United Kingdom - Passport & Nationality - British Overseas Citizen (BOC) - Colony birth

A person has a potential claim to the status of British Overseas Citizen (or BOC) where they were born in former British Colony before its independence. It arises where:

 - the candidate was born in a former British Colony before Independence;

 - the candidate's father was born outside of a former British Colony or British Protectorate that gained its independence after the Independence of the candidate's country of birth; AND

 - the candidate's paternal grandfather was born in a former British Colony or British Protectorate that gained its independence after the Independence of the candidate's country of birth.

UPGRADING TO FULL BRITISH NATIONALITY

This BOC status could be upgraded in some circumstances where the candidate has the Right of Abode. This normally arises where:

 - the candidate has a UK-born grandparent;

 - the candidate is a woman and married a British man before 1983;

 - the candidate spent at least 5 years in the UK before 1983; OR

 - the candidate holds no other nationality.

In addition, the applicant must have escaped the Automatic Loss provisions that were enacted upon independence of the applicant's country of birth.