Countries > Australia > Passport & Nationality

British Nationality for an Australian

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Australians and those born in Australia have several ways in which to claim British Nationality and the right to hold a British Passport. These are:

• By Birth (having been born in the UK)
• By Descent (a British or UK-born mother or father)
• Not having become Australian by birth in Australia
• By Double Descent (a grandparent born in the UK)
• A parent or grandparent born outside of Australia
• A parent or grandparent holding a nationality other than Australian

The most common route to British Nationality is often through residency in the UK while on a UK Ancestry Visa. This Ancestry Visa for the UK is available to an Australian aged 17 or over, and entitles you to live and work in the UK. It is possible to obtain a UK Ancestry Visa Extension, and then then to qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) leading to British Nationality.

Another popular route is through the Tier 5 Working Holiday Visa. This is available to an Australian aged between 18 and 30 and entitles you to live and work in the UK for up to 2 years. While this time does not qualify for time spent in the UK for the purposes of claim British Nationality, it does provide further opportunities to extend ones stay in the UK.

British Nationality for an Australian is available to those with a family link to the UK or its former colonial empire. Broadly speaking (and there are exceptions), where a parent or grandparent has been British or was born in the UK or Ireland (before 1922), then it may be possible to have a claim to a British Passport. Our research has found that 13% of Australians who have a UK born grandparent already qualify for British Nationality. 

For British Nationality purposes, the Republic of Ireland is included in the definition of the United Kingdom before 31.03.1922. For these and other forms of British Nationality available to Australian citizens, click on British Citizenship for an Australian.

 

STATUS OF AUSTRALIA

Up until 31.12.1900, Australia was within the British Crown Dominions as separate colonies.

Between 01.01.1901 and 31.12.1948, it fell within the Crown’s Dominions as a federal Commonwealth country.

From 01.01.1949 until the present day, it was an independent Commonwealth country.

Christmas Island

Up until 31.12.1948, Christmas Island came within the British Crown Dominions.

Between 01.01.1949 and 31.12.1957, it fell within the UK and Colonies as part of the Colony of Singapore.

From 01.01.1958 until 30.09.1958, it was within the UK and Colonies as a separate Crown Colony. Click here for more information on the status of Citizen of the United Kingdom & Colonies (CUKC), a status achieved by birth in the Colony.

From 01.10.1958, it was part of Australia.

 

Cocos & Keeling Islands

Up until 31.12.1948, these islands were part of the British Crown Dominions.

Between 01.01.1949 and 22.11.1955, they fell part of the UK and Colonies as part of the Colony of Singapore.

From 23.11.1955 until the present day, it is part of Australia.

Papua

From 1888 until 1906, Papua was part of the British Crown Dominions.

Thereafter, it was part of Australia until it combined with New Guinea on 15.09.1975 to form Papua New Guinea.

From 16.09.1975 until 30.01.1980 (after independence), it was a foreign country known as Papua New Guinea.

From 31.01.1980 until the present day, it was an independent Commonwealth country.

New Guinea

From 17.12.1920 until 12.12.1946, New Guinea was an Australian mandated territory in which the Crown exercised extra-territorial jurisdiction.

Between 13.12.1946 and 15.09.1975, it was an Australian Trust Territory in which the Crown exercised extra-territorial jurisdiction.

From 16.09.1975 until 30.01.1980 (after independence), it was a foreign country known as Papua New Guinea.

From 31.01.1980 until the present day, it was an independent Commonwealth country.