Explanatory note

These Regulations consolidate, with amendments, the Regulations revoked by regulation 2(1). They prescribe the fees payable in connection with nationality applications under the British Nationality Act 1981 (“the 1981 Act”) and the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1997 (“the 1997 Act”), and related matters, with effect from 1st January 2004. The fees are set out in the table in the Schedule to the Regulations.

The fee for an application under the 1981 Act (except for an application under section 5) for registration as a British citizen, British overseas territories citizen, British Overseas citizen or British subject is now £85 for an adult and £144 for a minor (formerly the fee was £120 for any applicant). The fee for an application for naturalisation as a British citizen or British overseas territories citizen under section 6(1) or 18(1) of the 1981 Act remains at £150. Where the application is for naturalisation as a British citizen or British overseas territories citizen under section 6(2) or 18(2) of the 1981 Act, the fee is now £146 (formerly £120). The fee for an application for registration as a British citizen under section 1 of the 1997 Act is now £85 for an adult and £144 for a minor (formerly the fee was £250 for any applicant). By regulations 5 and 6, in certain multiple applications for registration or naturalisation the total fee payable is the same as that for a single application.

There is a new fee of £68 for the arrangement of a citizenship ceremony. (This fee includes the administration of a citizenship oath and pledge at the ceremony.)

By regulation 4, the fee payable in respect of an application is payable on submission of the application. Where an applicant is required by section 42 of the 1981 Act to make a citizenship oath and pledge at a citizenship ceremony, the fee payable in respect of the arrangement of a ceremony is also payable on the submission of the application. In the event that the application is refused, or the Secretary of State disapplies the requirement to attend a citizenship ceremony, the fee paid for the arrangement of a ceremony will be refunded.

The fee payable in respect of the registration of a declaration of renunciation of British citizenship, British overseas territories citizenship, British Overseas citizenship or British subject status under section 12, 24, 29 or 34 of the 1981 Act is now £81 (formerly £20). By regulation 4(4), the fee is payable on the submission of the declaration of renunciation. By regulation 7, where a person makes a declaration of renunciation of one such citizenship or status at the same time as a declaration of renunciation by him of another such citizenship or status, the total fee payable for the registration of the declarations is the same as that for the registration of a single declaration.

The fee payable in respect of supplying a certified copy of a notice, certificate, order, declaration or entry given, granted or made under the 1981 Act, any of the former nationality Acts or the 1997 Act remains at £20.

The fee payable in respect of administering the citizenship oath, or oath and pledge (where not administered at a citizenship ceremony) remains at £5. By regulation 3(2), no fee is payable where the oath, or oath and pledge, is administered by a justice of the peace.