UK Citizenship Fees Run More Than Five Times the Administrative Cost

Fees compared with processing costs

People applying for UK citizenship are charged more than five times the administrative cost of handling the application, according to figures reported on September 10, 2026. A separate comparison found the UK charges about three times as much as other G7 countries for citizenship.

Think-tanks said high fees sit alongside tighter settlement rules and could leave long-term residents unable to naturalise even after years of legal residence.

What applicants pay for

Citizenship fees are set by the Home Office and sit on top of earlier visa and settlement charges. Campaign groups argue the surplus is used as general revenue rather than covering the cost of the decision itself.

The Home Office has previously said fees help fund the wider immigration system. No new fee table was published with Thursday’s coverage.