Yes. From 20 July 2026, eligible applicants applying for British citizenship from within the UK can use the Home Office Nationality Priority Service. The service costs an additional £500 and normally aims to provide a decision within 30 working days.
Without priority, the Home Office says citizenship applications are usually decided within six months, although some take longer.
What changed in July 2026?
Before the paid service was introduced, applicants seeking faster consideration had to rely on the Home Office’s discretionary priority arrangements. Updated nationality priority treatment guidance was published for Home Office staff in July 2026 to reflect the new service.
The discretionary route still exists for circumstances recognised by Home Office guidance, including certain compelling travel needs, particular employment requirements, administrative delay or other exceptional situations.
What does the Priority Service cost?
Current nationality fees took effect on 8 April 2026. The £500 priority charge is paid in addition to the relevant citizenship application fee.
| Application | Application fee | Ceremony fee | Total with priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult naturalisation | £1,709 | £130 | £2,339 |
| Adult British citizenship registration | £1,540 | £130 | £2,170 |
| Child British citizenship registration | £1,000 | Not normally applicable | £1,500 |
The current figures are set out in the Home Office fee table. The child registration fee fell from £1,214 to £1,000 in April 2026.
What does the £500 Priority Service provide?
Priority affects processing speed, not the legal requirements or likelihood of approval. Your application is still assessed under the normal nationality rules.
The 30-working-day period normally runs from biometric submission. Applications requiring additional information, external checks, identity or national-security enquiries, enhanced scrutiny or particularly complex consideration can take longer. An application already submitted cannot subsequently be upgraded to the Nationality Priority Service.
Applicants should therefore make sure their British citizenship by naturalisation application is properly prepared before choosing faster processing. Residence histories following the 10 year long residence route or a UK Ancestry visa may require particularly careful review.
Frequently asked questions
Can I upgrade an existing citizenship application to priority?
No. Home Office guidance states that a citizenship application already submitted cannot be upgraded to the paid Priority Service.
Is a decision guaranteed within 30 working days?
No. Thirty working days is the usual processing target, not a guaranteed deadline.
Does paying for priority improve my chances of approval?
No. It changes the expected processing time only. The same eligibility and evidence requirements apply.
For practical UK immigration and citizenship advice, contact Hedgley Immigration on 07704 909490 or sean@hedgleyimmigration.co.uk.
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