Children born to British subjects
This page explains the circumstances in which British subjects can pass on that status to their children.
British subjects normally cannot pass on that status to their children if the children were born after 1 January 1983. But a child may be a British subject when he/she is born if:
- one of the parents is a British subject; and
- neither of the parents is a British citizen, a British overseas territories citizen or a British overseas citizen; and
- the child was born on or after 1 January 1983 in the United Kingdom or a British overseas territory; and
- the child would be stateless without British subject status.
MORE NEWS AND UPDATES
- Immigration fees change on 6 April 2013
- Changes to the Immigration Rules - April 2013
- Revisions to the codes of practice for skilled migrant workers
- New immigration fees proposed
Terms explained
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British overseas territory
These were formerly known as the British dependent territories. The territories are: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands and Dependencies, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, St Helena and Dependencies, the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Virgin Islands. (The sovereign bases of Akrotiri and Dhekelia do not count as qualifying territories for nationality purposes.)
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands were the dependencies of the Falkland Islands, but were not British overseas territories between 3 October 1985 and 3 December 2001.
Hong Kong stopped being a British overseas territory on 30 June 1997 when sovereignty returned to China. St Christopher and Nevis was a British overseas territory until 18 September 1983, when it became an independent Commonwealth country.
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Parent
A parent is the biological mother of a child, the biological father if he was married to the mother when the child was born or if he can prove paternity, or the adoptive mother or father of a child who has been legally adopted.
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Stateless
Someone who is not considered as a national by any country under the terms of its laws.
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United Kingdom
The United Kingdom (UK) includes England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are considered as part of the UK for nationality purposes, but they have their own immigration laws and policies. The Channel Islands are not treated as part of the UK for value added tax (VAT) purposes.