The British Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 1991

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the British Nationality (Fees) Regulations 1984 so as to increase from 1st March 1991 certain fees payable in Great Britain and Northern Ireland in connection with British citizenship, British Dependent Territories citizenship, British Overseas citizenship and British subject status under the British Nationality Act 1981.

The fee payable in respect of an application for registration as a citizen or British subject (except under section 5) is increased from £10 to £60, while the fee payable in respect of such registration itself is reduced from £50 to £25. The fee payable in respect of an application for naturalisation as a citizen under section 6(1) or 18(1) is increased from £10 to £135 and under section 6(2) or 18(2) is increased from £10 to £130, while the fee payable in respect of the relevant certificate of naturalisation is reduced from £160 to £35 and from £50 to £5 respectively. These amendments remove an element of cross-subsidisation between fees payable in respect of various services performed under the 1981 Act, and requires those who make unsuccessful applications under that Act to pay the full cost of the processing of those applications.

The fees payable in respect of the registration of a declaration of renunciation of citizenship or British subject status under section 12, 24, 29 or 34 and in respect of supplying a certified or other copy of a notice, certificate, order, declaration or entry given, granted or made under the Act or any of the former nationality Acts are increased from £10 to £15. The fee payable in respect of administering the oath of allegiance for the purposes of the Act is increased from £3 to £3.50.