Citizenship Hub

If you are a British Citizen by descent and your child was born outside the UK, Section 3(2) BNA 1981 provides a legal entitlement to registration. This route is secured by proving the British parent completed 3 years of continuous UK residence at any point before the child's birth, securing the link for the second generation born abroad.

If your child was born in the UK when neither parent was settled, their right to citizenship is deferred. Section 1(3) BNA 1981 provides an absolute statutory entitlement for the child to be registered as a British citizen the moment one parent secures Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or naturalises.

If you are married to a British citizen, Section 6(2) of the BNA 1981 offers an accelerated path to citizenship with only a 3-year residence requirement. This route is quicker, but demands strict compliance with absence limits and holding Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or Settled Status to be successful.

Did your naturalisation application exceed the statutory 450-day (or 270-day) absence limits? Don't assume refusal. The Home Secretary retains discretion to overlook excessive absences under compelling circumstances, provided the applicant can prove strong ties to the UK and justify the duration of their time abroad.

Ready to take the final step to becoming a British Citizen? Naturalisation under Section 6(1) of the BNA 1981 is the core route for permanent residents not married to a British citizen. This process demands strict compliance with the 5-year residence rule, adherence to absence limits, and passing the rigorous good character test.

Is your child entitled to British citizenship via a parent who is British by descent? Section 3(5) of the BNA 1981 provides an absolute right to registration, provided the child and both parents have met a strict 3-year continuous UK residence requirement. This guide details the precise evidence needed to secure this crucial citizenship entitlement.