BRITISH CITIZENSHIP BY REGISTRATION
This route is for those who are qualified for British Citizenship by registration, either through an entitlement or on a discretionary basis. To be eligible to register as a British Citizen, an applicant must fall into one of several permitted categories, the most common of which is children under the age of 18. Children are not eligible to ‘naturalise,’ but must instead ‘register’ as British citizens.
CHILDREN CAN OBTAIN BRITISH CITIZENSHIP THROUGH REGISTRATION
To qualify for registration as a British Citizen through entitlement, the child must meet one of the following requirements.
- Born in the United Kingdom whose parent or parents become British or settle in the United Kingdom (must be applied for before the child turns 18)
- Born in the United Kingdom and having lived there continuously until the age of ten The Home Office may also register a child and grant British citizenship at its discretion.
The applications are decided on an individual basis and typically take into account the child’s future intentions, the child’s parents’ citizenship and immigration status, the length of the child’s residence in the UK, the child’s settled status, parental consent, and what is in the child’s best interests. Both types of registration require good character, but discretionary registrations have a higher bar. The child would need to submit an application for registration using the MN1 form, pay the required fees, and complete the process.
HOW CAN WE BE OF ASSISTANCE?
We have a great deal of experience in assisting clients in obtaining British Citizenship through our immigration lawyers. We thoroughly examine each client’s situation to ensure that all eligibility requirements are met and that any potential application issues are identified and addressed. Awarded multiple times, we take pride in being approachable, innovative, and always willing to go the extra mile to ensure that our clients receive the individualised attention that they deserve. This group has a strong reputation in the immigration field and is dedicated to providing our clients with clear, transparent, and reliable advice.
QUESTION AND ANSWER
Q: IS DUAL CITIZENSHIP ALLOWED IN THE UK?
A: Dual citizenship is permitted in the UK, so there is no need to give up one’s previous nationality. The national laws of the other country you are looking to continue or hold nationality in may have a different set of criteria, so it is important to check them out.
Q: CAN I RECLAIM MY BRITISH CITIZENSHIP.
A: Anyone who has given up British citizenship can apply to have their citizenship restored. To be eligible for another nationality, an applicant must first relinquish his or her current nationality.
Q: IN ORDER TO OBTAIN BRITISH CITIZENSHIP, ONE MUST BE ADOPTED BY A BRITISH CITIZEN.
A: As long as the child is adopted by a British citizen in Britain, he or she is automatically British and can apply for a passport right away. Whenever a child is adopted outside of the United States, the laws of the country where the child was born will govern the adoption process. Other countries, such as the United Kingdom, may or may not recognise the adoption. Adoption in the United Kingdom does not automatically confer British citizenship on the child if the adoption is not recognised in the UK.
Q: IN ORDER TO BECOME A BRITISH CITIZEN, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION?
A: Home Office decisions on British nationality applications are typically made within six months. Following the Citizenship Ceremony, applicants must apply for a British passport.
Q: DO YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO CAN SERVE AS A REFEREE FOR MY BRITISH CITIZENSHIP APPLICATION?
A: Applicants must have two referees who have known each other for at least three years, have no criminal convictions in the last ten years, and are not related to each other or the applicant. A: A doctor, teacher, health visitor, social worker, or minister of religion who has worked with the child professionally qualifies as one person; the other must be at least 25 years old, be a professional, and be a British citizen.