Please Note:  Some but not all applicants need to register as a British Citizen before they can apply for a passport.  If none of these categories apply to you, please refer to our passport pages as you may be able to apply for a passport straight away without applying for citizenship first.

Registration categories

Please select the category that applies to you.

MN1- Registration of a child as a British citizen under 18 years
MN1  application form and guidance notes

*Note:  this is not necessary for all children.  See guidance for further information.

UKM- Registration of a person as a British citizen born between 1961-1983 to a British mother
UKM application form and guidance notes

B(OS)- Registration of a person who is a British overseas citizen, British subject or British protected person as a British citizen
BOS application form and guidance notes

*This application form relates to British subjects (under the British Nationality Act 1981) and British protected persons having no other citizenship or nationality

RS1- Registration of a person as a British citizen who have previously renounced.
RS1 application form and guidance notes

Form AN - Naturalisation as a British Citizen
AN application form and guidance

Making an Application

If you apply for a registration or renunciation you must be in USA at the time of application. If you are currently outside the USA you must contact your nearest British High Commission or Embassy.

Processing time for registration and nationality categories is approximately 3 to 4 months. Applications cannot be prioritised. The Home Office in Liverpool processes all registration applications, but all applicants in the USA should send their application and supporting original documents, marked "Registration Application" to:

Consular Section
British Embassy
19 Observatory Circle, NW
Washington DC

We encourage applicants to use Registered mail or courier service.

Your original documents will be reviewed and the fees will be processed by our office in local currency, and returned back to you via courier within approximately 2 to 3 weeks of receiving the application.  Please ensure that you have all the correct documentation before sending your application. Failure to send the correct documentation will delay your application.Once all the correct documentation has been received your application is then forwarded to the Home Office in Liverpool for processing.

Please do NOT send an application for a British Passport (C1 or C2) with your application for Registration. Passport applications are processed at the UK Passport Service for the Americas and Caribbean in Washington. You cannot apply for a passport until the Registration process has been completed.

Please note that we require original documents plus two photocopies of each document to be submitted with your application. We do not accept certified copies in lieu of original documents.

A separate consular fee is payable at the time that the registration or naturalisation ceremony takes place. Please do not include this fee when you send the application and the other fees.

Renouncing British Citizenship

All applicants in must send their applications and supporting documents to the British Embassy, Washington. Please do not send your application directly to the Home Office in Liverpool;

RN - Person renouncing British Citizenship, British Overseas Citizenship or British Subject status.
Application form and guidance notes

Registration fees
Home Office Registration/Naturalisation Fees

Fees for registration/naturalisation must be paid in local currency by credit card. Personal cheques are not accepted.

Credit Card Payment Authorisation Form (PDF, 49 Kb)

The fee consists of a Home Office fee calculated at a monthly rate of exchange and a handling fee charged by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Two courier fees are required for a child's application - one for returning the original documents and one for forwarding the certificate. 

Adults are required to attend a citizenship ceremony and will collect the certificate at that time, therefore only one courier fee applies.
Please note that the fee is non-refundable if the application is unsuccessful or withdrawn.

Here you will find a list of the relevant and applicable fees.  Please note that appropriate courier fee (s) will also need to be added.  The fee will be taken in US dollars and are subject to change.

REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATES OF REGISTRATION/NATURALISATION
If you were not born in the UK but registered or naturalised there and do not have your certificate a replacement can be obtained from:

Certificates issued since January 1987
UK Border Agency
Department 87
PO Box 306
Liverpool
L69 2UX
Fax:  0151 213 1961

You should provide the full name, date and place of birth of the certificate holder and any previous Home Office reference numbers available. You should also enclose a cheque or sterling money order for £75 payable to "The Accounting Officer, Home Office" or include Master card/Visa card details in the letter. If the Nationality directorate is unable to trace the certificate a refund will be granted.

Certificates issued prior to January 1987
Further information can be obtained from:
The National Archives
Kew, Richmond, surrey
ENGLAND TW9 4DU
Telephone: 011 44 20 8876 3444

Other Citizenship and Registration Questions :

Dual Citizenship
Under present legislation the United Kingdom and USA both recognise dual nationality and if you acquire UK citizenship, this does not affect your right to hold a Canadian Passport.

Clearances
Those applicants who are employed or seeking employment by  Military or Agencies requiring security clearances should consult the relevant agency regarding restrictions towards holding dual nationality.

Birth, death or marriage registration
Please visit our "living in the USA" section for full information on registering a birth, death or marriage.