The documents we require for registration as a British citizen, a British overseas territories citizen or a British overseas citizen if you are a stateless person born before 1 January 1983

This page provides details of the documents you will need to supply to us to support your application for registration as a British citizen, a British overseas territories citizen or a British overseas citizen if you are a stateless person born before 1 January 1983.

We require the original document, not a copy.

The documents you need to send will depend on the basis of your application.

Documents required for all applications

Evidence that you have been stateless from birth

You should send a letter from the authorities of the country in which you were born stating that you are not, and never have been, a citizen of that country.

Evidence of your parent's citizenship or status

You should send:

• the parent's birth certificate; or
• any certificates of registration or naturalisation; or
• any official letters which show the parent's citizenship or status at the relevant time.

If the parent concerned is your father, you should provide your parents' marriage certificate.

Documents required for applications which require you to be resident in the United Kingdom or a British overseas territory

You should send your passport or passports (including your stateless person's travel documents) which cover the whole three-year period. If you cannot do this, please explain why and send as much as you can of the following to cover the three-year period:

• letters from your employer; and
• letters from schools or other educational establishments you attended;
• a letter from HM Revenue & Customs National Insurance Contributions Office showing you have paid National Insurance contributions; and
• P60 forms or a letter from HM Revenue & Customs showing you have paid tax; and
• any other documents which show you lived in the United Kingdom or the British overseas territory.

Someone who is not considered as a national by any country under the terms of its laws.