Premium application service that ensures your visa application is submitted to meet your deadline. In this case around the 1980s. Tallulah van der Made:Hello and welcome to the Sable International UK citizenship podcast. At the time that he was born, Right of Abode was already a concept. This is known as British Citizenship by descent, or more specifically, British Citizenship by double descent. However, certain circumstances have to be met by the parents, as the Czech Republic enacted specific rules of law which can limit the . The nationality of your grandparents is not relevant. Would highly recommend. Have at least one parent who was a South African citizen at the time of your birth. How far in advance can I renew my UK Passport? Once you have established that you are eligible for British citizenship by descent, the next step is to apply for a British passport. And the speed with which I received my new passport was amazing. Its not the grant of ones citizenship. With British citizenship by descent, however, you can not normally pass citizenship to children born outside of the UK, unless they were born to a parent in crown, designated or EU service. You will need to meet requirements set out under Scottish immigration law, such as good character and residency. Can an American get Scottish citizenship by descent? It was well worth the fee and I can recommend them without reservation. Children under the age of 18 will need to claim citizenship before the age of 18 or they will lose all rights to British nationality. We offer a range of services to help you obtain your British passport, including: British passport renewals, British passport applications, British Passport replacements, and British certificates. Fast turn around time and prompt communication throughout. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". I thought the whole process was handled very professionally and with great care - I would not have any hesitation in, recommending this service to anyone applying for a British passport, Shaun was exceptionally helpful and informative. So, the process will very much depend on which country you are applying. They are two overriding facts: 1. In order for you to obtain British citizenship by descent, at least one of the following statements would need to be true for your situation: If one of these statements is true for you, you can begin the process of applying for your British passport. The British Protection would have been taken away by independence arrangements of Zambia in 1964. Have at least one parent who was a Filipino citizen at the time of your birth. EH1 3YY. 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. ", "Thanking you so much for helping me and my wife live together for now and the distant future. 0333 305 9375. Also, take this list as a jumping off point. This is known as British Citizenship by descent, or more specifically, British Citizenship by double descent. If at the time of your birth one of your parents was a British citizen or settled in the UK, then you are automatically a British citizen. Now, anyone born there, just like in the other example, would have been a British Subject. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Their consultant, Christa Devenish was fantastic - nothing was too much. You can apply for an Irish passport without making an application for citizenship. Step 2: Fill out The Application for Irish Citizenship by Descent. To qualify, you must have at least a parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent who meets the eligibility criteria: They were a citizen of Lithuania before June 15, 1940. Are there British Citizenship by double descent rules that I need to be aware of? Now, we will start again, as we did with the other scenario, with the great-grandparent first. Americans can visit the U.K. as a tourist and stay for up to six months, no visa required. Sincerely thanking 'Hanel' at MyBritishPassport for her professional assistance in helping me secure my renewed British. Would recommend them to anyone needing to renew the British passport, My experience with this company was absolutely fantastic. No he doesn't qualify (has to be his grandparent at a minimum). TV: Amazing. Fully recommend it for Brits living abroad. Is it possible for a South African to inherit British citizenship through a great-grandparent? Step #1: Determine if you have ancestry that could lead to citizenship by descent Step #2: Determine if you are eligible Step #3: Gather all the required documents Step #4: Submit your application Obtaining citizenship through ancestry is usually straightforward. These are the following circumstances in which you can claim British Citizenship by double descent if you were born after 1983: If you were born before January 1st, 1983: You may be able to claim British Citizenship by double descent when: If you were born before January 1st, 1949: The most common cases of those born before 1949 claiming British Citizenship by descent (grandparent) include: Only British citizens are able to apply for a British passport. And this registration does not require the child to be resident in the UK or to have spent any time there. In exceptional circumstances, a discretionary registration is provided such as being gifted in sports, music or theatre etc. These can be complex cases which means they must be assessed on a case-by-case basis. I provided all of my paperwork and the visit went quite smoothly. He was then able to pass on his nationality to his son, and his son was then a Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies and a South African at the time of his birth automatically. This was an expensive way of renewing but easier than doing it myself. Passport swiftly and without any hassle whatsoever! So, how do you know if you qualify for a British passport? Regent Square, Doncaster Road, Kenilworth, 7708 If you are a South African planning to have dual citizenship with the UK, we have information on how to keep your South African citizenship. If your parent is classed as a British Citizen you may be eligible to apply for British Citizenship by descent. Can a US citizen have dual citizenship with Scotland? That would have been the person who was married to the person who worked in Rhodesia? Applications based on being the parent or grandparent of an Irish citizen (by 'ascent'), or a sibling, or other relative of an Irish citizen are generally refused. This is known as double descent. There are four common ways to qualify for Irish citizenship based on ancestry: You are an Irish citizen if you or your parent were born on the island of Ireland before 2005. Citizenship by double descent refers to the ability to acquire British citizenship through grandparents, and by triple is through great-grandparents. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. +27 (0) 31 536 8844, London Professional, efficient, swift, friendly. Outstanding service throughout. So if you have a child under 18 and you have these UK connections, even if its a great grandparent, or you have these connections to a previous UK colony, its so important to fill out the assessment and give as much detail as possible. MP: Yes. If you're not automatically a citizen, you may be eligible to apply to 'register' as one. Okay. 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. My great-grandfather died in 1972, and my great-grandmother died in 2000. 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. In other words, if your goal is to live in France . Otherwise for citizenship, you must have a Finnish father who is legally married to your mother. Can a child born outside the UK become a British citizen? If grandparent, you must be familiar with the Portuguese language and have ties to the local Portuguese community. Very professional and helpful if I had issues. Those born outside of the UK between 1 January 1949 and 31 December 1982 and who have a UK-born grandparent may be able to claim British citizenship in certain circumstances. British citizenship is normally automatically passed down one generation to children born outside the UK. When that is done, fill out the application form online, print it out, and mail it in along with your documents, photos, and fee. People with Scottish descent (a parent or grandparent who qualifies for Scottish citizenship) would be able to apply for Scottish citizenship. Today we'll be discussing one of the questions we get most often. office and was very efficient in communicating the progress of the passport.Another satisfied customer, thank you Brittany. You can read more about applying for citizenship based on Irish descent or associations on the ISD website. I was kept up to date throughout. Now, I wont go into it in too much detail, but these connections meant the paternal grandfather was actually British other than by descent on 1 January 1983. As UK citizenship rules are complex, call us on +1 844 290 6312 for help to ascertain if you are eligible to claim British citizenship by descent (grandparent). Our Fast-Track Application Package is a premium service for those who need to submit their application in time with their deadlines. The process costs about $250 and requires an American passport, applicant's birth certificate, birth certificate of a parent and an affidavit of citizenship from a parent. Instead of 6 months, it took me 8 months to gather everything I needed. But, you're eligible for citizenship if both of your parents are Croatian citizens, even if you don't register. A second passport also grants the right to live, work, and do business in the country. Very happy with the service. However, youre also in luck if one of your grandparents was born in Ireland. Now this is where the paternal grandmother's birth becomes quite important. The procedure that I had to follow was well documented and easy to complete. This is why its important that any applications for British Citizenship by descent (grandparent) are complete before the child turns 18. 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. In that case, you will need to submit records relating to you and your parent. British citizenship by descent is when a person born abroad is able to acquire citizenship through the immigration status of one or both parents. Scotland will also allow dual citizenship, so no one would have to renounce his/her existing citizenship. What are the advantages of going to a private university? Comprehensive immigration advice tailored to your circumstances and goals. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. The General Register Office (GRO) Records for Scottish births, marriages and deaths held at New Register House, West Register Street, Edinburgh. Really useful service! 5 Countries That Will Grant Citizenship Based On Your Ancestry. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. If you can prove one of your grandparents was born in the U.K., you first have to apply for . Habitual residence will be the test for existing UK citizens based in Scotland at the time of independence to become automatically Scottish citizens. OL9 6QR I completed the online application, paid and sent in a photo etc. If your father was naturalized (ie he was not born in the UK), your birth would have needed to take place after the naturalization to be eligible. Shaun continued to keep me informed so there was none of the anxiety that I had anticipated in dealing with UK Home Affairs. 8. pkroks 3 days ago. The grant of ones citizenship would be when youve been registered or naturalised as a British citizen and are issued a Certificate of Registration or naturalisation. Kept informed at all times during application, courier, service, progress report, and delivery. My grandparents always wanted to go back to their country. Absolute brilliant service. 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. Have at least one parent who is a Turkish citizen at your time of birth. Thanks for making the passport renewal process so simple and efficient. 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 What are the side effects of Thiazolidnedions? Your (British-born) grandfather was in crown service at the time of your relevant parents birth, You or a parent were born in a former British colony, Your parent had a British-born mother, non-British father and was registered as a British citizen between February 2nd and December 31st, 1982, You/your parent was born in a former British territory (this excludes main Commonwealth countries of 1949), You/your parent was a registered British citizen, Your parent was in crown service when you were born, Your parents were married before 1949 and your paternal grandfather was born in Britain, Your maternal grandfather was born in the UK and you were born outside the EEA, You and your parent were not in a Commonwealth country (must have been born before 1915), You or your parent were born in a former British territory, Your grandparent or parent was married to a British man before 1949. Thank you so much, I will recommend your service to anyone who needs a seamless passport renewal. If an individual's parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents hail from a given country, he or she can claim citizenship. South Africa at that point, was also part of the UK colonies. Couldnt have done it, Im sure, without these friendly and efficient people.Thank you! Have at least one Hungarian parent or grandparent and may have to pass a basic Hungarian language test. As UK citizenship rules are complex, call us on +1 844 290 6312 for help to ascertain if you are eligible to claim British citizenship by descent (grandparent). MP: Absolutely. If you are a citizen of one country and your great grandparents were citizens of another country, you may be able to get dual citizenship through them. It's by far the easiest way to get EU citizenship. 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. Our team is also always there should you have any questions or concerns and we keep you updated on every step of the process. Presuming the independence movement wins, Scottish citizens will be able to apply for a Scottish passport . 2. No other of the rights or duties that go with British citizenship are affected by this status. Can I get a British passport if my grandparents were born in Scotland? Find out more about citizenship by descent and whether you could be eligible. MyBritishPassport.Everything was handled professionally and politely. In this particular instance, he was born in the UK. Would highly recommend to anyone needing a new or renewed British Passport.Thanks especially. Brittany B, was my contact in the passport. Foreigners normally must have 5 years of residence in Ireland before being able to apply for naturalization. Claims by triple descent (i.e. We will also fully represent you in any hearings/tribunals. Have at least one parent who is a Costa Rican citizen. Children under the age of 18 will need to claim citizenship before the age of 18 or they will lose all rights to British nationality. Does double descent qualify British citizenship? All grandfathering and ancestral routes to British nationality and citizenship had been plugged in August 1917 by the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act 1914 (4 & 5 Geo 5 c. 17). He then has a child born to him in 2006 who is then not British automatically because that child was not born in the UK. It's important to be born before that for this solution to really work and you'll see why. Fees. Last modified on May 25th, 2022 at 7:18 am. For immediate US / UK immigration advice, call us on +1 844 290 6312 or complete the quick enquiry form. So if neither of your parents were Dutch citizens at the time of your birth, then you do not qualify for nationality via descent. They both have passed away but being able to become a citizen of the place where my grandparents were born (and my mother) is a big deal. 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. Children under the age of 18 will need to claim citizenship before the age of 18 or they will lose all rights to British nationality. This service was invaluable. Excellent service.Queries responded to quickly.Makes the overall process far less stressful. A person has the right to apply for citizenship by descent in the case in which the applicant has (or has had) a mother or a father or grandparents that were of Czech descent or who are/were Czech nationals. says "any foreign national with Serbian descent, has the right to acquire Serbian citizenship by written request" but includes no more specific information. Contact us today to see how we can help you! Many countries let you claim citizenship if your parents, grandparents or in some cases great grandparents were born in said country. The whole experience was fast & efficient. 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. to Hanel Smith, Miguel, who handled my renewal was so professional and helpful at all times. No country will grant you citizenship based on the results of a DNA test alone. So, for those who dont know, a person who is British by descent cannot generally automatically pass the nationality to a further generation born out of the UK. Inherent to citizenship is the right to hold a passport. How long can a US citizen stay in Scotland? Your legal advisor will then complete and submit your forms to the Home Office on your behalf. However, note that being born in the UK is not a guarantee that you will be eligible for UK nationality. Yes, you can confirm your Polish citizenship by descent after your great-grandparent, but it is important to also locate evidence . Have a father who is a Taiwanese citizen at your time of birth. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Prices from the USA/Mexico/South America/Caribbean, UK passports were the iconic maroon color, they are now blue. Citizenship Am I an Irish citizen? You or your parents being born in a former British Territory (British Protectorates, British Protected States, Mandated Territories, Foreign Countries with ETJ or Post 1949 Colonies). In general, due to the way that British citizenship can only be passed down one generation by a parent who has "British citizenship otherwise than by descent" to a child born outside of the UK . This includes: If you were born outside of the UK and claim to have a UK-born grandparent, you may be eligible to apply for British Citizenship by descent (double descent) depending on your circumstances. Read some of the instances when one of your ancestors is entitled to German citizenship and may have passed it down to you. More info Have at least one parent be a Brazilian native at the time of your birth. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". I recommend this company the IAS for immigration services. How do I qualify for British citizenship by descent? This is the first in a series of episodes we'll be doing on routes to British nationality for South Africans. I first reached out to one of these companies and was told that I was not eligible. paying the extra for! under a month from start to finish. Prove that youre able to support yourself whilst be accommodated in the UK. But the actual applicant is quite interesting. This is also known as citizenship by birth. Can you apply for UK citizenship if your grandparent was born there? efficient. Their daughter, my grandmother, died . The cost is very reasonable when you consider just how much renewing your passport will be without them plus all the anxiety of making sure you did it right. This is a bummer for a lot of folks. You need to have that other connection to either another colony or to the UK or somewhere in the British Empire. However, there is no Scottish citizenship officially, as it falls under British citizenship of the United Kingdom. 1 Dual citizenship happens automatically in some situations, such as when a child is born in the U.S. to parents who are residents of a foreign country. If you are looking to obtain British citizenship, you have come to the right place. 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. However, if their parents were never married, further research would need to be conducted. British citizenship is usually passed down 2 generations and UK Ancestry working rights are granted to the third generation of UK born relatives. Can I get British citizenship through my great grandparents? +613 (0) 8651 4500. Amendments to the nationality law became . And so, on 1 January 1983, unknown to him, obviously, he was reclassified automatically as a full British citizen and, hence, should be holding a British passport in the modern day. very daunting but MyBritishPassport did an awesome job. Update: I was finally able to go visit the embassy in Washington D.C. in June 2021. Because it is a UK grandparent who can give the Right of Abode to those who are Citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies, as our gentleman was. People who were born before 1 January 1983 but outside of the UK to a British-born father would qualify for UK nationality as long as their parents were married at the time of their birth. My grandmother married my US citizen grandfather in 1953. Our team of experts will be happy to assist. Not only will you become a citizen of your family's . 2 Can I move to Scotland if my grandfather was born there? instructions. Children under the age of 18 will need to claim citizenship before the age of 18 or they will lose all rights to British nationality. I never worried about it but in order to do this, I had to get it fixed. We hope this blog post has been helpful in providing you with information on British citizenship by descent. Contact IAS to get help with the complex process of establishing if you have a claim to British Citizenship by descent through a parent. Can I get Irish citizenship if my grandparents were Irish? "We used this service for the spouse visa extension application to assure that all the information was valid and correct. And what the UK chooses to do there, at that point, is reclassify Citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies into British citizens if they had the Right of Abode, which in our case, our gentleman here did. 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. Mishal Patel:Welcome. The more detail you give, the more accurate we can be with providing your likelihood. Children under the age of 18 will need to claim citizenship before the age of 18 or they will lose all rights to British nationality. Yes, absolutely. The next generation happens to be born in Northern Rhodesia, which is now Zambia, and Northern Rhodesia at that time was slightly different. I cannot believe how efficient and speedy they were. Even if your father or great-grandfather did not have a British passport, or theres no sign of it, that doesnt mean that you arent British. The transmission of passports is of great concern so a service that chooses and monitors transmission via reliable courier services and methods reduces a lot of anxiety. The renewal process was relatively straightforward and one was kept informed at every step in the process.I was. Using their DHL services, the whole process took less than one month! Have at least one parent who was a Singaporean citizen at the time of your birth. Applying for British citizenship through a grandparent is a three-step process that takes several years. What should I expect from a recruiter first call? I've also included links to pages that are clear in how to obtain your citizenship by descent. But without that paternal great grandfather being born in the UK, it wouldn't have been possible. If you're not able to secure citizenship somewherethere's also the option to live a nomadic lifestyle and travel the world. Don't Miss a Thing!Sign Up for Our Newsletter, Citizenship by Descent: Maximizing Your Heritage. Have at least one parent or grandparent who was a Czech or Czechoslovak citizen. I hesitated briefly, but realised that this was the best solution for me to renew my passport. The Ireland citizenship by Ancestry or Descentis open to individuals with Irish ancestry going back as far as great grandparents. Regards Mary Tucker. The courier picked up my documents from my home en route to UK and delivered my new passport back to me a few weeks later. In order for you to qualify for British Citizenship by descent (double descent), there are particular guidelines that you need to match. So what I'm going to take you through is basically two scenarios that have come up in the last couple of months. 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. United Kingdom Passport Renewal from abroad: Tips for 2023, your father was born or naturalized in the United Kingdom, your mother was born or naturalized in the United Kingdom, you were born abroad but one or both of your maternal grandparents were born in the United Kingdom (this would qualify you for British citizenship by double descent). Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. But as you said, its very rare. If neither of your parents was a British citizen or settled in the UK when you were born, then you can register to become a British citizen.