Brunei

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Brunei

You could be eligible for British citizenship if you were:

  • Born in Brunei after 31.12.1948 and before independence on 31.12.1974, and you have a grandparent born in the UK.
  • Born between 31.12.1948 and 31.12.1982, a parent was born in Bahrain before 31.12.1974 and that parent had a parent born in the UK.
  • Born after 01.01.1983, a parent was born in Bahrain before 1949 and that parent had a parent born in the UK.

There are hundreds of other ways to qualify. As a general rule, if you were born in a country that is different to either parent or any of your grandparents, or you have a connection back to the UK, Ireland or a former British Territory, then you might have a claim.

How can I find out if I can claim British nationality?

We suggest following our 4 STEP PROCESS, designed to simplify the complex laws of British nationality and to avoid uneccessary and expensive application fees, to find your answer:

Step 1: Dertermine whether you have a Standard Route (birth in the UK before 1983, or a parent born in the UK before 1983)
Step 2: If not, complete our free Nationality Assessment
Step 3: Order a free Status Trace
Step 4: Conduct a Citizenship Report


The Independence Day arrangements on 01.01.1984 gave rise to many residents gaining one of the various forms of British Nationality. Those born in Brunei would have held British Protected Person (BPP) status. This status would have been lost if the new Brunei constitution granted nationality. If not, then BPP status would have been maintained and, in some cases, this can be upgraded to full British Nationality. In some cases, where Bahrain nationality was NOT granted (i.e. because of where your parents were born), then British Overseas Citizen (BOC) status would have been granted.

For these and other forms of British Nationality available to Brunei residents, those born there or nationals, click on British Citizenship.

STATUS OF BRUNEI

Between 1888 and 31.12.1974, Brunei was a British Protected State.

From 01.01.1975 until 31.12.1983, it was a foreign country. However, for the purposes of statutory British Protected Persons, it was considered a British Protected State.

Click here for more information on the status of a British Protected Person (based on birth in a British Protected State).

From 01.01.1984 until the present day, Brunei is an independent Commonwealth country.

There is a particularly complex interpretation of British Nationality Law that results in persons born before 01.01.1983 with a father born in Brunei before 01.01.1962 to be able claim British Protection (and the British Protected Person status or BPP). This occurs if the father was not from one of the local ethnic regions of Belait, Bisayah, Brunei, Dusun, Kedayan, Murut or Tutong. This applies to many ethnic Chinese living in (or born in) Brunei, though it applies to all other nationalities too. For more information, see British Protected Person (BPP) - Brunei.

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Ask Philip Gamble whether you (or your children) have a claim to British nationality.

ASK PHILIP GAMBLE NOW!
Learn more about these routes to British Nationality:

WhatPassport.com is a specialist UK Nationality and British Citizenship site offering an online search and assessment. Claims to hold a British Passport can be complex and the site offers a quick, simple search to give you the answers. While many people qualify for the UK Ancestry Visa based on holding a Commonwealth passport with a UK born grandmother or grandfather, we have found that if you have a grandparent born in the UK, or if your mother is British or your father is British, then there are several scenarios where you can claim British Nationality and the right to hold a British Passport. This stems from Britain’s collection of British Colonies, British Protectorates and British Protected States in the middle of last century and the Nationality rules concerning what are now the countries of the Commonwealth.

WhatPassport.com is a subsidiary of Sable International.

Sable International offers a range of services relating to UK and Australian immigration. For over 20 years, we have been helping people with their UK and Australian visa applications. We assist with applications for Ancestry visas, spouse visas, work visas, Tier 1 visas, UK working holiday visas, UK dependant visas, Tier 4 visas, UK Visitor visas, sponsorship visas or UK permanent residency or indefinite leave to remain. We also specialise in UK visa extensions. If you’ve overstayed your visa, our Overstayer Status Trace service can assist to regularise your visa status.