With soaring UK citizenship costs, will you apply for British passport or return to SA?
A study reveals the UK charges three times more for citizenship than any other G7 nation, leaving South Africans to weigh steep financial costs against the pull of returning home.
South Africans and other nationals seeking UK citizenship face the highest administrative costs among major developed economies as British naturalisation fees soar.
Research published on 10 September 2026 highlights that obtaining a British passport now costs £1 839 (about R39 849), including a £1 709 naturalisation fee and a £130 ceremony charge.
This comes despite the UK Home Office estimating the actual administrative cost of processing an application at just £324.
According to analysis reported by the Financial Times, the UK fee is more than triple that of the United States, the next most expensive G7 country at £562.
Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) warned that high fees treat citizenship as a revenue generator rather than a democratic institution, creating a financial barrier to belonging.
IPPR associate director Marley Morris reportedly warned that proposed reforms extending permanent settlement waits to 15 years risk creating an expanding subclass of disenfranchised residents.
Escalating barriers to UK citizenship for South Africans
The fee revelation comes amidst a record 315 000 citizenship applications in the year to June 2026. Migration Observatory researcher Nuni Jorgensen at the University of Oxford noted that political debates over restricting non-citizen rights have driven long-term residents to secure their status despite prohibitive costs.
Adding to applicant frustration, the UK House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee released a scathing review of the mandatory Life in the UK Test. In 2022, committee chair Baroness Frances Hamwee criticised the official handbook for containing obscure trivia – such as historical details on curry house founders – and trivialising civic rights through poorly phrased multiple-choice questions.
Additionally, British immigration policy is tightening across all tiers.
From 30 November 2026, South African and other international students face higher proof-of-funds rules, needing £1 570 per month in London. Compounded by a devalued post-Brexit passport that lost automatic European Union mobility, many of the estimated 240 000 to 300 000 South Africans in the UK are reassessing their stay.
Global comparisons and the pull of returning home
| Destination / Category | Citizenship / Visa Fee | Key Requirement or Context |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | £1 839 | Home Office processing cost is £324; includes £130 ceremony fee |
| United States (G7 benchmark) | £562 | Next highest citizenship fee among G7 nations |
The squeeze is not unique to Britain. In New Zealand, where South Africans make up 10% of new citizens, immigration authorities announced a 20-question citizenship test starting in 2027 alongside stricter work visa conditions.
However, returning home is becoming increasingly attractive. Following a May 2025 Constitutional Court ruling striking down Section 6(1)(a) of the South African Citizenship Act, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber launched a portal allowing dual citizens who lost their South African status since 1995 to reinstate it.
With recruitment firms reporting a 70% surge in returnee enquiries, and professionals like Durban-born chiropractor Dr Kirsten Cloete returning after 18 years in London, many expats are choosing geographic arbitrage – earning in foreign currency while enjoying South Africa’s lifestyle.