Right of Abode (RoA) Application

Our immigration solicitors can assist with the Right of Abode (RoA) application to get a Certificate of Entitlement to prove your right to live & work in the UK.

People can apply for a certificate of entitlement to prove they have the right of abode in the UK. The certificate of entitlement is proof that you are entirely free from UK immigration control. You do not need to obtain the permission of an immigration officer to enter the UK, and you may live and work here without restriction. An application for a certificate of entitlement can be made from inside the UK using the application form ROA. It goes in your passport.

You cannot get a certificate if you already have a British passport or a valid certificate of entitlement in another foreign passport.

Eligibility criteria for Right of Abode (RoA) application

You can apply for a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode in any one of the following circumstances:

• If you were registered or naturalised as a British citizen on or after 1 January 1983;
• If you were registered or naturalised in the UK as a citizen of the UK and Colonies before 1 January 1983;
• If you were born in the UK before 1 January 1983;
• If you are a Commonwealth (not British) citizen born before 1 January 1983 to a parent who was born in the UK;
• If you are a female Commonwealth citizen who was married before 1 January 1983 to a man with right of abode in the UK;
• If you were born in the UK or the Falkland Islands on or after 1 January 1983, or in another qualifying British overseas territory on or after 21 May 2002;
• If you were born outside the UK and the Falkland Islands on or after 1 January 1983, or outside the UK and any qualifying British overseas territory on or after 21 May 2002, to a parent who was born in the UK or the Falkland Islands or, on or after 21 May 2002, any qualifying British overseas territory, or registered or naturalised in the UK before your birth;
• If you were born outside the UK and the Falkland Islands on or after 1 January 1983, or outside the United Kingdom and any qualifying British overseas territory on or after 21 May 2002, to a parent who, at the time of your birth, was a British citizen in Crown service or a designated service;
• If you were adopted in the UK, a qualifying British overseas territory, or otherwise under the terms of the Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoption;
• If you were a citizen of the UK and Colonies and were ordinarily resident in the UK for a continuous period of 5 years before 1 January 1983, and were settled in the UK at the end of that period;
• If you were a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies and had a parent who was born, adopted, registered or naturalised in the UK before your birth or adoption;
• If you were a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies and had a grandparent who was born, adopted, registered or naturalised in the UK before your parent's birth or adoption.