British Citizenship by Descent

Under UK nationality law, there are two forms of British citizenship: British citizenship by descent and British citizenship otherwise than by descent.

A British citizen by descent refers to a person who was born outside the UK who has acquired citizenship through a UK-born parent or grandparent.

The rules around eligibility for British citizenship by descent vary depending on when you were born and the circumstances of your parent/s or grandparent/s at the time of your birth.

You are automatically a British citizen if you were born outside of the UK before 1^st January 1983 and your father was a citizen of the UK and Colonies at the time of your birth and was married to your mother.

Also, one of the following must have applied to your father at the time of your birth:

• Was born or adopted in the UK
• Worked as a Crown servant when you were born
• Was a British citizen at the time of your birth (not through descent)

If you were born before 1983 and your parents were not married at the time of your birth, or your mother was a British citizen and not your father, you will still be eligible for citizenship if one of the points above applied to your mother or father at the time of your birth.

If you were born between 1983 and 30th June 2006, you will automatically be a British citizen if your mother or father was a British citizen when you were born, and one of the following applies to them:

• They were born or adopted in the UK
• Worked as a Crown servant when you were born
• Was a British citizen at the time of your birth (not through descent)

If your father was not married to your mother at the time of your birth, you will still be eligible if one of the points above applied to your father at the time of your birth.

If you were born on or after July 1^st 2006 outside of the UK and one of your parents was a British citizen at the time of your birth, you will automatically be a British citizen.

In order to be eligible, one of the following must have applied to your British parent at the time of your birth:

• They were born or adopted in the UK
• Worked as a Crown servant when you were born
• Was a British citizen at the time of your birth (not through descent)

Under certain circumstances, you can apply for citizenship if one of your grandparents was born in the UK or was a British citizen at the time of your birth. This route is known as British citizenship by Double Descent.

Double descent claims are considered on a case-by-case basis, and you must be able to provide sufficient evidence to support your case. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that you will receive citizenship through this route.

This is an especially complex area of UK immigration law, and we highly recommend you enlist the services of an experienced immigration law firm to help you with your case.

If you think you have a reasonable claim for citizenship by double descent, we can help. We boast some of the most highly skilled and experienced immigration lawyers in Birmingham and throughout the United Kingdom.

We have assisted many individuals who were looking to acquire British citizenship based on the ancestry of their parents and grandparents.

Call us now on 0121 667 6530 to find out how we can help you become a British citizen.

If a person meets the main requirements under each of the categories above, they will automatically qualify for British citizenship by descent. This means they will not need to enter an official application for citizenship, and can apply for a letter confirming their British citizenship. They will also be able to apply for a child or adult British passport.

However, if a person is eligible for British citizenship by descent but doesn’t meet the standard requirements, they will need to register their citizenship. This process involves filling in an application form and providing certain documents to prove that you are who you say you are.

Application forms can be completed online, or you can complete it on paper and send it by post. However, if you live in the Channel Islands, Isle of Man or an overseas British territory, you can only apply by post.

The form which you will need to complete depends on the particular route through which you wish to apply for British citizenship. For example, those born before 1983 will need to fill in different forms depending on whether they are applying through their father or mother.

You will be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point as part of the application process. You will need to provide your biometric information at the appointment (your fingerprints and a photo), at a cost of £19.20.

Requirements And Documents Needed For The Application

You must meet 3 requirements in order to be eligible for British citizenship by descent.

• You must prove your descent from a British citizen. This could be through your parent or, in some cases, your grandparent.
• You should be of good character, which means having a clean criminal record and complying with UK laws.
• You don’t usually need to meet residency requirements for citizenship by descent, but there may be specific requirements based on your circumstances.

Below are the documents you will need to prepare for your application. Our lawyers at Birmingham Immigration Lawyers can compile these documents in order and complete your application for you to ensure a successful result.

• Birth Certificates for yourself and the British citizen from whom you’re claiming descent.
• Marriage Certificates for your parents or grandparents
• Proof of Descent, such as your parent’s or grandparent’s birth and marriage certificates.
• Passport and Visa History
• Proof of Good Character, provide police clearance certificates or similar documents from your country of residence.
• Any Additional Documentation such as adoption papers or death certificates if applicable.
• Application Forms which can be found on the UK government’s official website.
• Proof of payment of the Application Fee
• Language and Life in the UK Test (if applicable).

If you aren’t automatically granted citizenship due to your lineage but qualify for registration, you can apply via the gov.uk website’s digital form.

The specific form you need to fill out is determined by your birth date and your eligibility criteria. Postal applications are also an option, but they take significantly more time to process compared to digital submissions.

You’ll also need to schedule a session at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) center to capture your biometric data, such as your fingerprints and photo.

Alongside your application, you must provide various supplemental documents to validate your qualification for citizenship via lineage. These documents can either be uploaded directly through the online platform or scanned during your UKVCAS appointment.

If your application is approved and you’re above 18 years old, attending a ceremony to formally receive British citizenship is mandatory. This comes with an extra charge of £80.

In most circumstances, you should receive a decision within six months from the date the application was received.

The Home Office will inform you if you need to provide more information. The application process will be delayed if you are required to provide more information.

If your circumstances change, it is important to inform the Home Office. This includes if you have moved house, got married or been arrested.

You can email the Home Office directly to report a change of circumstances on: nationalityenquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk.

You will need to attend a citizenship ceremony if your British citizenship application is accepted and you are 18 or over (including if you turned 18 when the application was being processed.)

The citizenship ceremony is usually conducted in a group, although you can request to have an individual ceremony at an additional cost. It costs £80 for a group citizenship ceremony, and you can take two guests with you.

You will need to swear an oath of allegiance, promising to respect the rights, freedoms and laws of the UK.

It might be possible to have your citizenship ceremony in the country where you’re living. If you wish to do so, you should contact the country’s embassy or consulate.