British Passport for a Child Born Abroad

Who this service is for

• Your child was born outside the UK and has a British parent.
• You need to establish whether British citizenship passed to your child.
• You need help with nationality evidence or an overseas passport application.

A British parent does not resolve every case

Whether citizenship passes automatically depends on the child’s date and place of birth and the parents’ circumstances, including how the British parent acquired citizenship. Citizenship is normally passed automatically only one generation to children born abroad, but exceptions and registration routes require individual consideration.

Passport application or citizenship registration?

If the child is already British, the task is to evidence that status for the passport application. If not, there may be a route to register the child as British. Registration is a separate application with its own requirements and government fee. We confirm which service is appropriate before agreeing the work.

Applying overseas

The documents and process depend on where the child lives and the family circumstances. We help identify the relevant guidance and organise the evidence within the agreed service. Do not make travel plans on the assumption that citizenship or a passport is guaranteed.

What to prepare

These are useful starting points, not a complete document checklist. We confirm the evidence needed for your circumstances.

• The child’s date and country of birth
• Parents’ nationalities and how British citizenship was acquired
• Birth, marriage and nationality documents relevant to the family
• The child’s country of residence and existing passports

What happens next

1. Tell us your situation. Leave your contact details and a brief description. Do not send identity documents through the enquiry form.
2. Discuss the right next step. We contact you for an initial 15-minute call about the service you need.
3. Agree the work and fee. We explain the proposed scope, professional fee and separate government charges before you decide to proceed.

How much does it cost?

Passport assistance is quoted individually. Our £500 individual immigration application fee does not automatically apply to passport work. Any nationality assessment or citizenship application is scoped separately. You can apply directly to HM Passport Office without using a paid representative.

Official guidance

Read the official GOV.UK guidance. Guidance checked on 29 October 2026. Government requirements and charges can change; check the official information when applying.

For naturalisation or registration, see British citizenship assistance.