British Citizenship by Descent

You may be eligible for British citizenship by Descent if you have a British parent. It depends on where & when you were born, and your parent's circumstances. British citizenship is normally automatically passed down one generation to children born outside the UK.

We are experts in dealing with British citizenship applications and if instructed will carry out all the work on the application until the decision is received from the Home Office UKVI.

You were born on or after 1 July 2006

You're automatically a British citizen if you were born outside the UK and all of the following apply:

• you were born on or after 1 July 2006
• your mother or father was a British citizen when you were born
• your British parent could pass on their citizenship to you

You were born between 1983 and June 2006

You're automatically a British citizen if you were born outside the UK and all of the following apply:

• you were born between 1 January 1983 and 30 June 2006
• your mother or father was a British citizen when you were born (they must have been married if your father had British citizenship but your mother did not)
• your British parent could pass on their citizenship to you

Your British parent could pass on their citizenship to you if they were one of the following:

• born or adopted in the UK
• given citizenship after applying for it in their own right (not based on having a British parent)
• working as a Crown servant when you were born (for example in the diplomatic service, overseas civil service or armed forces)

You were born before 1983

You may automatically be a British citizen if you were born before 1 January 1983 and:

• you were born outside the UK
• your father is British

When you were born, your father must have been all of the following:

• a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies
• married to your mother
• able to pass on his citizenship to you

Your father could pass on his citizenship to you if he was one of the following:

• born or adopted in the UK
• given citizenship after applying for it in his own right (not based on having a British parent)
• working as a Crown servant when you were born (for example in the diplomatic service, overseas civil service or armed forces)