You can claim British citizenship by double descent if you have a grandparent (and in rare cases a great-grandparent) born in the UK. Well, most people who are eligible for UK passports qualify for British citizenship by descent, meaning either you, one or both of your parents were born in the United Kingdom. from a great-grandparent) are very rare, but a recent case involving quadruple decent has just been dealt with by the Home Office. UK immigration rules allow an automatic claim to British Citizenship if you have a grandparent (and, in rare cases, a great-grandparent) born in the UK. MP: Absolutely and that kind of was the case for my second scenario as well, where we did have a great-grandparent born in the UK. Can I get British citizenship through my grandfather? From start to finish the whole process took 21. days. Yes, it is possible to get dual citizenship through great grandparents. His mothers citizenship only passes on if she applied and got it before he was born. At first seemed like an expensive option, but I can confirm it's 100% worth the. Prove that youre able to support yourself whilst be accommodated in the UK. Argentina , Brazil , Ghana , Ireland , South Africa. One of the easiest ways to acquire dual citizenship is by descent. Although British passports have changed somewhat since the UK has left the European Union, they are still considered to be one of the most sought-after passports in the world and is well worth pursuing if you feel you may be eligible. Completed in. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. If you can prove one of your grandparents was born in the U.K., you first have to apply for . TV: Amazing. Eligibility for Slovak citizenship by descent is limited to those whose parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents were born in Slovakia's territory. Erica Erim. Of course, the first request was returned because I didnt do something right. This is known as double descent. Now, he carried on having those two statuses until 1 January 1983, which I mentioned earlier the date the current British Nationality Act came into force. This is less restrictive than current British nationality law, which allows citizenship by decent to pass down only one generation. What should I expect from a recruiter first call? Claiming British Citizenship by descent (grandparent) also known as British Citizenship by double descent is based on at least one of your grandparents being British. Have a Thai mother or a Thai father who is married to your mother. The case has arisen as a result of a recent change in the British law that now allows claims to come down the maternal side of the family. They will advise you on the best route towards British Citizenship, working closely to support your family and preparing a robust application. Ive had the pleasure to have Carla handle my application at MyBristishPassport, she has been very professional and. While it's common to qualify for citizenship by descent, usually a great-grandparent is a degree too far. The center of the Scotland DNA ethnicity region ranges from just south of Newburgh, Fife Parish, and extends north to the Orkney Islands. Now, anyone born there, just like in the other example, would have been a British Subject. I first reached out to one of these companies and was told that I was not eligible. 353 061 518 025, IAS Head Office UK According to Dutch nationality law you can qualify for Dutch citizenship via your parents if they were Dutch at the time of your birth. Where does Thigmotropism occur in plants? They were forced to leave the country before March 11, 1990, due to persecution. The reason why that's relevant is because on 1 January 1983, we had another British nationality law change and British Citizenship was introduced as a concept for the first time. The next generation happens to be born in Northern Rhodesia, which is now Zambia, and Northern Rhodesia at that time was slightly different. CITIZENSHIP BY DESCENT Time to Polish Citizenship: 1-2 years Polish Citizenship Application Costs: Approximately 300 Eligibility: Polish great-grandparent, grandparent, or at least one parent Visa-Free Access to 180+ Countries Acquiring Dual Citizenship Allowed: Yes LEARN MORE GET IRISH CITIZENSHIP BY DESCENT Time to Irish Citizenship: 1 year This means you would be required to apply for British citizenship by descent and will be eligible providing you meet guidelines to qualify. But for some, there may be another option. This means you would be required to apply for British citizenship by descent and will be eligible providing you meet guidelines to qualify. How do you wish a happy belated birthday? More info Have at least one parent who was an American citizen at the time of your birth. Once my documents were on their way he kept me posted on what was happening. Citizenship by descent, or citizenship by ancestry, is one of those options. Check your eligibility if you were born: on or after 1 July 2006. between 1983 and June 2006. before . You have a parent or grandparent that is in the Crown Service (British Military, Overseas Civil Service, Colonial Service or Diplomatic Corp), You have parents that are married before 1949 and your mother was a British subject, You and your parents were not born in a Commonwealth country. ". However, note that being born in the UK is not a guarantee that you will be eligible for UK nationality. If a child is looking to claim British Citizenship by double descent before the age of 18, there are particular circumstances that can make them eligible: There are a number of situations where you can qualify for British Citizenship by descent (grandparent) under this scenario. The whole experience was fast & efficient. Likewise, anyone who has lived in Scotland for at least 10 years at any point in their life and can show a demonstrable connection to Scotland could apply for citizenship. Habitual residence will be the test for existing UK citizens based in Scotland at the time of independence to become automatically Scottish citizens. So, again, the grandfather is also a British subject, just like his father, our great-grandfather. I can happily recommend them! Prices from the USA/Mexico/South America/Caribbean, UK passports were the iconic maroon color, they are now blue. It's a much more complex route. Although, in this instance, the applicant was born in South African and his grandfather was born in South Africa, the key was actually the father that was born in Northern Rhodesia. Highly efficient, fast, service, with no hidden extra costs. I've also included links to pages that are clear in how to obtain your citizenship by descent. (The UK makes things slightly complicated by changing the terminology of what the nationality was called throughout each law change that took place in the history of British Nationality). UK nationality means that you can work, study and travel freely within the United Kingdom. And this registration does not require the child to be resident in the UK or to have spent any time there. Learn more. If your parent is classed as a British Citizen you may be eligible to apply for British Citizenship by descent. So, in this particular case, remember I said the fathers father was born in Kenya, with his own mother (the great-grandmother) born in the UK? If you can claim citizenship by descent through a relative from Spain, Ireland, Italy or any other EU or EEU country and associated micro-states, you can essentially live, work and study anywhere in the EU without ever applying for a visa. Last modified on May 25th, 2022 at 7:18 am. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. But it is very much possible. Have at least one parent who was a German citizen at your time of birth, though there may be other exceptions to allow for citizenship. Responses were prompt, and instructions easy to follow. Check out what Sam Roberts has to say about living that digital nomad lifestyle. All rights reserved. Simply click here to get started! British Citizenship for a child born outside the UK to parents that are British citizens is not automatic. Contact IAS to get help with the complex process of establishing if you have a claim to British Citizenship by descent through a parent. Couldnt have done it, Im sure, without these friendly and efficient people.Thank you! Sincerely thanking 'Hanel' at MyBritishPassport for her professional assistance in helping me secure my renewed British. If I'm approved, I'll have to fly back to apply for my passport in person. Thats quite important, because if he had, he wouldnt have remained British, or what we call a Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies, which he was at the time the father was born in South Africa. Those born between the dates of 1 January 1983 and 30 June 2006, would qualify for UK citizenship as long as their father is considered to be a British citizen. under a month from start to finish. British citizenship by descent is a term used to describe someone who was born outside of the UK and acquired British citizenship on the basis of their ancestry. So, how do you know if you qualify for a British passport? Have at least one parent who was a French citizen at your time of birth. This is known as double descent. The Ireland citizenship by Ancestry or Descentis open to individuals with Irish ancestry going back as far as great grandparents. British citizenship by descent is a type of British citizenship that can be obtained by people with at least one parent who is a British citizen. Designed to make your visa application as smooth and stress-free as possible. In other words a UK passport. Now he would have been a South African and Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies and he would have carried that on til about 1971. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Retiring in Naples, Italy Offers Food, Beaches and Dolce far Niente! A second passport also grants the right to live, work, and do business in the country. You can get citizenship by descent up to the third generation in Lithuania as well. There are special rules that apply if you have a parent or grandparent from Ireland. Answer (1 of 12): The answer to this common question is no. This service was invaluable. In this particular scenario, we dont have movement of people. What is Irish Citizenship By Descent? For more information speak with our team today on 0333 305 9375. A British citizen by descent refers to a person who was born outside the UK who has acquired citizenship through a UK-born parent or grandparent. If one or more of your grandparents was born in the UK, there may be some circumstances in which you could claim British Citizenship through them, called British Citizenship by double descent. 3. 1 Can an American get Scottish citizenship by descent? If someone has an Irish grandparent, then they can claim Irish citizenship by descent - but only if that grandparent was born in Ireland or Northern Ireland. I can honestly say this is the first top notch service Ive had in years! Why did the Gupta Empire collapse 3 reasons? You need to have that other connection to either another colony or to the UK or somewhere in the British Empire. Ready to apply for your British passport? TV: So its possible to be a British citizen without even knowing it. Republic of Ireland So would have got British Protection, which is a form of British nationality in the period before 1983 and very much still alive now, and also would have got their father's British Subject status, which at that point was called Citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKC). Amendments to the nationality law became . I provided all of my paperwork and the visit went quite smoothly. Very professional and helpful if I had issues.