British citizenship and a first passport for a child

Katerina Galkina · EN · 07/10/2026

Establish citizenship before choosing a form

Being born in the UK does not always make a child British. For births from 1 January 1983, GOV.UK ↗ explains that the usual question is whether at least one parent was British or settled on the date of birth. Where citizenship arose automatically, a paid citizenship-registration application is normally unnecessary before applying for a passport.

Collect the full birth certificate, parents' identity documents and evidence of their status on the relevant date. A parent's current British passport does not necessarily establish their status when the child was born. EUSS, historic permanent residence, adoption and surrogacy histories can involve additional provisions.

If a parent settled after the birth

A UK-born child who is still under 18 may have a registration route following a parent's status change ↗. Relevant changes include a parent subsequently becoming British or obtaining ILR or settled status, subject to the conditions.

Prepare proof of UK birth and the parent's status decision with its date. At the time checked, this registration costs £1,000; an eligible child unable to afford the fee may qualify for a waiver. Passport fees are separate. Do not wait until adulthood where the entitlement depends on applying before 18. Check the relevant form guidance for the exact evidence and remaining conditions.

Overseas births follow different rules

Where there is a British parent ↗, citizenship is normally passed automatically to only one generation born outside the UK. How the parent acquired citizenship, the child's birth date and other family circumstances therefore matter.

A parent's ILR does not automatically make an overseas-born child British. Registration eligibility must be assessed separately. Establish the legal basis and correct form before paying: a passport application cannot substitute for registration where citizenship has not yet been acquired.

Apply separately for the first passport

Under the HM Passport Office instructions ↗, a first passport for a child under 16 costs £66.50 online or £80 by post. A suitable photo, identity confirmation through the prescribed process and evidence of British citizenship are required. A person with parental responsibility signs the application; children aged 12–15 also sign the relevant section of a paper form.

Follow the individual document checklist. HMPO requires originals or official certificate copies rather than ordinary certified photocopies, with translations where necessary. The child's foreign passports and relevant court documents may also be required. An adult passport is used from age 16.

Check names, dates and the documentary links before sending anything. Travel after registration requires an appropriate British passport or another prescribed document. A citizenship certificate alone does not function as a passport for boarding or UK entry.