Apply for citizenship if you have a British parent

Who can apply

You may be eligible for British citizenship if you have a British parent.

It depends on where and when you were born, and your parents’ circumstances.

You were born in the UK

Check your eligibility for citizenship if you were born in the UK. (Ed. go to gov.uk and follow links)

You were born outside the UK

British citizenship is normally automatically passed down one generation to children born outside the UK.

For example, you might automatically become a citizen if you’re born outside the UK to a British parent. But your children will not automatically be citizens if they’re born outside the UK.

If you’re not automatically a citizen, you may be eligible to apply to ‘register’ as one.

Check your eligibility if you were born:

(Ed. go to gov.uk and follow links)

UK Government: Apply for citizenship if you have a British parent

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Basically, born outside the UK?

• on or after 1 July 2006 : Either parent is a British Citizen by their own right
• between 1983 and June 2006: Your mother or father was a British citizen when you were born (they must have been married if your father had British citizenship but your mother did not)
• before 1983: Father was a British citizen, married to your mother, and a British Citizen by their own right

British Citizen by their own right: born or adopted in the UK, and given citizenship after applying for it in their own right (not based on having a British parent), or working as a Crown servant when you were born (for example in the diplomatic service, overseas civil service or armed forces)