United Kingdom - Passport & Nationality - British Citizenship (Adopted outside the UK) 4L Discretion - British mother

If a person is adopted, and their biological mother was born in the UK before 1983, then this person:

• was born a British citizen if born after 1982; OR
• can register as a British citizen if born before 1983.

The question is a lot more complicated if the claim relies on an adoptive mother who was born in the UK. While a registration process was available to the parents in some circumstances in the past, there are instances where gender discrimination played a part in this registration not being possible. Recent changes to British nationality law now allow for a successful application for British citizenship to be made, at the discretion of the Secretary of State. This would arise where:

• a person was adopted outside of the UK;
• their adoptive mother was born in the UK; AND
• their adoptive mother was prevented from registering their child because of gender discrimination.

Finally, we have to demonstrate that there is an enduring connection to the UK. Examples include:

• growing up in an English-speaking household;
• attending an English-speaking school;
• regular travel to the UK;
• previous residence or study in the UK;
• owning a property or business in the UK.
• family who live in the UK.