Could you be eligible for a British Passport?
No?
Are you sure?
According to Robyn Cory from 1st Contact Visas, there are thousands of people – particularly from Commonwealth countries – who often are not aware they may be eligible through Nationality law at the time of their birth and their ancestry that they may be eligible for a UK passport, when in fact they do qualify.
“A nationality status trace through 1st Contact Visas, along with the relevant supporting documentation could well put you on your way to British citizenship, and all the possibilities that opens up.”
A Complicated System
British nationality law – the UK law concerning British citizenship – is complex because of the UK’s former status as an imperial power.
Anyone who has attempted to assess their own eligibility for UK citizenship will know it is a long and complicated process through an even more complicated system, with an enormous number of variables.
The bottom line is that if you’re a citizen of a commonwealth country like South Africa, Australia or New Zealand, Canada etc, you may be able to claim UK nationality depending on a combination of factors including marriages, births, legislation and past relationships between the countries.
Professional Trace Service
1st Contact Visas is well positioned to assist with ascertaining your rights to British citizenship by either naturalisation or registration.
Naturalisation as a British citizen can occur after you have lived in the UK for a qualifying period of up to 5 years on a relevant visa and successfully applied and obtained Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). After holding ILR for a further 12 month period and meeting of continuous residency requirements in the UK, you can apply for Naturalisation, British Citizenship.
British citizenship can also be obtained by Registration. If for instance you were born prior 1 Jan 1983 and your mother was born in the UK, you will qualify for registration as a British citizen straight away. If you were born prior to 07 Feb 1961, you will only be eligible to hold Right of Abode (RoA) and then once you have resided in the UK for 5 continuous years on this status, you will be eligible to naturalise.
To find out more or complete the FREE online assessment, visit www.1stcontactvisas.com or call 0808 141 1664 (UK), 021 657-2180 (South Africa) or 1800 039 300 (Australia).
Related Posts
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- Passing on Nationality to Your Offspring
- Could You Be British and Not Know it?
- Readers Ask
- Children of British Mothers Eligible for UK Passports
About 1st Contact Visas1st Contact Visas is an immigration consultancy incorporated in 1998 with the aim of becoming the premier visa service provider to people wishing to migrate around the world. 1st Contact Visas can assist with the full range of UK Visas, including the HSMP/Tier 1 Visa and working towards British Citizenship though Indefinite Leave to Remain. |
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Hi,
Interested in further information on British passport. I am Australian, married to Brit and have just relocated back to UK (after 7 years in Asia).
I currently have settlement visa.
Our longer term intentions (3 or 4 years) is to settle in Europe. Obviously holding a British passport (compared to Australian) helps with immigration issues that would arise.
I look forward to hearing from you
Best regards
Roger Sefton
07776196581
That’s it?! I was expecting some unknown factor which could provide alot people passports who didn’t think they qualified. If parents born in UK you can get passport.. WOW! Who knew. I bet there is so many people with British parents who didn’t even check!? What a stupid article.
I was born in the then Northern Rhodesia in September 1959. My parents and Grandparents on my mother’s side were South African, but held British Subject passports. My mother is still a British subject and has Right of Abode in the UK. What possibility is there for a British passport?
As I understand it, if my parents and grandparents were born in the Commonwealth country that I am from then all that I can qualify for is a UK Work Permit, for which I require a job first?
my grandparents were full british citizens and my father was born in a british protectorate so what are my chances of getting a passport or cirizenship in brittain
Wrong – the ruling on being born on or after 7th of February 1961 to a British citizen mother in order to be eligible to register as a British citizen was abolished in January 2010.
You are entitled to register as a British citizen even if you were born before 7th February 1961.
Facts are king in terms of British citizenship entitlement, I recommend you get it right.
Also, Right of Abode (RoA) is only available to those born in Commonwealth countries whose country of nationality had never left the Commonwealth prior to 1st January 1983 (i.e.nationals of South Africa and Pakistan are not entitled to hold Right of Abode).
Dan@ That is not right. Not your wording anyway.
It is for Commonwealth citizens who had the right of abode before 1 January 1983 already and who have not, since then, ceased to be Commonwealth citizens.
Not sure what the “Wrong” was referring to as got email now but comment is dated before mine, but if was aimed at me, what I actually stated was a cut and past from the government website on RoA visa. So I guess they are wrong ;o)
I am a dual citizen, south african and british and I live in england. My parents still live in sout africa. How, or what visa will they require to join me in england? What is the process?
Thanks
Hi
If some one could just give me some clarity. My Father Was Born in the U.K from his parents whom were at the time of his birth, were also British Citizens. He came to South Africa in his mid 25`s, where he met my Zambian Born mother, in SA. They were married and I was born on the 30th December, 1981. What Visa/Status would I qualify for?
Please Help.
Dan (23 June) is quite right. I was born in 1946. Last year I registered as a British citizen and I now have my British passport.People born to a UK-born parent fall into one of four categories:
1. Born before 1 July 2006 to a British father.
Can apply for a passport PROVIDED that the parents were married at some stage either before or after the applicant’s birth. (The marriage does not have to have taken place in the UK.)
2. Born on or after 1 July 2006 to a British father.
Can apply for a passport. The parents’ marital status is irrelevant.
3. Born on or after 1 January 1983 to a British mother.
Can apply for a passport. The mother’s marital status is irrelevant.
4. Born before 1 January 1983.
Must first register as a British citizen, using form UKM. The applicant will be notified when registration has been approved and will then be required to attend a citizenship ceremony at a British consulate. He or she will receive a Certificate of Regiastration as a British Citizen and will then be able to apply for a British passport.The mother’s marital status is irrelevant.
Of course if both parents were born in the UK then the applicdant will fall into two categories and can apply through either parent.
Omitted from 4: Born before 1 January 1983 to a British mother.
In 4. The spelling of ‘registration’ is wrong.
So is the spelling of ‘applicant’
I applied for a UK passport back in 2000 and received it through the mail. My father was born there and even though I was born in the US and am a citizen, I had no problem getting a passport. I went on to live in Spain legally for 10 years and purchase land. It is a fantastic document to have and allows a lot more options to where I live and work!
Both my parents were born in Rhodesia (1955 \ 1957) at that stage Rhodesia was part of the Commonwealth! Also my great grandfather commissioned a Ship in honor of her Majesty. Do they not qualify for some or other UK document?
Hi Shelly
Your parent’s could be eligible for British citizenship but please note that British Nationality cases have a degree of complexity that requires us to undertake further research before we can give a formal opinion.
Without undertaking some research, we cannot give a definitive answer, nor rule out a claim. In these cases, we prefer to perform a UK Status Trace. This involves researching your family situation and providing a written, multi-page report setting out our findings.
Please let me know if you require furtehr details.
Jason Trudgian – 1st Contact Visas