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My partner and I will be eligible to apply for ILR in March 2026. We have a 4-year-old child who was born in the UK. Do we need to apply for our child’s ILR at the same time as ours, or can we apply for her British citizenship (naturalisation/registration) after we receive our ILR?

Apply for the child's registration as a British citizen after either parent gets their ILR.

Once the child's registration certificate is received, you can apply for the British passport (a separate process).

Between the day the child's visa (if any) expires and the date of their registration certificate, the child will be an overstayer and will not be eligible for free NHS healthcare. Make sure to have private health insurance for that period of time.

is it not than better to apply child ILR ? instead going route of risk of child can onverstay ?

A uk born child does not need ILR. Any overstay is ignored for uk born children because they have an entitlement to register as British once either parent gets ilr. Many many people have done this with no issues at all.

But if you want to waste money and apply for ILR for the child, that is your choice, but it certainly is not needed.

ba31 wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 15, 2026 8:13 pm

is it not than better to apply child ILR ? instead going route of risk of child can onverstay ?

ILR is not required for a UK born child.

You can apply for the child registration as British at the same time as you submit your ILR application. The decision on the child registration will be taken after the parents ILR outcome.

Read: https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... -to-remain

Thank you for your response and appreciate.

so UK born child does not need to complete 5 years in UK and I can apply for her at the time of my ILR.

Is there guidance on filling the application form that can be used ?

It is in the link that was shared in the previous post. Read that, start filling in the online application when the time comes, and ask here any questions you may have.