children must be under 18 when the application is received. If the child is 10+, they must meet the good character requirement.

Before choosing MN1, it’s worth checking whether the child is already British automatically. For example, a child born in the UK is usually automatically British if, at the time of birth, a parent was a British citizen, settled (free from immigration time limits), or a member of the UK armed forces. If the child is already British, you normally do not need MN1.

Quick route finder (common MN1 scenarios)

• Born in the UK, not British at birth → can often register once a parent becomes settled or becomes British (often section 1(3)).
• Born in the UK, parent later joins UK armed forces → may register under section 1(3A) (for births on/after 13 January 2010).
• Born abroad to a British parent “by descent” → may qualify under section 3(2) or 3(5) depending on residence patterns (and the child’s age).
• Parents weren’t married and this affected citizenship status → some children can apply using MN1 under section 4F (facts matter; paternity evidence may be needed).
• Exceptional/compelling circumstances → discretionary registration may be possible under section 3(1).

Entitlement vs discretion (what it means in practice)

Entitlement means that if the child meets the legal requirements, the Home Office should register them as a British citizen.

Discretion means there is no automatic right to registration. You must show the child meets published criteria or that there are compelling circumstances that make it right to grant British citizenship.

Where a parent applies for British citizenship at the same time as a child, it’s possible for one application to succeed and the other to fail. Read the form carefully where it asks whether the child’s application should continue if a linked parent application is refused.

MN1 routes covered (sections of the law)

The Home Office guidance linked to MN1 focuses on registrations for children under 18 under these parts of the British Nationality Act 1981:

• Section 1(3) – born in the UK, parent later becomes settled or British.
• Section 1(3A) – born in the UK, parent later joins the UK armed forces (for births on/after 13 January 2010).
• Section 3(2) – born abroad to a British parent by descent where the British parent meets a 3-year residence requirement (at any time before the child’s birth) with limits on absences.
• Section 3(5) – born abroad to a British parent by descent, where the family has been living in the UK (or a qualifying British overseas territory, in some cases) for a set period immediately before applying.
• Section 3(1) – discretionary registration where the Home Secretary agrees it is right to register.
• Section 4D – birth abroad to parents serving in the armed forces (in certain circumstances).
• Section 4F – where the child would have become British (or would meet an entitlement route) but for the parents not being married (specific rules apply, and the mother being married to someone else at birth is treated differently).

Special note: children of EEA nationals

Whether a child born in the UK to an EEA national is British automatically can depend on the parent’s status (for example, indefinite leave to remain / settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme), the time period, and in some cases whether the parent later obtains a qualifying permanent right to reside. If the child was not British at birth, registration under MN1 may still be possible if a parent later becomes “settled”, or through certain other EEA-related scenarios.

Good character (children aged 10+)

Children aged 10 or over must meet the good character requirement. In practice, this means the Home Office will look at whether the child has respected UK laws and the rights and freedoms of others.

The Home Office can look at a range of information (including criminality and, in some cases, immigration matters). Even though the child is the applicant, the Home Office can consider whether any immigration breaches were outside the child’s control (especially where the child was very young).

If you are unsure whether something is relevant, it is usually safer to disclose it and explain it clearly than to leave it out.

Referees

MN1 applications must be endorsed by 2 referees:

• Referee 1: can be any nationality, but must be a professional person (for example, minister of religion, civil servant, regulated professional such as an accountant or solicitor — but not the solicitor representing you in the application).
• Referee 2: must hold a British citizen passport and be either a professional person or over 25.

Child-specific point: At least one referee should ideally be someone who has dealt with the child in a professional capacity (for example teacher, doctor, health visitor, or social worker). Where this genuinely isn’t possible (and you can show you tried), the Home Office may accept two referees who meet the standard adult-style referee criteria.

Biometric enrolment

All child registration applicants are required to enrol biometrics for identity verification. The Home Office will contact you after submission with instructions (and may be able to reuse biometrics from earlier immigration applications).

• Under 5: usually no fingerprints, but a digital facial photograph is taken.
• Under 16: must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian at the appointment.
• Missing biometrics: the application may be rejected as invalid if biometrics are not enrolled when requested.

Application processing times

The Home Office aims to decide citizenship applications within 6 months from the date the application is received. Some cases take longer; if they expect a delay beyond 6 months, they usually contact you.

Documents checklist (what you’ll usually upload)

The exact documents depend on the route, but these are common categories the Home Office expects for MN1.

A) Evidence of the child’s identity

Provide identity evidence for the child. Common examples include:

• Child’s passport or travel document, and/or
• Child’s full birth certificate (showing parents’ names), and/or
• Driving licence (if applicable), and/or
• Bank/building society/credit card statement issued within the last 6 months (where relevant/available).

B) Child born abroad to British citizen parents (sections 3(2) / 3(5) type cases)

You will typically need to evidence the family link and the qualifying residence pattern. Common examples include:

• Child’s birth certificate showing parents’ names
• Parents’ marriage certificate (if parents are married and the father is the British parent)
• British parent’s birth certificate or passport
• British grandparent’s birth certificate, registration/naturalisation certificate, or passport
• Grandparents’ marriage certificate
• Evidence of residence (this depends on the section):
  – Section 3(2): evidence the British parent lived in the UK for a continuous 3-year period at some time before the child’s birth (and did not exceed the allowed absences).
  – Section 3(5): evidence the child and both parents lived in the UK for the required 3 years immediately before applying.

C) Child adopted abroad by British parents (where relevant)

Overseas adoption cases are document-heavy. Typical evidence may include:

• Child’s birth certificate (or a certificate of abandonment where relevant)
• Evidence that at least one adoptive parent is British otherwise than by descent (and meets the relevant criteria)
• Adoption Order
• Consent of the adoptive parent(s) to registration
• A contemporary report from the overseas equivalent of Social Services covering the child’s history and the adoption background
• Evidence of the parents’ habitual residence, plus confirmation (from the relevant authority) that the adopters were assessed/approved and adoption laws were complied with (the correct authority depends on where the adopters live within the UK, or if they live outside the UK).

D) For children living in the UK (common “born in the UK then parent became settled” cases)

Typical documents include:

• Child’s full birth certificate
• Child’s passport used to enter the UK, plus any later passports
• Parents’ marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate (where applicable)
• Evidence a parent became settled (one of the following is commonly used):
  – Unique application number (UAN) / reference number for indefinite leave to remain (including settled status), or
  – Biometric residence permit or other document confirming permanent permission, or
  – Passport showing permanent permission, or
  – Home Office letter granting permanent permission, or
  – Certificate of entitlement to right of abode, or
  – Irish passport (for Irish nationals), or
  – Evidence of a Withdrawal Agreement permanent right to reside based on qualifying activity (where relevant, and usually linked to EUSS pre-settled status history).
• If one parent does not consent: a letter explaining why
• If a guardian applies: evidence of authority to apply (for example deed, will, or court order)

Tip from Citizenship.uk: Upload only what supports the route you are applying under, but make sure you cover (1) identity, (2) the legal relationship (parentage/adoption where relevant), and (3) the qualifying residence/status evidence for that route.

Citizenship ceremonies for child registrations

Most children registered under MN1 do not need to attend a ceremony or take the oath/pledge. However:

• If the applicant turns 18 before the application is decided, they may be invited to a ceremony and will be asked to swear/affirm an oath of allegiance and make a pledge.
• Children under 18 may attend with family to collect their certificate. They do not have to take the oath/pledge, but may do so. If they do not attend, another family member may collect the certificate.
• If the applicant needs an interpreter at the ceremony, they should arrange one and practise the oath/pledge wording in advance (where required).

If living outside the UK, arrangements may be made at a British Embassy/High Commission/Consulate (or relevant Governor/Lieutenant Governor’s office, depending on location).

After registration: certificate, BRP/BRC return & travel

Fixing an error on the citizenship certificate

If you spot an error on the child’s registration certificate, the Home Office process typically requires using Form RR to request an amendment and sending the original certificate to the address specified in the RR guidance. Whether there is a fee can depend on whether the error was caused by the application details submitted.

Returning a BRP/BRC (if the child has one)

If the child still holds a Home Office-issued immigration document such as a BRP or BRC (even if expired), it must be returned to the Home Office within 5 working days of attending the ceremony or getting the certificate (whichever is sooner). The Home Office instructions typically include cutting the card into pieces, enclosing a short note, and sending it to:

Naturalisation BRP Returns
PO Box 195
Bristol
BS20 1BT

Failure to return the permit in time can lead to a fine.

Travelling after becoming British

After the child becomes British, they generally cannot rely on a BRP/digital immigration status or the citizenship certificate to enter the UK at the border. For travel, they will usually need a British passport (or, in some situations, a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode in a foreign passport). Check current passport processing times before booking travel.

Citizenship-related queries

If you have questions after reading the official guidance and your situation is still unclear, you can contact the Home Office Citizenship and Nationality Enquiries team at nationalityenquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk. They also ask to be notified if circumstances change after applying (for example, change of address or an arrest).

Citizenship.uk note: If you’re unsure which child route applies (MN1 vs another form like T/UKF/S routes), it’s often worth getting regulated nationality advice before submitting — the wrong form can mean delays and lost fees.