Bahrain

Bahrain

Bahrain was a British Protected State up to its Independence on 15.08.1971. You could be eligible for British citizenship if you were:

• Born in Bahrain after 31.12.1948 and before independence on 15.08.1971, 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 15.08.1971 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

Complete our nationality assessment

To find out whether you or your children might have a claim, take a couple of moments to complete our FREE online passport assessment.
 

As a general rule, any person born in Bahrain before Independence in 1971 was a British Protected Person (BPP).

The Independence Day arrangements on 16.08.1971 gave rise to many residents gaining one of the various forms of British Nationality. Those born in Bahrain would have held British Protected Person (BPP) status. This status would have been lost if the new Bahrain 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 Bahrain residents, those born there or nationals, click on British Citizenship.

STATUS OF BAHRAIN

From 1862 until 15.08.1971, Bahrain was 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 16.08.1971 until the present day, Bahrain is a foreign country.