Registration as a British Citizen

Children and some adults may be able to register as British citizens.

For parents of children born in the UK or overseas, and for adults whose route to citizenship is registration rather than naturalisation.

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What decides the correct route

The correct provision depends on where and when the person was born, their parents' status at that time, their residence and any later change in a parent's status. Two children in the same household can fall under different provisions.

Evidence may include

Full birth certificates for the child and the parents.
The parents' immigration or nationality status at the date of birth.
Evidence of the child's residence and absences.
Marriage, adoption or parental responsibility documents.
Passports and travel history.

We assist with registration applications that meet a defined route. Applications that ask the Home Office to exercise discretion outside the published criteria may need an adviser authorised at a higher level.

How WLIS can help

1 We check that the route suits your plans and that the matter is a straightforward one within our IAA Level 1 authorisation.
2 We review your eligibility and your documents, and explain plainly anything that needs attention.
3 We give you a document checklist written for your circumstances rather than a generic one.
4 We prepare the application form and supporting documents, and you check and approve the final information before anything is submitted.
5 We help with submission, biometrics or identity steps, and your eVisa and UKVI account after the decision.

What we can and cannot help with

We provide advice and application assistance for straightforward immigration matters within our IAA Level 1 Immigration authorisation. Where a matter falls outside that authorisation — for example because it involves adverse immigration history, a discretionary or human-rights claim, an administrative review, an appeal or tribunal work — we will tell you and signpost or refer you to an adviser authorised at the appropriate level.

If an application is refused, we will explain the decision and whether any further work remains within our Level 1 authorisation. Where an administrative review, an appeal or other higher-level casework is needed, we will signpost or refer you to an appropriately authorised adviser. We do not provide appeal or tribunal representation.

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) makes the final decision on every application. No immigration adviser can guarantee that an application will be approved.

Our IAA regulation How we work Fees

Questions clients often ask

My child was born in the UK. Are they British?

Not automatically. Whether a child born in the UK is British depends on the date of birth and on the immigration status or nationality of the parents at that time. Many UK-born children are not British at birth but may become entitled to register later, for example once a parent settles or after a period of residence. The dates decide it.

What is the difference between registration and naturalisation?

Registration is generally for children and for adults with a specific route under nationality law, and in some cases it is an entitlement. Naturalisation is the route for adults who hold settlement. Using the wrong one means a refused application and a fee that is not refunded.

Is there a deadline for registering a child?

Several registration routes are only available while the person is under 18, so a route can be lost on the eighteenth birthday. Where a child may qualify, check the position well before then rather than discovering the route has closed.

Official sources we check

We check what we publish against the Home Office's own guidance. These are the GOV.UK pages behind the advice on this site — use them to confirm anything you read here, because the rules change and the official page is always the current one.

GOV.UK content is published by the UK government and is not part of this website.

Talk to us about registration as a british citizen

Tell us what you want to apply for, the status you hold now and when your current permission ends. We will confirm whether the matter is within our Level 1 authorisation and offer a suitable appointment.

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The enquiry button opens the secure WLIS enquiry form on enquiry.wlisuk.com in a new tab. Please do not send identity documents until we ask for them.