Which application form (AN/MN1) to use for children registration/naturalisation

Hi,

I will really appreciate if you can help to answer my queries related to BC for my kids as per details below.

1. Mysef and wife received ILR in 2019 and as of now do not intend to apply for BC. But in the menwhile would like to apply for kids.

2. In this case is it recommended to apply for kids BC without parents applying for it alongside? Can this cause any delays from HO?

3. If it is possible to apply only for kids, please confirm what application form AN or MN1 will be used for both the kids and what section will be applicable. And if it is same type of form, can they both apply in one form or does it have to be individual form for each kid?

Kid 1 - Age 11 - Born outside UK and got ILR alongwith parents in 2019 - which application form will be used?

Kid 2 - Age 5 - Born in UK in 2018 and has other nationality passport - Received ILR alongwith parents in 2019 - which application form to be used for BC?

Any support / suggestions will be highly appreciated.

Thanks

Both kids are under 18, hence MN1.

Others will comment regarding your questions.

alterhase58 wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 18, 2023 8:27 pm

Children are entitled to register, with parents' consent, again a common scenario.

Just to quickly clarify, the younger child, born in the UK, is entitled to registration. The registration for the elder child, born outside the UK, is at discretion.

The rule-of-thumb is that children born in the UK or born abroad to a British-citizen-by-descent parent are entitled to registration if certain specific conditions are met.

Children born abroad to parents not born in the UK themselves can be registered as British citizens at discretion. And the rules around such applications can be fluid.

An application for the elder child to register under the stated circumstances would not have been accepted a year ago. The rules around how to exercise the discretion for such registrations were relaxed in July 2022 and now specifically covers the circumstance of the elder child.

To the OP: Apply for both children on Form MN1. I would suggest applying separately for the two children, as one has an entitlement and the other is at discretion and therefore the latter may take longer. The fees payable will remain the same, whether you make one application or two.

@secret.simon
Thanks for clarifying the terminology - it's so easy to overlook the slight differences in the scenarios plus recent changes.

Thanks a lot @secret.simon, @alterhase58, @meselff2 for your vauable and insightful inputs.
Really appreciate your support here to clear my doubts.

Have read in detail and what I understand as per below is that I should apply for both kids separately on MN1.
For the child born in UK it will be as per entitlement to get BC but for the kid born outside UK it will be based on 'discretion by HO'.

For the second child I had one query as below:

In the MN1 guidance publication there are 2 paras as per below, please confirm if both will apply or just one related to application for child born outside UK.

1. Children with settlement and residence
(as the child has ILR so I assume this will apply)

Children will come within this category if:
• the child has completed a period of lawful residence in the UK of more than 5 years
• the child has been granted settled status in the UK, and held that status for at least
12 months
• the child’s parents have completed a period of 5 years residence and are settled in
the UK (“settled” usually means that the parent has indefinite leave to remain in the
UK)
• both parents give their consent to registration (unless good reasons are provided)
• there is no reason to refuse on character grounds.

2. Any other child born to British or non-British parents
(will this also apply apart from the one mentioned above, if so than this one mentions about one of the parent to be BC and other having ILR. If this is the case than one of the parent will also have to aplly on AN1 alongside. Which paragraph applies in this sceanrio for the child born outside UK and having ILR)?

It is not possible to cover all circumstances under which the Home Secretary might
exercise discretion. However, in considering any application not specifically covered
above we will look at all of these:
• the child’s connections with the UK – we would expect the child to be free of
any restrictions on their stay in the UK
• where the child’s future is likely to lie
• the parents’ views
• the parents’ nationality and immigration status – we expect either both parents
to be British citizens or one parent a British citizen and the other parent settled
in the UK
• whether the child is of good character
• the length of time the child has lived in the UK – we expect at least 2 years
residence (particularly if the child is over the age of 13) – this would be
considered along with the other factors above, such as whether the child is
settled in the UK
• any compelling circumstances

Thanks a lot @secret.simon, @alterhase58, @meselff2 for your vauable and insightful inputs.
Really appreciate your support here to clear my doubts.

Few more queries post reading the info above.

1. Can you please share the link for online MN1 form as the only I could find is the PDF version for postal.

2. For the second child I had one query as below:

In the MN1 guidance publication there are 2 paras as per below, please confirm if both will apply or just one related to application for child born outside UK.

(page 15). Children with settlement and residence: (as the child has ILR so I assume this will apply)
• the child’s parents have completed a period of 5 years residence and are settled in
the UK (“settled” usually means that the parent has indefinite leave to remain in the
UK)

(page 16). Any other child born to British or non-British parents
(will this also apply apart from the one mentioned above, if so than this one mentions about one of the parent to be BC and other having ILR. If this is the case than one of the parent will also have to aplly on AN1 alongside. Which paragraph applies in this sceanrio for the child born outside UK and having ILR)?

• the parents’ nationality and immigration status – we expect either both parents
to be British citizens or one parent a British citizen and the other parent settled
in the UK

Thanks