I am a us citizen, but can i become a british citizen by. Citizenship is a concept whereby a citizen is an individual who is fully recognised by a state as being a member of that state. How can a british citizen by descent naturalise to become. I was a british citizen by descent, through my scottishborn father. Hi guys, can anybody please explain to me what is the practical difference between bc by descent and otherwise by descent. I understand that a british citizen in trouble overseas will receive assistance from the british government or local british embassy but a british national will not. Register as a british citizen by descent immigration news. That may not sound such a problem, but if circumstances conspire and in our ever more globally connected world this may not be as rare as you might think thi. What are the disadvantages to being a british citizen by. I am a british citizen by naturalization british citizen. It is taking longer than usual to process applications because of.
So, if true, that means her mother is a citizen by birth, yes. I am asking that because i want to have every single right and responsibility that a british citizen has as if i was born in the uk british citizen otherwise than by descent. In this case, the op was likely registered under section 7 of the british nationality act 1948. British citizen legal definition of british citizen. Can i change my status from being a british citizen by. Children who are subject to a parental order made in a uk court can become british.
Citizens otherwise than by descent can normally pass on british citizenship through one generation to children born abroad, although the child will be unable to transmit their. You became a british protected person on 1 january 1983 if you. How can a british citizen by descent naturalise to become a. If you were born outside of the uk but you have a parent who is british, you may be able to register as a british citizen. Under the governments further proposals on descent, there could be children in the second generation born overseas who are born to british citizens by descent, neither of whom has the statutory connections with this country to give the child an.
How to claim british nationality otherwise than by descent. Naturalisation, registration and british citizenship the national. Children that are british citizens by descent united. Instead of five years, it will take her only three once shes. Secure british citizenship for your child applications for registration. British citizenship by descent or otherwise city legal services. British citizenship by descent question page 3 hong.
Can i register as a british citizen if i was born before 1983 to a british mother. How to claim british nationality otherwise than by descent for my daughter born in paris sept 2000. Child of a british citizen by descent uk citizenship. Becoming a british citizen has no effect on boc status. The child will be considered a british citizen otherwise than by descent. Trying to figure out of im a british citizen by descent. Mar 12, 2009 as a british citizen by descent there are some limited ways in which you can pass citizenship on to your children. A child born outside the uk on or after 1 january 1983 automatically acquires british citizenship by descent if either parent is a british citizen other than by descent at the time of the birth and children born overseas to parents on crown service are normally granted british citizenship otherwise than by. You will have been classified as british otherwise than by descent, can hold a british passport, and can pass british nationality to your children, irrespective of where these children are born.
Can i change my status from being a british citizen by descent to a british citizen otherwise than by descent. You were born in the uk or northern ireland before 1983. He was a british citizen, yes, but he could be made unbritish. Sep 09, 2010 what does british citizen by descent mean. See this other answer on how to obtain a british passport if you would require one. That section not being mentioned in section 14 of the bna 1981 suggests that indeed the op is a british citizen otherwise than by descent and so, his children born anywhere in the world are british citizens by descent. Acquisition by registration british nationality act 1981 section 31 states. Under british law, not all children born in the uk are automatically recognised as british citizens a child will automatically qualify as a british citizen where they were born in the uk on or after 1 january 1983 and at the time of their birth one of their parents was a british citizen or settled in the uk. For this the next question to answer is whether your father was a british citizen by descent or a british citizen otherwise than by descent. A british citizen otherwise than by descent, can automatically pass on british citizenship to a child born outside the uk. A child born in a british overseas territory see page 8 after 21 may 2002 will also be a british citizen if, at the time of the birth, either parent is a british citizen, or settled in the united kingdom, or settled in that particular territory. Apr 12, 2019 there are several ways to become a uk citizen.
Prior to 1948 if you chose to become a naturalised citizen of some other country then you lost your. I am a british citizen by descent i have british passport, full citizenship, living overseas, and have never lived in the uk. What matters is that a british citizen otherwise than by descent can have. If while a person is a minor an application is made for his registration as a british citizen, the secretary of state may, if. To become a british citizen, note that you must have lived for at least 5 years in the uk. Child registration as british citizen imperial visas. These papers provide more detailed information on the applicant than the naturalisation certificate. A child who is adopted in the uk and one or both adoptive parents are british citizens will also automatically be a british citizen otherwise than by descent on adoption and does not need to be registered. Sep 11, 2012 i am a british citizen by descent i have british passport, full citizenship, living overseas, and have never lived in the uk. Wikipedia also says, a child born outside the uk on or after 1 january 1983 will automatically acquire british citizenship by descent if either parent is a british citizen otherwise than by descent at the time of the birth. On a point of clarification, all naturalised british citizens are british citizens otherwise than by descent. A british citizen by descent cannot pass on british nationality to a child born abroad. In nov 1948 there was no such thing as nz nationality all nz born were british. May 07, 2012 how to claim british nationality otherwise than by descent for my daughter born in paris sept 2000.
Children who are not british by birth can become british citizens by registration. I have gone through many documentation but failed to understand the practical difference in terms of who cancant transfer their british citizenship. British overseas territories citizen formerly british dependent territories citizen botc botc formerly bdtc is the form of british nationality held through connection with any british overseas territory bot. This difference is important because the type of citizenship people have decides the way in which they can pass british citizenship on to their children who were born outside the united kingdom. Seeking british citizenship after their wedding is much easier than seeking citizenship before being married to a british citizen. Sep 26, 2008 can i change my status from being a british citizen by descent to a british citizen otherwise than by descent.
You are automatically a citizen of the uk if youre born outside the uk and one of your parent is a british citizen. British citizenship for children born abroad morton fraser. Your mother is a british citizen otherwise than by descent because of birth in the uk. There are lots of ways to become british, as our infographic below. A british citizen by descent could have become such a citizen in a number of. Someone who acquires british citizenship in this way can pass british citizenship on to his or her children regardless of where their children are born. Applicants born before 1983 to british mothers about fee and about eligibility for a british passport via directgov, website of the uk government. Uk passport for baby born to a uk citizen by descent. See section 14 of the british nationality act 1981. It is possible to be registered as a british citizen and still be a british citizen by descent such as if you were registered under section 32, for instance. Simply put, i need to know if my mother was still legally a british citizen after becoming a naturalize u. I am a british citizen by naturalization british citizen otherwise by decent and my wife is an ira. As a british citizen by descent there are some limited ways in which you can pass citizenship on to your children. Children born abroad before 1983 to british mothers british.
Who can apply for british citizenship and other forms of british nationality. Hi, my wife who is british born and a citizen otherwise than by descent, our two kids born in australia and myself are planning on moving to england later this year. Children born outside the uk, with british parents, are usually considered british by. Instead of telling people how to claim benefits it encourages participation in british life. Nov 29, 2016 you can become a british citizen by naturalisation or you may already be eligible for british citizenship by descent, all you have to do then is simply register and attend a citizenship ceremony. Citizenship, which is a legal concept, grants individuals who have some sort of legal status within a state, certain rights, and they are expected to perform certain duties. The children if born in the uk though to a parent who is bc by descent, would be bc otherwise than descent, i. Only go outside for food, health reasons or work but only if you cannot work from home if you go out, stay 2 metres 6ft away from other people at all times. My wife is not a uk national neither my three daughters as they were all borne outside the uk. Am i a uk citizen by descent or otherwise than by descent. My question is that he and his hk born wife are expecting a baby and i would like to know what is needed for the baby to become a british citizen. I am a full british citizen,my son is a british citizen by descent having been born in hk and he has not lived in the uk for more than a few weeks at a time. British citizen british national can somebody please explain to me the difference between a british citizen and a british national. Registration under section 32 of the british nationality act 1981.
Registering minors born outside the uk to british citizens by descent. Im an aussie citizen so will be applying for a visa to live there. Every british citizen is either a british citizen otherwise than by descent or a british citizen by descent. Mar 28, 2019 to become a british citizen, note that you must have lived for at least 5 years in the uk. Jan 20, 2009 so, if true, that means her mother is a citizen by birth, yes. Children born outside the united kingdom to british citizens otherwise than by. To qualify under this section, the parent who is british by descent must have been born to a parent who was a british citizen otherwise than by descent or if that person died, then they would have been a british citizen otherwise than by descent but for their death. I am a british citizen by descent i have british passport. New british citizenship test take the quiz uk news sky news. So if there is a good chance that the op will returning to the uk in the near future, this might be worth considering. Your children may be eligible for british citizenship by birth. In this case, the child would become a citizen otherwise than by descent and would automatically pass on british citizenship to hisher own children born outside of the uk.
British citizen among missing hong kong booksellers world. Difference between bc by descent and otherwise by descent. Maybe this is not answering this question exactly but close. You will then be asked to book an appointment at your nearest ukvcas service point. If he was the latter, then you are already a british citizen, as your father could give you his citizenship. Under uk nationality rules, british citizens are classed as either having british citizenship by descent or british citizenship otherwise than by descent.
Information to explain if british citizens can pass on their citizenship to their child born outside the united kingdom on or after 1 january 1983. Ukandcolonies, who will become british citizens under the act, 3 million. The first sentence is not wrong, although i probably should have phrased it better, by saying children born overseas to parents who are citizens by descent, will eventually be able to gain british citizenship otherwise than by descent, once the 3 years residency requirement in the uk has been met, and the parents proceed with the registration process. If while a person is a minor an application is made for his registration as a british citizen, the secretary of state may, if he thinks fit, cause him to be registered as such citizen. Under the governments further proposals on descent, there could be children in the second generation born overseas who are born to british citizens by descent, neither of whom has the statutory connections with this country to give the child an entitlement to registration as a british citizen. First, you must apply to settle in the uk so you can remain in britain indefinitely. Issued to all people who are granted british citizenship through naturalisation. You can become a british citizen by naturalisation or you may already be eligible for british citizenship by descent, all you have to do then is simply register and attend a citizenship ceremony. Check if you can become a british citizen there are different ways to apply for british citizenship based on your circumstances. A child who is adopted in the uk and one or both adoptive parents are british citizens will also automatically be a british citizen otherwise than by descent on adoption and does not need to. These restrictions do not apply to british citizens otherwise than by descent. I am a us citizen, but can i become a british citizen by descent. British citizenship by birth child born in the uk ias. Aug 06, 2015 information to explain if british citizens can pass on their citizenship to their child born outside the united kingdom on or after 1 january 1983.
The british guidelines seem to indicate in order for me to qualify for british citizenship passport holder now, the qualifying parent must have been a british citizen when i was born. Then, study for and pass the life in the uk test, which includes questions about becoming a citizen and british traditions. You can check if youre a british citizen here and if youre a new zealand citizen. Mar 18, 2016 a bc by descent cannot pass their citizenship on their children if the children are born abroad. Children born in the uk, with british parents, will automatically be british otherwise than by descent. Uk with both parents registration for citizenship other than by descent. British citizenship by descent is based on birth outside of the united kingdom to a parent mother or father who is british other than by descent or who was born in the uk before 1983. If your parents were married at the time of your birth and your father is a british citizen otherwise than by descent usually by being born in the uk to british parents then you automatically became a british citizen by descent when you were born. You have british citizenship by descent by virtue of birth outside the uk to a british citizen otherwise than by descent after 1 january 1983 this is important as only children of british fathers could get citizenship from them before then. If his father was british by descent, and he was registered as a minor under section 32 father spent a continuous period of 3 years in the uk some time before the childs birth, and grandparent was british otherwise than by descent, the child is still british by descent.
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