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British Protected States
During the early and middle 20th century, Britain ruled over nearly a third of the world's peoples. One form of this was through her collection of British Protected States.
Click here for more information on how British Nationality can be gained.
At various times, the United Kingdom administered the following Protected States:
- Swaziland
- India
- Tonga
- Maldives
- United Arab Emirates
- Bahrain
- Qatar
- Brunei
- Kuwait
- Malay States
- North Borneo and Lebuan
- Sarawak
Click here for more information on the status of a British Protected State.
HOW CAN UK NATIONALITY ARISE?
Birth (and what was could loosely be described as Citizenship) in a British Protectorate would probably have given rise to Citizenship of the UK and Colonies (known as CUKC and gave rise to what was the old form of what is now a "British Passport") or as a "British Protected Person" (BPPs). At the point when the Colony became independent, these citizens either took on nationality of the newly formed independent country, or remained as CUKCs or BPPs.
The British Nationality Act 1981 came into force on 1 January 1983, and divided Citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKCs) into three categories:
1. British Citizens
CUKCs with the Right of Abode in the United Kingdom and Islands (i.e. the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) by virtue of a close connection therewith (e.g. by birth or descent from a person born in the United Kingdom and Islands) became British Citizens.
2. British Dependent Territories Citizens
CUKCs with a close connection with one of the United Kingdom's Dependent Territories became British Dependent Territories citizens (BDTCs). It was possible for a person to acquire British citizenship and BDTC at the same time. For example, a person born in Bermuda before 1983 with a parent born in the United Kingdom would have acquired both nationalities.
3. British Overseas Citizens
All other CUKCs became British Overseas Citizens.