The documents we require for registration as a British citizen if you were born before 1983 to a British mother
This page provides details of the documents you will need to supply to us to support your application for registration as a British citizen if you were born before 1983 to a British mother.
We require the original document, not a copy.
Evidence that you meet the requirements for registration
All applicants
You should send:
- your passport; and
- your full birth certificate; and
- your mother's full birth certificate; and either
- her certificate of naturalisation or registration as a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies (or, before 1 January 1949, as a British subject); or
- papers showing her legal adoption; or
- her expired citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies passport.
In addition, you may also need to send the following documents.
If your mother was a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies by descent and was in crown service under the United Kingdom government at the time of your birth
You should also send:
- evidence of her service.
If, at the time of your birth:
- your mother was a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies but did not gain that status by birth, adoption, naturalisation or registration in the United Kingdom; and
- one of her parents was a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies by birth, adoption, naturalisation or registration in the United Kingdom.
You should also send:
- your grandparents' marriage certificate; and
- your grandparent's birth certificate; and
- your grandparent's certificate of naturalisation or registration as a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies (or, before 1 January 1949, as a British subject).
If, at the time of your birth:
- your mother was a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies but did not gain that status by birth, adoption, naturalisation or registration in the United Kingdom; and
- neither of her parents was a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies by birth, adoption, naturalisation or registration in the United Kingdom.
You should also send:
- passports, P60s, details of National Insurance contributions, social security claims and employers' letters showing you were resident in the United Kingdom for a continuous period of five years before 1 January 1983 and that you settled in the United Kingdom at the end of that period; or
- evidence that you are a woman who was married at any time before 1 January 1983 to a man with the right of abode in the United Kingdom, for example your marriage certificate and evidence of your husband's right of abode in the form of a passport or United Kingdom birth certificate.