UNITED KINGDON 

UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND; (ENGLAND, WALES, SCOTLAND, AND NORTHERN IRELAND)

[“British” refers to “of the United Kingdom”]

CITIZENSHIP: Nationality is regulated by the British Nationality Act of 1984.

Due to Great Britain's historic relationship with its former colonies and the British Commonwealth, certain groups of peoples fall into special categories.  Citizenship requirements and special considerations for these groups are frequently different than for those considered to be foreign nationals and, to a degree, are different from category to category. Persons included in these special categories are:

• British Dependent Territories Citizens
• British Overseas Citizens
• British Subjects
• British Protected Persons
• Commonwealth Citizens
• Citizens of the Republic of Ireland.

After January 1, 1983, the following qualify for British citizenship:

• BY BIRTH:
• Child born in the United Kingdom, at least one of whose parents is a British citizen or has settled in the United Kingdom.
• Child born in the United Kingdom whose parents are unknown.
• BY DESCENT:
• Child born overseas to a British citizen if at least one of his parents is a British citizen other than by descent.
• Child born overseas to a British citizen in service to the Crown.
• Child born outside of the United Kingdom with certain family connections (unspecified) to the United Kingdom.
• OTHER:
• Child adopted by Order of the Court of the United Kingdom.
• Person registered by the Secretary of State as a British citizen. (Often used for children born abroad to British citizens.)
• SPECIAL CATEGORIES: Persons falling into these categories may be registered as British citizens if they have lived in the United Kingdom lawfully for five years; the twelve months preceding the application must be of continuous residence.
• British Overseas Citizen
• British Subject
• British Protected Person
• British Dependent Territory Citizen

 BY NATURALIZATION: British citizenship may be granted upon fulfillment of the following conditions:

• Person has been a resident of the United Kingdom for five years.
• Persons married to British citizens are required to reside in the United Kingdom for the three years preceding application, with certain restrictions on periods spent outside the United Kingdom.
• Person is of good character and has sufficient knowledge of English, Welsh, or Scottish Gaelic.
• Person intends on remaining in the United Kingdom or entering Crown service.

DUAL CITIZENSHIP: RECOGNIZED.

LOSS OF CITIZENSHIP: Unless it is required for other reasons, British citizens need not renounce their citizenship upon obtaining a foreign citizenship.  Those who have voluntarily renounced British citizenship are entitled to reacquire it once.  Otherwise, the resumption of British citizenship is at the discretion of the Secretary of State.

• VOLUNTARY: A completed application for renunciation, together with documentary evidence of citizenship, plus fee, should be submitted to the British Embassy. Application will be sent to England to be processed for approval. In approximately two months the person will receive the processed application as acceptance of the renunciation.
• INVOLUNTARY: No information was provided.