British Citizenship (Naturalisation) · sub-route
British by descent
Free · automatic — apply for passport only
Sourced from GOV.UK · Updated April 2026The short answer
British by descent is one way to qualify for the British Citizenship (Naturalisation). The core rules of the British Citizenship (Naturalisation) apply — the specifics that set this route apart are below.
£1,839Application fee from
—IHS per year
For life (revoked only in rare national-security cases)Initial leave
—To settlement (ILR)
Who qualifies for this route
- At least one parent is a British citizen by birth (not by descent)
- Born outside the UK
Good to know
No application or registration needed — you are British automatically.
Apply for a British passport directly: £94.50 adult standard.
Cannot pass British citizenship to your own children born outside the UK (no double descent).
Other British Citizenship (Naturalisation) sub-routes
Standard naturalisation
£1,839 · 12 months on ILR required
ViewSpouse of British citizen
£1,839 · no waiting period after ILR
ViewChild registration (Form MN1)
£1,000 · no ceremony required
ViewSource: GOV.UK — British by descent · Last verified April 2026
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