Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies

If you were once a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies and did not become a citizen of the country that became independent from the UK between 1957 and 1982, or

You, your father or father’s father were born in or granted citizenship in the UK or another British territory, then under current laws you might be:

  • a British citizen, British overseas territories citizen or British Overseas citizen, or
  • if connected with Hong Kong, a British (National) Overseas, or
  • if connected with the Solomon Islands, a British protected person.
  • If you are a British overseas citizen and have no other citizenship, it may be possible for you to become a British citizen.

British subject without citizenship

If you were a British subject at the end of 1948 and you did not become a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies, Ireland or any Commonwealth country by 1982, then you were a “British subject without citizenship” at the end of 1982. If you did not become a citizen of any country after 1982 then today you are likely to be a British subject.

Almost all people in this category were born, or had a father or paternal grandfather who was born, in what became India or Pakistan. If you are a British subject, and you have no other citizenship, it may be possible for you to become a British citizen.

British protected person

If at any time after 1948 you were a British protected person (through your birth or father’s birth, or other links to a Protectorate or Trust Territory of the UK) and did not become a citizen of that country after its independence, and you did not acquire any other citizenship after 1982, then today you may still be a British protected person.

If you are a British protected person and you have no other citizenship, it may be possible for you to become a British citizen.

Citizen of (the Federation of) Rhodesia and Nyasaland

If you were a citizen of Rhodesia and Nyasaland who did not become a citizen of Southern Rhodesia on 1 January 1964, then you would have instead become a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies. In most such cases you would have been born in Northern Rhodesia or Nyasaland, or resident there between 1949 and 1963.

In 1983, most such persons became British citizens or British Overseas citizens.

To find out if you qualify for British nationality complete the form below!

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