What is British Citizenship?

British citizens have the right to live in the United Kingdom permanently and are free to leave and re-enter the country at any time.

You may already have British citizenship or be able to apply for it in certain circumstances. It is given to people who have a close connection with the United Kingdom, which includes the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. A close connection may be by birth, adoption, descent, marriage, registration or naturalisation.

There are three types of citizenship. These were defined in the British Nationality Act 1981, which came into force on 1 January 1983. Many of THE previous rules about citizenship changed on that date, which is why you will often see references to 1983 in articles about UK immigration.

The three types of citizenship are:

• British citizenship, for people closely connected with the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man;
• British overseas territories citizenship (previously known as British dependent territories citizenship), for people connected with the British overseas territories; and
• British overseas citizenship, for people who were citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies until January 1983 and had no connection with either the United Kingdom or the British overseas territories.

A person may be a British citizen:

• by descent; or
• otherwise than by descent.

This is a legal difference that affects whether or not a person can pass on citizenship to his/her children.

British citizenship by descent means it is gained through your parents. This type of citizenship cannot normally be passed on to your own children.

source: Home Office, February 2008

How To Arrive And Thrive In The UK

Last updated 2008-02-16