This pathway allows spouses or civil partners of British citizens to apply for British citizenship after meeting specific residency and legal criteria. It is one of the most common routes for individuals seeking to naturalize as British citizens.

Applicants must have lived in the UK for at least three years and hold Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme. They must also prove their marriage or civil partnership is genuine and ongoing.

Applicants will need to pass the Life in the UK Test, meet the English language requirements, and submit evidence of their relationship, residence, and financial stability.

Children born in the UK may automatically be British citizens depending on the status of their parents at the time of their birth.

A child is a British citizen if at least one parent is a British citizen or settled in the UK (e.g., has ILR or permanent residency) at the time of the child’s birth.

If neither parent is a British citizen or settled in the UK, the child may still be eligible for citizenship through registration at a later stage, usually after living in the UK for a certain period or if the parents gain settled status.

Children born outside the UK to British parents may be eligible to apply for British citizenship by descent. This allows the child to acquire British nationality even though they were not born in the UK.

One or both parents must be British citizens. In certain cases, proof of a genuine connection to the UK, such as regular visits, may be required. This path applies particularly to children of British citizens working abroad.

The application includes submitting proof of the parent’s British citizenship and the child’s birth certificate.

Dual citizenship, also known as dual nationality, allows individuals to be citizens of more than one country. The UK permits its citizens to hold dual nationality, meaning they can hold British citizenship and another nationality at the same time.

Any British citizen can hold dual citizenship, and there is no requirement to renounce any previous citizenship upon becoming British. However, individuals should check the laws of their home country, as some countries do not allow dual citizenship.

This allows children born outside the UK to automatically acquire British citizenship if they are descended from a British citizen. This right can often be passed down through one generation but may not automatically extend to further generations.

A person qualifies if one parent was a British citizen by descent or otherwise at the time of their birth, but restrictions may apply if the British parent was also born outside the UK.

Surrogate children born abroad may face legal challenges when acquiring British citizenship. However, they may still qualify if the intended parents are British.

If the child is born to a surrogate mother abroad, at least one of the intended parents must be a British citizen for the child to potentially acquire citizenship. Legal processes may need to be followed to formally recognize the intended parents’ parental rights in the UK.

Naturalisation is the process by which a non-British individual voluntarily acquires British citizenship after fulfilling certain legal criteria, including residency, language proficiency, and good character.

Applicants must typically have lived in the UK for five years (or three years if married to a British citizen), hold ILR or settled status, and meet the English language and Life in the UK test requirements.

The application involves submitting detailed personal and financial information, as well as character references. Once approved, individuals must attend a citizenship ceremony to formally receive British citizenship.

After acquiring British citizenship, individuals can apply for a British passport, which is the formal document that allows international travel as a British national.

Anyone holding British citizenship is eligible to apply for a British passport. The passport confirms the holder’s right to live and work in the UK and travel under British protection abroad.

The application involves providing proof of citizenship (such as a naturalisation certificate or birth certificate), identity, and residence details.

A British Protected Person (BPP) is an individual who holds a type of British nationality that does not give full citizenship rights, such as the right to live in the UK. BPP status applies mainly to individuals from former British colonies or territories.

British Protected Persons typically acquire this status through their connection to a British overseas territory or former colony. BPPs may apply for full British citizenship through naturalisation or other legal avenues if eligible.

BPPs do not have an automatic right to live or work in the UK but may apply for citizenship under specific circumstances.