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You may be eligible to apply to ‘register’ as a British citizen if you’re not recognised as a citizen of any country (‘stateless’).

How you apply depends on when and where you were born.

You may be able to apply for a different type of British nationality, instead of citizenship, if you’re stateless.

How much it costs

It costs £1,576 to apply if you’re 18 or over (including citizenship ceremony fee).

It costs £1,214 if you’re under 18.

Children who turn 18 during the application process will have to pay an extra £130 for a citizenship ceremony.

You may be able to apply for a fee waiver if you are under 18 and cannot afford to pay the fee.

How you apply depends on where you were born.

You were born in the UK or a British overseas territory

You can apply if you:

• are under 22 years old
• have lived in the UK or a British overseas territory for at least 5 years before the date of your application
• were in the UK or a British overseas territory exactly 5 years before the Home Office receives your application

You should also have spent no more than 450 days outside the UK or British overseas territory during those 5 years.

If you’re under 18, you’ll have to show it’s not reasonable to expect you to get citizenship of another country, for example by your parents registering your birth at an embassy or high commission.

How to apply

Read the guidance to check if you can apply.

. You’ll usually be able to keep your documents while your application is being processed.

If you live in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or a British overseas territory, you have to apply in person or by post instead. Check which you can do with your governor’s office.

If you live elsewhere, you can apply by post. This will take longer than applying online.

You were born outside the UK or a British overseas territory

You can apply if:

• one of your parents was British citizen, British overseas territories citizen, British overseas citizen or British subject when you were born
• you’ve lived in the UK or a British overseas territory for at least 3 years before the date of your application
• you were in the UK or a British overseas territory exactly 3 years before the Home Office receives your application

You should also have spent no more than 270 days outside the UK or British overseas territory during those 3 years.

How to apply

Read the guidance to check if you can apply.

. You’ll usually be able to keep your documents while your application is being processed.

If you live in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or a British overseas territory, you have to apply in person or by post instead. Check which you can do with your governor’s office.

If you live elsewhere, you can apply by post. This will take longer than applying online.

Get help to apply online

You can get help with completing the online form if you:

• do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device
• do not have internet access

You can only use this service if you’re applying in the UK.

Read the guidance to check if you can apply.

. You’ll usually be able to keep your documents while your application is being processed.

If you live in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or a British overseas territory, you have to apply in person or by post instead. Check which you can do with your governor’s office.

If you live elsewhere, you can apply by post. This will take longer than applying online.

Get help to apply online

You can get help with completing the online form if you:

• do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device
• do not have internet access

You can only use this service if you’re applying in the UK.

You’ll get a letter confirming your application. It can take up to 4 weeks.

Biometric information

You must also provide your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo). You’ll get a letter explaining how.

When you’ll get a decision

You’ll usually get a decision within 6 months - some applications can take longer. If yours will take longer you’ll be told before 6 months have passed.

You’ll get a letter if you need to give more information to help with your application.

If your circumstances change

You should contact UK Visas and Immigration (part of the Home Office) if your situation changes during your application (for example, you move house, get married or are arrested).

You might be asked to attend an interview.

Attending a citizenship ceremony

You’ll need to attend a citizenship ceremony if your application is successful.

Travelling to and from the UK

Once you have a British passport you must use this to enter the UK.

If you do not want a British passport you can apply for a certificate of entitlement instead.

You cannot enter the UK using your certificate of British citizenship.