The British Citizenship can be a complex issue and requires careful advice as applying to become British cannot be appealed on unless there are strong grounds to be raised. This section will explain the types of British Nationality, how to register or naturalise as a British National.

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

British citizenship is one of the six different forms of British nationality. Some of these were defined in the British Nationality Act 1981, which came into force on 1 January 1983. The laws defining how citizenship can be obtained changed on that date, which is why you will often see references to 1983:

The forms of nationality are:

§                     British citizenship;

§                     British overseas citizenship;

§                     British overseas territories citizenship;

§                     British national (overseas);

§                     British protected person; and

§                     British subject.

Other forms of British nationality have existed, but they are not current - for example, citizenship of the United Kingdom and colonies (CUKC) or British Dependent Territories citizenship.

Only British citizens, and certain British subjects with right of abode through qualifying connections under the Immigration Act 1971, have the right to live and work in the United Kingdom. People holding one of the other forms of nationality may live and work in the United Kingdom if their immigration status allows it.

British nationality is defined in law. Whether a person has a claim to British nationality can be determined by applying the definitions and requirements of the British Nationality Act 1981 and related legislation to the facts of their date and place of birth and descent.