Can I register as a British citizen if I have some other form of British nationality?
This section provides details of the requirements you need to meet for us to register you as a British citizen using application form BOTA.
You will be able to register in this way if you are:
- a British overseas territories citizen; or
- a British overseas citizen; or
- a British protected person; or
- a British subject; or
- a British national (overseas).
Registration under this provision gives citizenship otherwise than by descent. This means that if you register as a British citizen in this category you will be able to pass this citizenship to any children born abroad to you after registration.
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.
There are three ways you can be eligible for registration as a British citizen otherwise than by descent. These are:
- your residence in the United Kingdom; or
- due to your time spent in crown or similar service; or
- you meet the alternative provisions for British overseas territories citizens.
The details of how you can meet the eligibility requirements are set out below. You only need to meet one of these three requirements.
If you meet the requirements for registration you should go to the applying section for details on how to apply.
The five-year residence requirement
To be eligible to register under the five-year residence requirement you must:
- have been resident in the United Kingdom for at least five years; this is known as the residential qualifying period; and
- have been present in the United Kingdom five years before the date of your application; and
- have not spent more than 450 days outside the United Kingdom during the five-year period; and
- have not spent more than 90 days outside the United Kingdom in the last 12 months of the five-year period; and
- have not been in breach of the immigration rules at any stage during the five-year period; and
- be free from immigration time restrictions for the last 12 months of the five-year period of your stay in the United Kingdom.
The residential qualifying period will be worked out from the day we receive you application. You must show you were present in the United Kingdom at the start of this period. For example, if we received your application on 25 November 2005, you would have to show that you were in the United Kingdom on 26 November 2000.
You cannot count time you have spent in the United Kingdom while exempt from immigration control as part of the residential qualifying period. If you are in the United Kingdom as a diplomat or as a member of visiting armed forces or if you are in any place of detention, you would be considered exempt from immigration control. This time would be treated as absence from the United Kingdom.
Registration on the basis of crown or similar service
If you do not meet the five-year residence requirement, you may be eligible to register as a British citizen on the basis of your own crown or similar service.
You will need to show that:
- you have been or are in crown service under the government of a British overseas territory; or
- you have been or are in service as a member of a body established by law in a British overseas territory, the members of which are appointed by or on behalf of the crown.
Registration on the basis of crown or similar service is only granted in exceptional circumstances. You need to show that you:
- have been or are the holder of a responsible post; and
- have given outstanding service; and
- have a close connection with the United Kingdom.
Registration under the alternative provisions for British overseas territories citizens
If you are a British overseas territories citizen and did not become a British citizen under the British Overseas Territories Act 2002, you will be eligible for registration as a British citizen unless:
- your British overseas territories citizenship is by connection only with the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia; or
- you have previously given up British citizenship by a declaration of renunciation.
Terms explained
-
Close connection
Close connection (with a country) may be by birth, adoption, descent, marriage, registration or naturalisation.
-
Declaration of renunciation
To declare formally that you wish to give up your British citizenship.
-
Eligible
You meet the requirements to apply.
-
Immigration time restrictions
Free of immigration time restrictions: This means you do not have any time limit on your stay in the United Kingdom. Usually this is because we have given you permission to stay permanently (known as indefinite leave to remain) in the United Kingdom. It may also be because you have a 'no time limits' stamp in your passport or have the right of abode in the United Kingdom. It also applies to an EEA national or the family member of an EEA national who has gained permanent residence status because he/she has lived in the United Kingdom for a continuous period of five years that ended after 30 April 2006.
-
Otherwise than by descent
British citizenship gained in your own right (not by descent through your parents or grandparents). This type of citizenship can be passed on to your own children. (See also Descent.)