British Nationality Act 1981

British Nationality Act 1981 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 16 September 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date.

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  1. Introductory Text
  2. Part I British Citizenship
    1. Acquisition after commencement
      1. 1.Acquisition by birth or adoption.
      2. 2.Acquisition by descent.
      3. 3.Acquisition by registration: minors.
      4. 4.Acquisition by registration: British overseas territories citizens etc.
      5. 4A.Acquisition by registration: further provision for British overseas territories citizens
      6. 4B.Acquisition by registration: certain persons without other citizenship
      7. 4C.Acquisition by registration: certain persons born before 1983
      8. 4D.Acquisition by registration: children of members of the armed forces
      9. 4E.The general conditions
      10. 4F.Person unable to be registered under other provisions of this Act
      11. 4G.Person unable to become citizen automatically after commencement
      12. 4H.Citizen of UK and colonies unable to become citizen at commencement
      13. 4I.Other person unable to become citizen at commencement
      14. 4J.Sections 4E to 4I: supplementary provision
      15. 4K.Acquisition by registration: certain British overseas territories citizens
      16. 4L.Acquisition by registration: special circumstances
      17. 5.Acquisition by registration: British overseas territories citizens having connection with Gibraltar
      18. 6.Acquisition by naturalisation.
      1. 7.Right to registration by virtue of residence in U.K. or relevant employment.
      2. 8.Registration by virtue of marriage.
      3. 9.Right to registration by virtue of father’s citizenship etc.
      4. 10.Registration following renunciation of citizenship of U.K. and Colonies.
      5. 10A.Acquisition in connection with immigration rules Appendix EU
      1. 11.Citizens of U.K. and Colonies who are to become British citizens at commencement.
      1. 12.Renunciation.
      2. 13.Resumption.
      1. 14.Meaning of British citizen (by descent).
      1. Acquisition after commencement
        1. 15.Acquisition by birth or adoption.
        2. 16.Acquisition by descent.
        3. 17.Acquisition by registration: minors.
        4. 17A.Registration: remedying inability of mothers to transmit citizenship
        5. 17B.Registration: unmarried fathers; the general conditions
        6. 17C.Person unable to be registered under other provisions of this Act
        7. 17D.Person unable to become citizen automatically after commencement
        8. 17E.Citizen of UK and Colonies unable to become citizen at commencement
        9. 17F.Other person unable to become citizen at commencement
        10. 17G.Sections 17B to 17F: supplementary provision
        11. 17H.Acquisition by registration: descendants of those born in British Indian Ocean Territory
        12. 17I.Acquisition by registration: special circumstances
        13. 18.Acquisition by naturalisation.
        1. 19.Right to registration by virtue of residence in British overseas territory.
        2. 20.Registration by virtue of marriage.
        3. 21.Right to registration by virtue of father’s citizenship etc.
        4. 22.Right to registration replacing right to resume citizenship of U.K. and Colonies.
        1. 23.Citizens of U.K. and Colonies who are to become British overseas territories citizens at commencement.
        1. 24.Renunciation and resumption.
        1. 25.Meaning of British overseas territories citizen“by descent”.
        1. 26.Citizens of U.K. and Colonies who are to become British Overseas citizens at commencement.
        2. 27.Registration of minors.
        3. 28.Registration by virtue of marriage.
        4. 29.Renunciation.
        1. 30.Continuance as British subjects of existing British subjects of certain descriptions.
        2. 31.Continuance as British subjects of certain former citizens of Eire.
        3. 32.Registration of minors.
        4. 33.Registration of certain alien women entitled to registration as British subjects immediately before commencement.
        5. 34.Renunciation.
        6. 35.Circumstances in which British subjects are to lose that status.
        1. 36.Provisions for reducing statelessness.
        2. 37.Commonwealth citizenship.
        3. 38.British protected persons.
        4. 39.Amendment of Immigration Act 1971.
        5. 40.Deprivation of citizenship.
        6. 40A.Deprivation of citizenship: appeal
        7. 40B.Review of power under section 40(4A)
        8. 41.Regulations and Orders in Council.
        9. 41A.Registration: requirement to be of good character
        10. 42.Registration and naturalisation: citizenship ceremony, oath and pledge
        11. 42A.Registration and naturalisation: fee
        12. 42B.Registration and naturalisation: timing
        13. 43.Exercise of functions of Secretary of State by Governors and others.
        14. 44.Decisions involving exercise of discretion.
        15. 44A.Waiver of requirement for full capacity
        16. 45.Evidence.
        17. 46.Offences and proceedings.
        18. 47.Legitimated children.
        19. 48.Posthumous children.
        20. 49.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
        21. 50.Interpretation.
        22. 50A.Meaning of references to being in breach of immigration laws
        23. 50B.Immigration restrictions to be disregarded in certain cases
        24. 51.Meaning of certain expressions relating to nationality in other Acts and instruments.
        25. 52.Consequential amendments, transitional provisions, repeals and savings.
        26. 53.Citation, commencement and extent.
        1. SCHEDULE 1Requirements for Naturalisation
          1. Naturalisation as a British citizen under section 6(1)
            1. 1.(1) Subject to paragraph 2, the requirements for naturalisation as.
            2. 2.(1) If in the special circumstances of any particular case.
            3. 2A.(1) A person has a qualifying immigration status for the.
            1. 3.Subject to paragraph 4, the requirements for naturalisation as a.
            2. 4.Paragraph 2 shall apply in relation to paragraph 3 with.
            3. 4A.(1) Subject to paragraph 3(5), a person has a qualifying.
            1. 4B.(1) The qualifying period for the purposes of paragraph 1.
            1. 5.(1) Subject to paragraph 6, the requirements for naturalisation as.
            2. 6.(1) If in the special circumstances of any particular case.
            1. 7.Subject to paragraph 8, the requirements for naturalisation as a.
            2. 8.Paragraph 6 shall apply in relation to paragraph 7 with.
            1. 9.(1) For the purposes of this Schedule a person shall.
            1. 10.In this Schedule “the relevant territory” has the meaning given.
            2. 11.(1) This paragraph applies for the purposes of this Schedule.
            1. Persons born in the United Kingdom after commencement
              1. 1.(1) Where a person born in the United Kingdom after.
              1. 2.(1) Where a person born in a British overseas territory.
              1. 3.(1) A person born in the United Kingdom or a.
              1. 3A.(1) A person born in the United Kingdom or a.
              1. 4.(1) A person born outside the United Kingdom and the.
              1. 5.(1) A person born before commencement shall be entitled, on.
              1. 6.If in the special circumstances of any particular case the.
              1. 1.In this Schedule “the 1971 Act” means the Immigration Act.
              2. 2.For “patrial”— (a) where it occurs in the provisions of.
              3. 3.(1) For “certificate of patriality”, wherever (except in section 33(1)).
              4. 4.In section 3(7) of the 1971 Act (powers available where.
              5. 5.In section 8(5) of the 1971 Act, for the words.
              6. 6.In section 25(5) of the 1971 Act (extension of provisions.
              7. 7.In section 33 of the 1971 Act (interpretation)—
              1. 1.Deprivation without notice: application to Special Immigration Appeals Commission
              2. 2.Deprivation of citizenship without notice: review
              3. 3.Interpretation
              1. The form of citizenship oath and pledge is as follows.
                1. 1.The form of citizenship oath and pledge is as follows.
                1. 2.The form of citizenship oath and pledge is as follows.
                1. 3.The form of citizenship oath is as follows for registration.
                2. 4.The form of citizenship oath is as follows for registration.
                1. Anguilla Bermuda British Antarctic Territory British Indian Ocean Territory Cayman.
                1. ACT OF SETTLEMENT (12 & 13 Will. 3. c. 2.)
                2. LEGITIMACY DECLARATION ACT 1858 (c. 93)
                3. SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH ACT 1885 (c. 49)
                4. BRITISH NATIONALITY ACT 1948 (c. 56)
                5. IRELAND ACT 1949 (c. 41)
                  1. 1.In section 3(1)(a) (certain provisions not affected by fact that.
                  2. 2.For section 7(2) (interpretation of references to protectorates etc. by.
                  1. In section 9 (territorial extent of Part I), in subsection.
                  1. For section 3(2) (disregard, in connection with citizenship of children.
                  1. 1.In section 13(3) (power to make changes in nationality or.
                  2. 2.In Schedule 3 (modifications of British Nationality Acts)—
                  1. In section 3(3) (persons prohibited from broadcasting whilst on or.
                  1. In section 1(3) (person prohibited from harming Antarctic flora and.
                  1. . . . .
                  1. In section 1(2) (meaning of certain terms in Schedule 1).
                  1. . . . .
                  1. 1.In section 70(3) (meaning of “British seamen” in section 70).
                  2. 2.In section 93(3) (meaning of “independent Commonwealth country” in section.
                  1. 1.In Part II of Schedule 1 (adoption orders)—
                  2. 2.In Schedule 2 (status conferred in Scotland by adoption)—
                  1. In section 47(2) (nationality enactments)— (a) in paragraph (a), for.
                  1. In paragraph 3 of Schedule 11 (territorial extent)— in the.
                  1. In section 6 (construction of nationality provisions)—
                  1. In section 41(2) (nationality enactments)— (a) in paragraph (a), for.
                  1. In paragraph 3 of Schedule 10 (territorial extent)—
                  1. In section 4(5) (definition of “national of the United Kingdom”).
                  1. 1.In section 1 (prohibition of unlicensed deep sea mining)—
                  2. 2.In section 14(3) (persons who may be guilty of offences.
                  1. Applications for naturalisation or registration pending at commencement
                    1. 1.(1) This paragraph applies to any application—
                    2. 2.Where a person who has been registered or to whom.
                    1. 3.(1) This paragraph applies to a person born less than.
                    1. 4.(1) Where— (a) a person has before commencement duly made.
                    1. 5.Any application for a certificate of patriality under the Immigration.
                    1. 6.Where a person who has been refused a certificate of.
                    2. 7.Any appeal under Part II of the Immigration Act 1971.
                    3. 8.In relation to appeals against any decision taken or other.

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