For children born in the UK without automatic British citizenship, registration may be possible through eligibility under the British Nationality Act (BNA) 1981 or by discretionary application.

Eligibility Under Section 1(3) of the BNA 1981
A child born in the UK may register as a British citizen if:

• They did not qualify for British citizenship at birth due to neither parent being a British citizen or having settled status.
• One parent later acquires British citizenship or secures Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) while the child is still a minor.
• They meet the good character requirement if over ten years of age.

Once registered, a British passport can be issued, allowing the child to travel freely without needing a visa and exempting them from UK immigration control.

Documents Required for Form MN1 Application
To register a child as a British citizen, you will need:

• The child’s full birth certificate
• The child’s passport used for entry to the UK and any subsequent passports
• The parents’ marriage or civil partnership certificate
• A letter explaining why one parent does not consent to registration, if applicable
• A passport-sized photograph of the child, with their name and date of birth on the back
• Contact details of two referees who personally know the child
• Evidence of the parents’ British citizenship, such as a British passport, naturalization, or registration certificate

Automatic Entitlement to British Citizenship
A child may be automatically eligible for British citizenship under various circumstances, including:

• Being born in the UK to parents who have since settled or become British citizens, or parents who are in the armed forces.
• Being born abroad to British parents who are residing in the UK or a British overseas territory.
• Being born abroad to parents serving in the UK armed forces.

Home Secretary Discretion for Registration
The Home Secretary may also grant British citizenship in cases meeting certain criteria, such as:

• When the child is born abroad to parents applying for British citizenship.
• When the child is adopted abroad by British citizen parents.
• When a child is born to parents who previously renounced and later resumed British citizenship.

In exceptional cases, the Home Secretary may consider a child’s registration to be in the child’s best interests, taking into account:

• The child’s connections to the UK
• The expected future residence of the child
• The views of the parents
• The parents’ nationality and immigration status
• The duration of the child’s UK residency
• The child’s character, if over ten
• Any compelling circumstances

Parents applying for British citizenship alongside their child should consider the possibility that the child may be eligible even if the parent’s application is refused. Form MN1 includes an option to confirm that the child should still be registered in this case.

Good Character Requirement
For children over ten years old, meeting the “good character” requirement is mandatory. This includes:

• Respecting the rights and freedoms of others in the UK
• Adhering to UK laws
• Fulfilling duties as a UK resident

All criminal convictions, both in the UK and abroad, must be disclosed in the application. If the child has pending criminal charges, it is advisable to wait until the trial outcome before applying. Full honesty is essential, as false or misleading information may result in the revocation of the child’s citizenship and possible prosecution, as making a false declaration is a criminal offence.