The British Nationality Act 1981 which came into force on 1st January 1983 have set out a number of things, which are as follows:

1. Changed the way people can obtain British nationality by birth, descent or grant.
2. Abolished CUKC and replaced it with three new nationalities.

a)     CUKC’s who had the right abode became British Citizens.

b)     CUKC’s who had gained that status because of a connection with an existing colony or dependency became British Dependent Territories Citizens.

c)     CUKC’s who did not fit into either of these groups became British Overseas Citizens.

Citizens of independent Commonwealth countries who had the right of abode on 1^st January 1983 will keep it for the rest of their lives. However no one has able to obtain the right of abode in the UK since that date without becoming a British citizen.

ICS Legal is able to provide support in initial registration and naturalisation to complex cases where support is required.