British Citizenship for Children

British citizenship law is complex, and this makes it difficult for individuals to understand their rights and successfully assert their claims to citizenship. There are some rules for applying British Citizenship for children, British Citizenship by marriage, etc. Any potential application to register a minor as a British citizen. They requires a thorough examination of the current citizenship status. And immigration history of the child and his or her parents. In this article, we address the rights of children born in the United Kingdom. And rights of outside the United Kingdom to register as British citizens.

British by Birth

In certain circumstances, a child will automatically have British citizenship without you being aware of it. In this case, the child will not be registered as a British citizen and you can simply apply for their first British passport.

Children born in the United Kingdom

The British Nationality Act 1981 provides that a person born in the United Kingdom. Between 1 January 1983 and 30 June 2006 (inclusive) is a British national. At the birth time, one or more of the following conditions were met:

one of the parent is a British citizen
one parent is resident in the United Kingdom
and one parent is a member of the armed forces. And the person was born on or after January 13, 2010
the mother is a British citizen
the mother is resident in the United Kingdom
the mother is a member of the armed forces and the person was born on or after January 13, 2010

a person born in the United Kingdom on or after 1 July 2006 is a British national. If, at the time of his or her birth, one or more of the following conditions were met:

one parent is a British citizen

one parent is a member of the armed forces and the person was born on or after January 13, 2010
One of parent has indefinite leave to enter or remain or permanent residence.

Registration as British Citizen

A child who was not born British. He may acquire British citizenship by registration by birth or by meeting the criteria for discretionary registration. In these circumstances, an application for registration as a British citizen must be made to the Home Office.

The British Nationality Act 1981 contains a number of provisions under which the child has the right to become British.

children are eligible to apply for registration of the British Nationality under Act 1981 if:

They are minors one of their parents. And now has British citizenship or is resident in the United Kingdom. Even they are under 18 years of age at the time of application. They are of good character if they are over 10 years old.

And they were born in the United Kingdom. They were not British citizens at birth. Because neither parent was a British citizen or resident in the United Kingdom at the time of birth. They are at least 10 years old at the time of application.

They have lived in the United Kingdom for the first 10 years of their lives. And they have not been outside the United Kingdom for more than 90 days in each of the first 10 years of their lives. The Secretary of State is satisfy. Because that they are of good repute.

Discretionary registration

The Home Office has discretion to register the child, provided that the child meets the criteria for a discretionary application to register.

The acquisition of British citizenship

Getting British citizenship is a significant life event. Aside from allowing a child to apply for a British passport, British citizenship gives them the opportunity to participate more fully in the life of their local community as they grow up.

What happens to the child’s current citizenship?

Before proceeding with the application, you need to know that under the citizenship laws of some countries, a person automatically loses their citizenship when they become a citizen of another country but some countries allows you to keep both of the Citizenships.

What is automatic acquisition of British citizenship?

Children who are British by Birth do not need to be register. There are two ways a child can automatically become a British citizen without having to register. A child who has acquired British citizenship by means his parents can pass this status on to their children born outside the UK or inside the UK.

What is British citizenship not acquired by descent?

A child born in the UK to a parent who is a British citizen. And is a member of the British armed forces at the time of the child’s birth is automatically a British citizen (not by descent) and does not need to be registered. A child born in a British Overseas Territory after 21 May 2002 is also a British citizen if one of the parents is a British citizen, resident in the UK or the Territory, or a member of the British Armed Forces at the time of birth. If a child is British citizen, his parents can apply for British citizenship depending on their child.

What is British citizenship by descent?

British citizenship can be pass on to a generation born abroad. So a child born abroad to a parent an who has British citizenship by means other than descent is automatically British by descent.

Citizenship eligibility of the Children of EEA nationals

Some children of EEA nationals and Swiss born in the UK are automatically British citizens. They don’t need to apply for British visa or British Citizenship. However, due to changes in the law, different rules apply depending on when a child was born.

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