Can I register a child aged under 18 as a British overseas territories citizen?

This page provides details of how a person under 18 can register as a British overseas territories citizen using application form MN2. Within this section, a person under 18 will be referred to as a child.

You should read the information in this section before you make an application for registration. You will need to pay a fee when you make your application. If you make an application for registration and it is unsuccessful because you are not eligible, we will not refund your fee.

To be able to register as a British overseas territories citizen using application form MN2 the child must be under 18 on the day we receive the application. Once the child turns 18 he/she will need to apply for registration as an adult.

If the child meets the requirements for registration you should go to the section on applying for registration as a British overseas territories citizen by a person under 18.

Children who have automatically become British overseas territories citizens do not need to register. You should read the page on British overseas territories citizens for more details.

You should contact us for advice before you make an application if the child:

• is stateless; or
• holds another type of British nationality; or
• was born in a British overseas territory and spent the first 10 years of his/her life in that territory.

The requirements the child needs to meet

The requirements the child must meet will depend on where the child was born, the parents? nationality and where the child currently lives. If the child was born before 1 July 2006 and the parents were not married, references to parents mean only the mother.

The child must meet the requirements of one of the sections below.

Section A

If the child:

• was born in a British overseas territory; and
• was not a British overseas territories citizen by birth; and
• had one (or both) parents who later became a British overseas territories citizen or settled in a British overseas territory,

the child will be able to register as a British overseas territories citizen if:

• before the child's birth, that parent lived in a British overseas territory for a period of three years without being absent from the territory for more than 270 days; and
• the application is made within 12 months of the child's birth. In exceptional cases we may grant applications for registration made within six years of the child?s birth.

Section B

If the child:

• was born outside the British overseas territories; and
• is likely to remain living overseas; and
• has one (or both) of their parents who is a British overseas territories citizen by descent with a connection to a British overseas territory both through living there and through their parent(s),

the child will be able to register as a British overseas territories citizen if:

• before the child's birth, that parent lived in a British overseas territory for a period of three years without being absent from the territory for more than 270 days; and
• the application is made within 12 months of the child?s birth. In exceptional cases we may grant applications for registration made within six years of the child?s birth.

If the application is successful, the child will become a British overseas territories citizen by descent. That child will not be able to automatically pass on that citizenship to any children of his/her own born outside the British overseas territories.

Section C

If the child:

• was born outside the British overseas territories; and
• has one (or both) of their parents who is a British overseas territories citizen by descent; and
• moved to a British overseas territory to live after the child was born.

The child will be able to register as a British overseas territories citizen if:

• the child has lived in the same British overseas territory for the three years immediately before the application is made without being absent from the territory for more than 270 days; and
• the child's parents consent to the registration.

If the application is successful, the child will become a British overseas territories citizen otherwise than by descent. The child will be able to pass on that citizenship to any children of his/her own born outside the British overseas territories.

Section D

If the child does not meet any of the requirements above, he/she can apply to the governor of a British overseas territory for registration at the governor?s discretion. When deciding whether to grant registration the governor will consider all the evidence provided, in particular:

• the child's connection with the territory; and
• where the child's future is likely to lie; and
• the views of the parents; and
• whether the child is of good character; and
• the length of time the child has lived in the territory.

This means we can consider the particular circumstances and in special cases grant an application.You meet the requirements to apply.