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How to Apply for a British Passport If You Were Born Abroad to a UK Citizen

If you were born outside the UK to a British parent, you may already be a British citizen without knowing it. This guide explains the eligibility criteria for British citizenship by descent and how to apply for a UK passport.

2 minute read

Published 10 February 2025

Authors

Charlie Fowler
Partner
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Key information

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Private Wealth

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Immigration

Apply for a British passport if you have a British parent and were born outside the UK

It is frequently the case that a person born outside the UK to a British parent is a British citizen automatically, without even knowing it. (This is known as acquiring British citizenship ‘by descent’.) If the relevant conditions are satisfied, this has the following significant benefits:

You can apply immediately for a British passport;
Once you have the passport, you can move to the UK without any further UK visa application; and
Your family members (spouse/partner and children under 18) can apply for simple family visas to move with you to the UK.

What are the relevant conditions? It depends on when you were born.

(Note that if you were born inside the UK rather than outside it, you can check whether you are already a British citizen in our separate article here. Also, if you satisfy some – but not all – of the conditions for acquiring British citizenship automatically, you might be able to register as a British citizen instead. Find out how in our article here.)

Born on or after 1 July 2006

If you were born outside the UK on or after that date, you will automatically be a British citizen if:

Your mother or father was a British citizen when you were born; and
Your British parent could pass their citizenship on to you, for example if:
- They were born or adopted in the UK; or
- They were given British citizenship after applying for it in their own right (not by virtue of having a British parent).

Born between 1983 and June 2006

If you were born outside the UK in this period, you will automatically be a British citizen if:

Your mother or father was a British citizen when you were born;
If your father was British but your mother was not, your parents were married when you were born; and

Your British parent could pass their citizenship on to you, for example if:
- They were born or adopted in the UK; or
- They were given British citizenship after applying for it in their own right (not by virtue of having a British parent).

Born before 1983

If you were born outside the UK before 1983, you will automatically be a British citizen if:

Your father was a British citizen;
He was married to your mother when you were born; and
He could pass his British citizenship on to you, for example if:
- He was born or adopted in the UK; or
- He was given British citizenship after applying for it in his own right (not by virtue of having a British parent).

Note that if your British parent is your mother rather than your father, it can be possible to register as a British citizen instead. Once that registration is complete, you can then apply for a British passport.

How we can help

We are experts in securing British passports for our clients through HM Passport Office. It doesn’t matter if the client applies from inside or outside the UK, we can quickly confirm a client’s eligibility and can help them negotiate the application process speedily and successfully.

In complex cases, we have sophisticated software that analyses all possible routes to British nationality. Even if someone doesn’t meet the criteria above, we can quickly and easily review all relevant British nationality legislation to confirm whether there is another path to British citizenship for them instead.

Of course, the explanations in this article are summaries only, and careful advice is required to confirm a person’s eligibility. However, we are adept at navigating these rules, so please get in touch to find out more.

Contact Charlie Fowler, Partner for expert advice.

How to Apply for a British Passport If You Were Born Abroad to a UK Citizen

Published 10 February 2025

Associated sectors / services

Immigration

Authors

Charlie Fowler
Partner
Read more from Charlie

Apply for a British passport if you have a British parent and were born outside the UK

You can apply immediately for a British passport;
Once you have the passport, you can move to the UK without any further UK visa application; and
Your family members (spouse/partner and children under 18) can apply for simple family visas to move with you to the UK.

What are the relevant conditions? It depends on when you were born.

Born on or after 1 July 2006

If you were born outside the UK on or after that date, you will automatically be a British citizen if:

Your mother or father was a British citizen when you were born; and
Your British parent could pass their citizenship on to you, for example if:
- They were born or adopted in the UK; or
- They were given British citizenship after applying for it in their own right (not by virtue of having a British parent).

Born between 1983 and June 2006

If you were born outside the UK in this period, you will automatically be a British citizen if:

Your mother or father was a British citizen when you were born;
If your father was British but your mother was not, your parents were married when you were born; and

Your British parent could pass their citizenship on to you, for example if:
- They were born or adopted in the UK; or
- They were given British citizenship after applying for it in their own right (not by virtue of having a British parent).

Born before 1983

If you were born outside the UK before 1983, you will automatically be a British citizen if:

Your father was a British citizen;
He was married to your mother when you were born; and
He could pass his British citizenship on to you, for example if:
- He was born or adopted in the UK; or
- He was given British citizenship after applying for it in his own right (not by virtue of having a British parent).

How we can help

Contact Charlie Fowler, Partner for expert advice.

Associated sectors / services

Immigration

Authors

Charlie Fowler
Partner
Read more from Charlie

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