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The short answer
From 8 April 2026 the Home Office fee for an adult to naturalise as a British citizen is £1,709, and the £130 citizenship ceremony fee is added to it, so the total is £1,839. Registering a child as a British citizen costs £1,000. Nigeria allows citizens by birth to hold another citizenship, under section 28 of the 1999 Constitution.
After ILR, many Nigerians apply to become British. It brings eligibility for a British passport, and for most Nigerians by birth it does not mean giving up Nigerian citizenship. It does carry a sizeable bill, especially for a family. The figures below are from the Home Office fees table updated 10 September 2026.
The fees
| Item | Before 8 April 2026 | From 8 April 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Naturalisation, adult | £1,605 | £1,709 |
| Citizenship ceremony | £130 | £130 |
| Registration of a child as a British citizen | £1,214 | £1,000 |
| Life in the UK test | £50 | £50 |
The Home Office says the £130 ceremony fee is added to the application fee for naturalisation and adult registration, so an adult pays £1,839 in total. The child registration fee fell by £214. If a child turns 18 during the application, the table says an extra £130 is requested at the decision stage for the ceremony.
Worked budget
Example: two parents with ILR, and two children who are not already British, applying together.
| Item | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Naturalisation with ceremony, two adults | 2 × £1,839 | £3,678 |
| Child registration, two children | 2 × £1,000 | £2,000 |
| Total Home Office fees | £5,678 |
If the adults passed the Life in the UK test for ILR, check the GOV.UK naturalisation guidance on whether that pass can be reused; a fresh attempt costs £50. Add the cost of British passports afterwards, which HM Passport Office sets, and any adviser's fee.
Do the children need to register?
Not always. A child born in the UK may already be British depending on the parents' status at the time of birth, and a child born after a parent naturalises may be British automatically. Check before paying £1,000 per child; the GOV.UK nationality pages explain the rules.
The ceremony
Citizenship is not complete when the application is approved. You attend a ceremony and make an oath or affirmation and a pledge. The £130 covers arranging it. Book promptly once invited and keep the invitation letter, which explains what happens next.
What happens to your Nigerian citizenship
GOV.UK says the UK allows dual citizenship, and tells applicants to check the other country's laws with its embassy or consulate. For Nigeria, section 28 of the Constitution says a person who is not a citizen by birth loses Nigerian citizenship on acquiring another. A Nigerian by birth keeps it. Our full guide is Can I keep Nigerian citizenship if I become British?
- Keep your Nigerian passport valid if you will travel to Nigeria on it; see Nigerian passport fees in 2026.
- Update your Nigerian bank with your new documents if you use a British passport for ID.
- Keep copies of your naturalisation certificate with your Nigerian birth certificate.
Saving for it after ILR
Many families face the citizenship bill within a year or two of paying for ILR. At £5,678 for the family in the example, saving over 18 months means about £315 a month. Some families naturalise the adults first and register children later, or the reverse, to spread the cost; the right order depends on the children's own position, so check before deciding.
Keep the money in pounds if your income is in pounds. If relatives in Nigeria are helping, have the money sent well before you apply, and keep a record of where it came from.
Where to check the live figure
Fees change, usually each April. The amount on the online application is what you will pay; check it against the current Home Office fees table on GOV.UK. For the step before, see our ILR fees guide.
Where Pryme fits
Becoming British does not change your Pryme account: one account holds NGN, GBP, USD and EUR, and can be opened from any country. If you update your ID, the security settings stay the same.
Questions people ask
How much is British citizenship in 2026?
£1,709 for an adult naturalising from 8 April 2026, plus a £130 ceremony fee added to the application: £1,839 in total.
How much is it to register a child as British?
£1,000 from 8 April 2026, down from £1,214, according to the Home Office fees table.
Will I lose my Nigerian citizenship if I become British?
Not if you are a Nigerian citizen by birth. Section 28 of the Constitution applies loss of citizenship to those who are not citizens by birth.
Do I need to take the Life in the UK test again?
Check the GOV.UK naturalisation guidance on reusing a pass from your ILR application. A new attempt costs £50 per the Home Office fees table.
Sources
- Home Office immigration and nationality fees: 8 April 2026 (GOV.UK) · accessed Oct 2026
- Dual citizenship (GOV.UK) · accessed Oct 2026
- Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, section 28: dual citizenship (transcription) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.