British Citizenship
Obtaining British Citizenship Through Marriage
Gaining British citizenship through marriage is a vital process for foreign spouses seeking settlement in the UK alongside their partners.
Upon becoming a naturalized British citizen, you will have the freedom to live and work in the UK without the constraints of immigration regulations.
It is important to emphasize that this path to British citizenship is exclusively accessible to individuals who are married or in a civil partnership with a UK citizen and have held Indefinite Leave to Remain for a minimum of three years.
For comprehensive guidance on British citizenship and its requirements, do not hesitate to contact our team of experienced immigration lawyers.
How to Register Children for British Citizenship by Birth
Children below the age of 18 cannot naturalize as British citizens. Instead, they must be registered for citizenship. However, they must hold Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) before being included in your citizenship application.
Children aged 13 or older can qualify for naturalization only if they have resided in the UK for at least two years before their registration application.
Children born in the UK to non-British parents can register for citizenship once their parents acquire ILR or Settlement Status. Conversely, children of non-British parents who are already settled in the UK automatically gain citizenship at birth.
To register your children for British citizenship, you can complete the online form and schedule an appointment at your nearest UKVCAS service point to provide biometric information. These centers can also scan and copy your application documents.
Obtaining British Citizenship for a Child Born Abroad
British citizenship is typically transmitted to children born outside of the UK, contingent on the child’s place of birth and the circumstances of their parents at the time of birth.
Children born to British citizens living abroad do not automatically receive British Citizenship by descent in every case.
If a child born to British parents outside the UK does not qualify for automatic citizenship, they can still become a British national by registering for British citizenship. Parents can facilitate this process by submitting an application through the MN1 form.
It’s important to note that a child must be registered as a British citizen before they can apply for a British passport or enter the UK. Registration as a British Citizen for a child born abroad can be completed at any time before the child reaches 18 years of age.
British Citizenship by Descent
Under British nationality law, all UK citizens fall into one of two categories: citizens by descent or British citizens otherwise than by descent. The latter group includes individuals who are British citizens by birth, registration, naturalization, or adoption.
British citizenship by descent pertains to individuals born overseas who can apply for British citizenship based on the status of their parents or grandparents as British citizens.
Citizens by descent enjoy the same rights as other British citizens, including the right to a UK passport and the right to participate in elections. However, they cannot transmit their British citizenship to children born outside the UK, while those classified as citizens otherwise than by descent have this ability.
