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Who is eligible for a UK passport?

We appreciate that in some situations it's difficult to know whether you are eligible for a British passport or not. The following explanation of the categories should clarify this for you, but if you have any questions please call our National Helpline on 0870 521 0410 for advice.

British citizen

People became British citizens on 1 January 1983 if they were citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies on 31 December 1982 and had the right of abode in the United Kingdom on that date.

The most common ways for a person to become a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies before 1 January 1983 were:

By birth in the United Kingdom or in a place still a British colony.
By naturalisation in the United Kingdom or a British colony.
By registration as a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies.
By legitimate descent from a father* to whom the previous conditions applied.

*Prior to the introduction of the British Nationality Act, 1981, a person could not claim nationality from his or her mother.

British dependent territories citizen*

People who obtained their citizenship from a connection with a territory which remains a British dependency - e.g. Gibraltar, Bermuda etc.

British overseas citizen*

These are people who have a connection with a former British colony, for example Kenya, who did not become citizens of that country when it became independent and did not become British citizens.

British subjects*

This generally applies to people who were born before 1 January 1949 and who had a connection with either British India or the Republic of Ireland (Southern Ireland).

British nationals (overseas)*

This applies to former British Dependent Territories citizens connected with Hong Kong.

British protected person*

Those who had a connection with territories that were previously British Protectorates, Protected States or Mandated or Trust Territories.

This is not a final list and there are other ways in which a person may qualify for a British passport. If you think you may be eligible, please call the National Helpline for further advice.

*British nationals who hold these citizenships may need visas that are not required by British citizens, for example a British subject visiting the USA.

Check with your travel agent or with the authorities of the country you are due to visit with their UK Consulate or Embassy. These telephone numbers are available from Directory Enquiries.

Non-eligibility

The following two categories are not automatically eligible for a British passport:

Married women
Women who are not British and who marry a British man after 1 January 1949 do not automatically acquire British citizenship by virtue of that marriage. This applies regardless of whether she married a man who was a United Kingdom citizen before 1 January 1983 or a man who is a British citizen after 31 December 1982.
Residence in the UK
Foreign nationals or Commonwealth citizens who have lived in the United Kingdom for any length of time are not automatically entitled to British nationality because of their residence here.

If you wish to enquire about your immigration status, you should contact:

Immigration and Nationality Directorate
Block C
Whitgift Centre
Croydon,
Surrey, CR9 1AT

Telephone: 0870 606 7766

info@direct-visas.co.uk