Applying for British citizenship as a child can be an important step in securing your future, but the costs involved can sometimes create financial strain. The UK Home Office offers a fee waiver for eligible applicants under 18, ensuring that financial challenges don’t prevent children from securing their citizenship.
Here’s everything you need to know about applying for a fee waiver for citizenship as a child.
Who Can Apply for the Fee Waiver?
You can apply for a fee waiver if:
-You’re under 18 and eligible for British citizenship.
-You and your parent or guardian are unable to afford the citizenship application fee.
Eligibility for British Citizenship
You may be eligible for British citizenship if one of your parents considered the UK their home and, after you were born, did any of the following:
-Became a British citizen.
-Gained indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
-Received settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.
-Secured indefinite leave to enter the UK.
-Acquired permanent residence status.
When to Apply for a Fee Waiver
You must apply for and receive a decision on your fee waiver application before submitting your citizenship application.
-If you turn 18 while waiting for your fee waiver decision, you can still apply for citizenship as a child and remain eligible for the waiver if approved.
Financial Hardship Criteria
You can qualify for a fee waiver if you or your family face financial hardship, such as:
-Lacking a place to live or being unable to afford accommodation.
-Struggling to pay for essential living costs like food and heating.
-Having insufficient funds for the citizenship fee after covering essential expenses.
-If paying the fee would compromise a child’s basic needs.
For more details, refer to the affordability section in the Home Office guidance for fee waiver applications.
Who Can Apply on Your Behalf?
A parent or legal guardian can submit the fee waiver application on behalf of their child. They can also include additional children in the same application.
Special Cases
-If you’re looked after by a local authority, you don’t need to apply for a fee waiver. Instead, provide evidence of your care situation when applying for citizenship. Your application will be free.
How to Apply for a Fee Waiver
You can apply for a fee waiver online or by post, but there are location-specific restrictions:
-Online Applications: Available to most applicants. If successful, the subsequent citizenship application must also be submitted online.
-Postal Applications: Required if you’re applying from Guernsey or Jersey or if you cannot complete the process online.
Why Choose Breytenbachs?
Navigating the fee waiver and citizenship application process can be complex, but our experienced consultants at Breytenbachs Immigration Consultants are here to help.
We provide:
-Expert advice on eligibility and application requirements.
-Step-by-step assistance with both fee waiver and citizenship applications.
-A commitment to ensuring your journey to British citizenship is as smooth as possible.
