Stateless People Can Now Register as British Citizens Under New UK Rules

The British government has introduced a formal route for stateless people to register as British citizens, with eligibility and application fees depending on their circumstances.

Under the guidance published online, the registration process varies according to an applicant’s place and date of birth. Adults applying for registration must pay £1,670 in total, comprising a £1,540 application fee and a £130 fee for the mandatory citizenship ceremony.

For applicants under 18, the fee is £1,000. However, anyone who turns 18 while their application is being processed must also pay the £130 ceremony fee before the application can be completed. The government has warned that applications submitted with the wrong fee will be rejected, requiring applicants to submit a new application with the correct payment.

Children under 18 who cannot afford the £1,000 fee can apply for a fee waiver before submitting their citizenship application. The government advises eligible applicants to seek the waiver first.

The registration route is not the only option available to stateless people. Depending on their circumstances, some applicants may qualify for other forms of British nationality or alternative routes to citizenship. Eligibility can depend on factors including a person’s place of birth, date of birth and existing legal status.

Stateless people can face difficulties accessing education, employment and healthcare because they do not have a recognised nationality. The formal registration process provides a defined route to British citizenship, while the fee waiver for eligible children is intended to ensure that financial circumstances do not prevent them from applying.