How UK Citizenship by Birth Works in 2025: All What You Need to Know to Obtain Legal Basis for Your Child

Children born in the UK are either automatically British citizens at birth or become eligible to register for citizenship when they qualify. Whether a child can obtain citizenship by birth depends on their birth date and parents’ immigration or nationality status. 

UK citizenship by birth has intricate legalities and processes. Knowing the legislation surrounding your circumstances is central to obtaining British citizenship.

This article will explain all you need to know about how British citizenship for children born in the UK works.

Who Automatically Qualifies for UK Citizenship by Birth in 2025?

All children born in the UK before 1983 are automatically British citizens unless their father was a diplomat working for a foreign country or was regarded as an ‘enemy alien’ in occupation.

Generally, children born on or after 1 January 1983 automatically qualify for British citizenship if at least one of their parents was a British citizen or held settled status at the time of the child’s birth.

However, if a child lived in the UK until they were ten and was born after 31 December 1982 and before July 1 2006, they are only automatically British citizens if, at the time of their birth: 

Their mother was a British citizen or had settled status, or Their father was a British citizen or settled person and was married to their mother.

Children born after July 1, 2006, to British or settled parents, are automatically British citizens, regardless of their parent’s marital status. 

Furthermore, all children who are automatically UK citizens at birth do not need to apply for citizenship formally. They can request a letter from the Home Office confirming their citizenship or directly apply for a UK passport. 

Who Can Register for UK Citizenship by Birth?

Children who were born in the UK but did not qualify for automatic citizenship may be eligible to apply for citizenship if they are any of the following:

Anyone under 18 whose parents acquired British citizenship or settled status after they were born.Anyone who lived in the UK until they were ten or older and neither of their parents were British citizens or settled persons at their birth. 

Children applying as individuals who have lived in the UK until they were ten or older must not have left the UK for more than 90 days during the first ten years of their lives except for special reasons. They must notify the Home Office of these reasons when making their application.

How Can Children Born Abroad by UK Nationals Acquire British Citizenship?

Children born abroad to British nationals are automatically UK citizens as long as their parents were born in the UK. However, if their parents were also born outside the UK, the child will not automatically be a citizen. Instead, they must register for UK citizenship by descent.  

To be eligible for citizenship by descent via this route, the child’s parents must have resided in the UK for three years at any time and must not have been absent for more than 270 days in those three years.

How Can Adopted Children Acquire British Citizenship?

Children adopted via a UK or British Overseas Territory court order are automatically citizens if their adopted parents are British citizens. 

Children adopted by British parents can also automatically become British citizens if they were adopted from a country signatory to the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption and their adoptive parent habitually resides in the UK. They must be adopted on or after 1 June 2003, which was when the UK became a signatory of the convention.

Parents who adopt from a list of countries with an adoption process recognised by the UK government may be able to register their child as a British citizen. The adopting parents must be UK citizens and satisfy additional requirements, such as proving that the adoption is permanent and having parental consent.

Step-By-Step Guide To Applying for UK Citizenship for Your ChildFill Out the Application Form

You can register your child for UK citizenship online or via post. If you live in the Isle of Man, Channel Islands, or British Overseas Territory, you must apply by post or in person. 

If your child is under 18 and you have become a British citizen or settled person, you should apply using Form MN1. Children who have lived in the UK up to age 10 must use Form T to apply. 

Fill out the application forms appropriately and submit the relevant supporting documents. Information that you’ll need to provide includes;

Personal informationResidence requirementsParents’ residence status (if applicable)Good character requirementRefereesBiometric enrollmentParental consent Declaration Submit the Required Documents

If you’re applying online, you must upload clear and legible copies of your supporting documents. You should submit hard copies with your application form if you apply by post. The documents you may need to submit include but aren’t limited to;

Child or children’s evidence of identity (e.g. passport, birth certificate, travel documents) Parents’ evidence of identity if applicable. (e.g. marriage certificate, passport, birth certificate)Grandparents’ marriage certificate (if applicable)Proof of residenceAdoption certificate or certificate of abandonment for adopted childrenDocuments detailing adoptive parents’ consent Adoption order (if applicable)Pay the Required Fee

The application fee for UK Citizenship by birth is £1,214. If your child turns 18 before the application is decided, they must pay an additional £130 for the citizenship ceremony. 

Await the decision

Decisions on citizenship applications usually take a maximum of six months, but they can take longer in exceptional circumstances. You will be notified if your application processing time will take over six months.

Conclusion

The legal basis for UK citizenship by birth in 2025 depends on a child’s birthplace and the parent’s immigration status. Understanding your child’s situation and determining whether they qualify automatically or need to register for citizenship is essential. 

It is advisable to seek the services of a UK immigration lawyer who understands the legal framework surrounding child citizenship applications in the UK and can guide you through the entire citizenship-by-birth application process.

The post How UK Citizenship by Birth Works in 2025: All What You Need to Know to Obtain Legal Basis for Your Child appeared first on Geek Mamas .