OpenLegislation

British Nationality Act 1981

1981 c. 61 · Enacted 30 October 1981 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 26 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 2 December 2025.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 46(1)words substitutedCriminal Justice Act 2003 Sch. 26 para. 29
s. 6(2)words substitutedBorders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 s. 40(1)
s. 6(3) (4)insertedBorders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 s. 40(2)
s. 41(1)(bc)-(be)insertedBorders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 s. 41(2)
s. 41(1B) (1C)insertedBorders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 s. 41(3)
s. 41(7)words insertedBorders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 s. 41(4)
Sch. 1 para. 1(1)(a)words repealedBorders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 s. 39(1) Sch. Pt. 2
Sch. 1 para. 1(2)substitutedBorders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 s. 39(2)
Sch. 1 para. 1(3)repealedBorders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 s. 39(3) Sch. Pt. 2
Sch. 1 para. 2Sch. 1 para. 2 renumbered as Sch. 1 para. 2(1)Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 s. 39(4)
Sch. 1 para. 2(1)(a)substitutedBorders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 s. 39(4)
Sch. 1 para. 2(1)(ba)(bb)insertedBorders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 s. 39(5)
Sch. 1 para. 2(1)(c)repealedBorders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 s. 39(6) Sch. Pt. 2
Sch. 1 para. 2(1)(ca)insertedBorders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 s. 39(7)
Sch. 1 para. 2(1)(d)word substitutedBorders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 s. 39(8)(a)
Sch. 1 para. 2(1)(d)words substitutedBorders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 s. 39(8)(b)
Sch. 1 para. 2(2)-(4)substituted for Sch. 1 para. 2(2)(3)Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 s. 39(9)
Sch. 1 para. 2(5)insertedBorders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 s. 39(10)
Sch. 1 para. 2AinsertedBorders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 s. 39(11)
Sch. 1 para. 3substitutedBorders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 s. 40(3)
Sch. 1 para. 4substitutedBorders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 s. 40(4)
Sch. 1 para. 4AinsertedBorders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 s. 40(5)
Sch. 1 para. 9(1)words substitutedBorders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 s. 49(2)
Sch. 1 para. 11insertedBorders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 s. 49(3)
Sch. 1 para. 4B and cross-headinginsertedBorders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 s. 41(1)
Sch. 1 para. 6(2)-(4)insertedNationality and Borders Act 2022 Sch. 1 para. 3(4)(d)

An Act to make fresh provision about citizenship and nationality, and to amend the Immigration Act 1971 as regards the right of abode in the United Kingdom.

[30th October 1981]I1C1C2C3C4C5C6

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Act extended by British Nationality (Falkland Islands) Act 1983 (c. 6, SIF 87), s. 3(1); restricted by British Nationality (Falkland Islands) Act 1983 (c. 6, SIF 87), s. 3(2); amended by S.I. 1983/1699, art. 2(1) and amended by British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1990 (c. 34, SIF 87), s. 2(1)

C2

Act modified: (18.7.1996) by 1996 c. 41, s. 2(1); (19.3.1997) by 1997 c. 20, s. 2(1)

C3

Act applied (19.3.1997) by 1997 c. 20, s. 1(8)

C4

Act amended (2.10.2000) by S.I. 2000/2326, art. 8

C5

Act modified (21.5.2002) by British Overseas Territories Act 2002 (c. 8), s. 3(3); S.I. 2002/1252, art. 2

C6

Act modified (21.5.2002) by British Overseas Territories Act 2002 (c. 8), s. 6(2); S.I. 2002/1252, art. 2

Act modified (21.5.2002) by British Overseas Territories Act 2002 (c. 8), s. 6(4); S.I. 2002/1252, art. 2

Act modified (1.1.2004) by Nationality Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (c. 41), ss. 14, 162 (with s. 159); S.I. 2003/3156, art. 2(b) (with arts. 3, 4)

Act modified (30.4.2006) by The Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1003), Sch. 2 para. 2

Commencement

I1

Act partly in force at Royal Assent, see s. 53(2)(3); Act wholly in force at 1.1.1983, see S.I. 1982/933

Contents

  1. Part I: British Citizenship
  2. Acquisition after commencement
  3. 1Acquisition by birth or adoption.
  4. 2Acquisition by descent.
  5. 3Acquisition by registration: minors.
  6. 4Acquisition by registration: British overseas territories citizensetc.
  7. 4AAcquisition by registration: further provision for British overseas territories citizens
  8. 4AAAcquisition by registration: Irish citizens
  9. 4BAcquisition by registration: certain persons without other citizenship
  10. 4CAcquisition by registration: certain persons born before 1983
  11. 4DAcquisition by registration: children of members of the armed forces
  12. 4EThe general conditions
  13. 4FPerson unable to be registered under other provisions of this Act
  14. 4GPerson unable to become citizen automatically after commencement
  15. 4HCitizen of UK and colonies unable to become citizen at commencement
  16. 4IOther person unable to become citizen at commencement
  17. 4JSections 4E to 4I: supplementary provision
  18. 4KAcquisition by registration: certain British overseas territories citizens
  19. 4LAcquisition by registration: special circumstances
  20. 5Acquisition by registration: British overseas territories citizens having connection with Gibraltar
  21. 6Acquisition by naturalisation.
  22. Acquisition after commencement: special cases
  23. 7Right to registration by virtue of residence in U.K. or relevant employment. Repealed
  24. 8Registration by virtue of marriage. Repealed
  25. 9Right to registration by virtue of father’s citizenship etc. Repealed
  26. 10Registration following renunciation of citizenship of U.K. and Colonies.
  27. 10AAcquisition in connection with immigration rules Appendix EU
  28. Acquisition at commencement
  29. 11Citizens of U.K. and Colonies who are to become British citizens at commencement.
  30. Renunciation and resumption
  31. 12Renunciation.
  32. 13Resumption.
  33. Supplementary
  34. 14Meaning of British citizen (by descent).
  35. Part II: British overseas territories citizenship
  36. Acquisition after commencement
  37. 15Acquisition by birth or adoption.
  38. 16Acquisition by descent.
  39. 17Acquisition by registration: minors.
  40. 17ARegistration: remedying inability of mothers to transmit citizenship
  41. 17BRegistration: unmarried fathers; the general conditions
  42. 17CPerson unable to be registered under other provisions of this Act
  43. 17DPerson unable to become citizen automatically after commencement
  44. 17ECitizen of UK and Colonies unable to become citizen at commencement
  45. 17FOther person unable to become citizen at commencement
  46. 17GSections 17B to 17F: supplementary provision
  47. 17HAcquisition by registration: descendants of those born in British Indian Ocean Territory
  48. 17IAcquisition by registration: special circumstances
  49. 18Acquisition by naturalisation.
  50. Acquisition after commencement: special cases
  51. 19Right to registration by virtue of residence in British overseas territory. Repealed
  52. 20Registration by virtue of marriage. Repealed
  53. 21Right to registration by virtue of father’s citizenship etc. Repealed
  54. 22Right to registration replacing right to resume citizenship of U.K. and Colonies.
  55. Acquisition at commencement
  56. 23Citizens of U.K. and Colonies who are to become British overseas territories citizens at commencement.
  57. Renunciation and resumption
  58. 24Renunciation and resumption.
  59. Supplementary
  60. 25Meaning of British overseas territories citizen“by descent”.
  61. Part III: British Overseas Citizenship
  62. 26Citizens of U.K. and Colonies who are to become British Overseas citizens at commencement.
  63. 27Registration of minors.
  64. 28Registration by virtue of marriage. Repealed
  65. 29Renunciation.
  66. Part IV: British Subjects
  67. 30Continuance as British subjects of existing British subjects of certain descriptions.
  68. 31Continuance as British subjects of certain former citizens of Eire.
  69. 32Registration of minors.
  70. 33Registration of certain alien women entitled to registration as British subjects immediately before commencement. Repealed
  71. 34Renunciation.
  72. 35Circumstances in which British subjects are to lose that status.
  73. Part V: Miscellaneous and Supplementary
  74. 36Provisions for reducing statelessness.
  75. 37Commonwealth citizenship.
  76. 38British protected persons.
  77. 39Amendment of Immigration Act 1971.
  78. 40Deprivation of citizenship.
  79. 40ADeprivation of citizenship: appeal
  80. 40BReview of power under section 40(4A)
  81. 41Regulations and Orders in Council.
  82. 41ARegistration: requirement to be of good character
  83. 42Registration and naturalisation: citizenship ceremony, oath and pledge
  84. 42ARegistration and naturalisation: fee Repealed
  85. 42BRegistration and naturalisation: timing
  86. 43Exercise of functions of Secretary of State by Governors and others.
  87. 44Decisions involving exercise of discretion.
  88. 44AWaiver of requirement for full capacity
  89. 45Evidence.
  90. 46Offences and proceedings.
  91. 47Legitimated children. Repealed
  92. 48Posthumous children.
  93. 49. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  94. 50Interpretation.
  95. 50AMeaning of references to being in breach of immigration laws
  96. 50BImmigration restrictions to be disregarded in certain cases
  97. 51Meaning of certain expressions relating to nationality in other Acts and instruments.
  98. 52Consequential amendments, transitional provisions, repeals and savings.
  99. 53Citation, commencement and extent.
  100. Schedule 1: Requirements for Naturalisation
  101. Naturalisation as a British citizen under section 6(1)
  102. 1Paragraph 1
  103. 2Paragraph 2
  104. 2AParagraph 2A Not yet in force
  105. Naturalisation as a British citizen under section 6(2)
  106. 3Paragraph 3
  107. 4Paragraph 4
  108. 4AParagraph 4A Not yet in force
  109. The qualifying period for naturalisation as a British citizen under section 6 Not yet in force
  110. 4BParagraph 4B Not yet in force
  111. Naturalisation as a British overseas territories citizen under section 18(1)
  112. 5Paragraph 5
  113. 6Paragraph 6
  114. Naturalisation as a British overseas territories citizen under section 18(2)
  115. 7Paragraph 7
  116. 8Paragraph 8
  117. Periods to be treated as periods of absence from U.K. or a British overseas territory
  118. 9Paragraph 9
  119. Interpretation
  120. 10Paragraph 10
  121. 11Paragraph 11 Not yet in force
  122. Schedule 2: Provisions for Reducing Statelessness
  123. Persons born in the United Kingdom after commencement
  124. 1Paragraph 1
  125. Persons born in a British overseas territory after commencement
  126. 2Paragraph 2
  127. Persons aged 18 to 22 born in the United Kingdom or a British overseas territory after commencement
  128. 3Paragraph 3
  129. Minors aged 5 to 17 born in the United Kingdom or a British overseas territory after commencement
  130. 3AParagraph 3A
  131. Persons born outside the United Kingdom and the British overseas territories after commencement
  132. 4Paragraph 4
  133. Persons born stateless before commencement
  134. 5Paragraph 5
  135. Supplementary
  136. 6Paragraph 6
  137. Schedule 3Countries Whose Citizens are Commonwealth Citizens
  138. Schedule 4: Amendments of Immigration Act 1971
  139. 1Paragraph 1
  140. 2Paragraph 2
  141. 3Paragraph 3
  142. 4Paragraph 4
  143. 5Paragraph 5
  144. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  145. 7Paragraph 7
  146. Schedule 4A: Deprivation of Citizenship without notice: judicial oversight
  147. 1Deprivation without notice: application to Special Immigration Appeals Commission
  148. 2Deprivation of citizenship without notice: review
  149. 3Interpretation
  150. Schedule 5: Citizenship Oath and Pledge
  151. Part
  152. 1Paragraph 1
  153. OathPart Oath
  154. PledgePart Pledge
  155. 2Paragraph 2
  156. OathPart Oath
  157. PledgePart Pledge
  158. 3Paragraph 3
  159. 4Paragraph 4
  160. Schedule 6: British Overseas Territories
  161. Paragraph
  162. Schedule 7: Consequential Amendments
  163. ACT OF SETTLEMENT (12 & 13 Will. 3. c. 2.)
  164. LEGITIMACY DECLARATION ACT 1858 (c. 93)
  165. SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH ACT 1885 (c. 49)
  166. BRITISH NATIONALITY ACT 1948 (c. 56)
  167. IRELAND ACT 1949 (c. 41)
  168. 1Paragraph 1
  169. 2Paragraph 2
  170. DEFAMATION ACT 1952 (c. 66)
  171. DEFAMATION ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1955 (c. 11) (N.I.)
  172. CYPRUS ACT 1960 (c. 52)
  173. EMERGENCY LAWS (RE-ENACTMENTS AND REPEALS) ACT 1964 (c. 60)
  174. Paragraph
  175. DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES ACT 1964 (c. 81)
  176. Paragraph
  177. COMMONWEALTH SECRETARIAT ACT 1966 (c. 10)
  178. WEST INDIES ACT 1967 (c. 4)
  179. 1Paragraph 1
  180. 2Paragraph 2
  181. MARINE BROADCASTING (OFFENCES) ACT 1967 (c. 41)
  182. ANTARCTIC TREATY ACT 1967 (C. 65)
  183. Paragraph Repealed
  184. FUGITIVE OFFENDERS ACT 1967 (c. 68)
  185. Paragraph Repealed
  186. CONSULAR RELATIONS ACT 1968 (c. 18)
  187. Paragraph
  188. TANZANIA ACT 1969 (c. 29)
  189. INCOME AND CORPORATION TAXES ACT 1970 (c. 10)
  190. Paragraph Repealed
  191. MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT 1970 (c. 36)
  192. 1Paragraph 1
  193. 2Paragraph 2
  197. CHILDREN ACT 1975 (c. 72)
  198. 1Paragraph 1
  199. 2Paragraph 2
  200. ADOPTION ACT 1976 (c. 36)
  201. Paragraph
  202. NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE ACT 1977 (c. 49)
  203. SOLOMON ISLANDS ACT 1978 (c. 15)
  204. Paragraph
  205. ADOPTION (SCOTLAND) ACT 1978 (c. 28)
  206. Paragraph
  207. NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE (SCOTLAND) ACT 1978 (c. 29)
  208. Paragraph
  209. STATE IMMUNITY ACT 1978 (c. 33)
  210. Paragraph
  211. DEEP SEA MINING (TEMPORARY PROVISIONS) ACT 1981 (c. 53)
  212. 1Paragraph 1
  213. 2Paragraph 2
  214. Schedule 8: Transitional Provisions
  215. Applications for naturalisation or registration pending at commencement
  216. 1Paragraph 1
  217. 2Paragraph 2
  218. Registration at U.K. consulate, after commencement, of certain births occurring in foreign countries less than a year before commencement
  219. 3Paragraph 3
  220. Declarations by certain persons who by virtue of an Order in Council under section 4 of the Cyprus Act 1960 have ceased to be citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies
  221. 4Paragraph 4
  222. Applications for certificates of patriality pending at commencement
  223. 5Paragraph 5
  224. Appeals under Part II of Immigration Act 1971
  225. 6Paragraph 6
  226. 7Paragraph 7
  227. 8Paragraph 8
  228. Schedule 9REPEALS