United Kingdom - Passport & Nationality - British Citizenship by Double Descent (Child Registration)

Listen to our RECENT WEBINAR where our two British nationality experts - Philip Gamble and Mishal Patel - discuss the ways in which children under 18 can have rights to British nationality.

This opportunity arises where a child:

 - is still under 18;

 - is resident outside of the UK; AND

 - has both parents who would become "Settled" were they to move to the UK.

If the family does want to move over to the UK for settlement, then you should note the following:

a) the child could enter the UK with "Indefinite Leave to Enter". This is a preferable immigration status than a visitor visa or a dependent visa. The application relies on demonstrating that both parents have a "Settled" status in the UK and that the intention of the family is to settle in the UK; AND

b) shortly after becoming resident in the UK, the child can then be registered as a British citizen.

There are two types of child registration. One will result in your child being classified as "British by Descent", and as a result would not normally be able to pass on their British nationality to their own children if they are born overseas. The other registration type will result in your child being classified as "British Otherwise than by Descent", they WOULD then be able to pass on their British nationality to their own children wherever they are born. Both applications require the child to be under the age of 18.