What is Registration of an Adult as a British Citizen?

Registration is the only way that a child under the age of 18 can become a British citizen if they are not automatically a British citizen by birth. Registration is also available for adults, in certain circumstances.

Unlike applications to naturalise, to be registered as a British citizen it is not necessary to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the English Language and Life in the UK. However, any applicant aged 10 years or over will still be subject to the good character requirement.

Am I eligible?

To be eligible to register as a British citizen, you would need to demonstrate:

• you were born outside the UK and Colonies before 1 January 1983;
• at the time of your birth your mother was a Citizen of the UK and Colonies; and
• you would have automatically been a Citizen of the UK and Colonies by descent through your mother if specific provisions of British nationality law had provided for this at the time of your birth in the same way as it provided for citizenship by descent through a father, and if in those circumstances you would have had the right of abode in the UK immediately before 1 January 1983.

or

• you were born in the UK before 1 July 2006;
• your parents were not married at the time of your birth;
• you have never been a British citizen; and
• you would have become a British citizen in certain specific circumstances had your parents been married at the time of your birth.

or

• you are a British Overseas Territories Citizen, a British National (Overseas), a British Overseas citizen, a British subject, or a British protected person;
• you were in the UK five years before the date of application for registration as a British citizen;
• during the intervening five-year period you were not absent from the UK for more than 450 days or in the UK in breach of immigration laws; and
• in the twelve months immediately before the date of application you were not absent from the UK for more than 90 days or subject to any restriction on the period for which you might remain in the UK.

or

• you are a British Overseas citizen, a British subject, a British protected person, or a British National (Overseas);
• the Secretary of State is satisfied that you do not have any other citizenship or nationality, and the Secretary of State is satisfied that you have not voluntarily lost through action or inaction any other nationality at any time after 4 July 2002 (or, if you are only a British National (Overseas), after 19 March 2009).

or

• You were born outside the UK on or after 13 January 2010;
• at the time of your birth your mother or father was a member of the armed forces serving outside the UK; and
• if you are under 18 at the date of application your parents consent to the registration.

or

• you were born in the UK on or after 1 January 1983;
• you are not automatically a British citizen by birth;
• you were absent from the UK for no more than 90 days in each of the first ten years of your life; and
• you applied for registration after your 10th birthday.

Discretionary applications

If none of the above requirements are met, it may be possible for you to apply to register as a British citizen on a discretionary basis. Our team has vast experience in advising clients on discretionary applications if needed.

For more information about us and our British Citizenship and Naturalisation services, please contact a member of the team who can answer any questions and guide you through the process.