Ukba
BN4 - BRITISH CITIZENSHIP CHILDREN BORN OUTSIDE THE UNITED KINGDOM SINCE 1 JANUARY 1983 www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk February 2010
CONTENTS 1. General 4. British citizens otherwise than by descent and British citizens by descent 5. Children who are born in a British overseas territory 9. Children who are born outside the United Kingdom to British citizens otherwise than by descent 10. Children who are born outside the United Kingdom to British citizens by descent 11. Children who are born to parents in Crown and similar types of service 12. Adopted children 13. Registering your child as a British citizen 16. How to apply for registration 17. British passports 19. Address for enquiries, leaflets and application forms Notes GENERAL 1. The purpose of this leaflet is to explain how parents who are British citizens can pass their citizenship on to their children born outside the United Kingdom on or after 1 January 1983. In this leaflet: (a) The “United Kingdom” means England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man (b) Reference to “qualifying territories” mean the British overseas territories (see Note A) other than the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia (c) Unless otherwise indicated, any reference to “parent” means: Children born before 1 July 2006
• the mother (if the child was born on or after 1 January 1983) – before 1983, women were not able to pass on citizenship to their children • the father (but only if he was married to the mother) NB. If the parents were not married when the child was born, but then get married, the marriage might legitimate the child’s birth. If it does, the child would become a British citizen (and would be regarded as having been one from birth) if the father was a British citizen (or settled) when the child was born. Children of a void marriage may also, in some circumstances, be treated as legitimate. Children born on or after 1 July 2006 • the mother (i.e. the woman who gives birth
CONTENTS 1. General 4. British citizens otherwise than by descent and British citizens by descent 5. Children who are born in a British overseas territory 9. Children who are born outside the United Kingdom to British citizens otherwise than by descent 10. Children who are born outside the United Kingdom to British citizens by descent 11. Children who are born to parents in Crown and similar types of service 12. Adopted children 13. Registering your child as a British citizen 16. How to apply for registration 17. British passports 19. Address for enquiries, leaflets and application forms Notes GENERAL 1. The purpose of this leaflet is to explain how parents who are British citizens can pass their citizenship on to their children born outside the United Kingdom on or after 1 January 1983. In this leaflet: (a) The “United Kingdom” means England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man (b) Reference to “qualifying territories” mean the British overseas territories (see Note A) other than the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia (c) Unless otherwise indicated, any reference to “parent” means: Children born before 1 July 2006
• the mother (if the child was born on or after 1 January 1983) – before 1983, women were not able to pass on citizenship to their children • the father (but only if he was married to the mother) NB. If the parents were not married when the child was born, but then get married, the marriage might legitimate the child’s birth. If it does, the child would become a British citizen (and would be regarded as having been one from birth) if the father was a British citizen (or settled) when the child was born. Children of a void marriage may also, in some circumstances, be treated as legitimate. Children born on or after 1 July 2006 • the mother (i.e. the woman who gives birth