What is British citizenship?

This page explains what British citizenship is, and what other types of British nationality there are.

British citizenship is one of the six different forms of British nationality. Some of these were defined in the British Nationality Act 1981, which came into force on 1 January 1983. The laws that define how citizenship can be obtained changed on that date, which is why you will often see references to 1983 on this site.

The forms of nationality are:

• British citizenship;

• British overseas citizenship;

• British overseas territories citizenship;

• British national (overseas);

• British protected person; and

• British subject.

Of these, only British citizens have an automatic right to live and work in the United Kingdom and to apply for a British passport. Those with other forms of British nationality must obtain permission to live and work here. They may be entitled to register as British citizens in certain circumstances.

You may already be a British citizen or be able to apply for citizenship or another form of British nationality.

A person may be a British citizen:

• by descent; or

• otherwise than by descent.

This is a legal difference that affects whether or not a person can pass on citizenship to his/her children.
 

A person is a British citizen otherwise than by descent if he/she was:

• born in the United Kingdom after 1 January 1983 and one or both of his/her parents are British citizens, or were settled in the United Kingdom at the time of the birth; or

• adopted in the United Kingdom and one or both parents are British citizens.

A citizen otherwise than by descent can pass on British citizenship automatically to his/her children born outside the United Kingdom. But any children born outside the United Kingdom will be British citizens by descent, and cannot normally pass their citizenship to their own children born abroad. However, they can register their children as British citizens in certain circumstances.

A British citizen by descent cannot become a British citizen otherwise than by descent.

The position may be different for people born before 1 January 1983. In most cases, if you have a passport issued before 1983 which describes you as a British subject (or Commonwealth citizen) citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies with right of abode in the United Kingdom, you will automatically be a British citizen.

How to apply for proof that you have not become a British citizen

If you need proof that you have not become a British citizen by registration or naturalisation in the United Kingdom in order to obtain a passport in another country, you should complete the confirmation of non acquisition of British citizenship letter, which you can download from the right side of this page and return it to the address at the top of the letter.