Both the UK and US allow dual citizenship so Americans who would like to apply for British citizenship are able to maintain both citizenships. Born in Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) with British Protection and inherited British Subject status from his father, which became Citizen of the United Kingdoms and Colonies (CUKC) status. Mishal? If a child is looking to claim British Citizenship by double descent before the age of 18, there are particular circumstances that can make them eligible: There are a number of situations where you can qualify for British Citizenship by descent (grandparent) under this scenario. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. This is the first in a series of episodes we'll be doing on routes to British nationality for South Africans. Eligibility for Slovak citizenship by descent is limited to those whose parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents were born in Slovakia's territory. Children under the age of 18 will need to claim citizenship before the age of 18 or they will lose all rights to British nationality. United Kingdom Passport Renewal from abroad: Tips for 2023, your father was born or naturalized in the United Kingdom, your mother was born or naturalized in the United Kingdom, you were born abroad but one or both of your maternal grandparents were born in the United Kingdom (this would qualify you for British citizenship by double descent). Responses were prompt, and instructions easy to follow. In order for you to qualify for British Citizenship by descent (double descent), there are particular guidelines that you need to match. One parent must be a native of Argentina at the time of your birth. So, with the UK at that point, we had a uniform form of British Nationality, called British Subject statusthat you could acquire by virtue of birth in the UK, or any UK colony. The British Protection would have been taken away by independence arrangements of Zambia in 1964. +27 (0) 21 657 2120, Durban His son, the person who was British by descent, was born in South Africa. We concluded that this child could be registered as a British citizen. British citizenship by descent. This means you would be required to apply for British citizenship by descent and will be eligible providing you meet guidelines to qualify. He then has a child born to him in 2006 who is then not British automatically because that child was not born in the UK. So he doesn't have that option if there's not a grandparent with citizenship in the paper trail. Instead of 6 months, it took me 8 months to gather everything I needed. By acquiring British citizenship by descent, you can become a UK national even if you were born abroad. ", "Thanking you so much for helping me and my wife live together for now and the distant future. Can I get a British passport if my grandparents were born in Scotland? The Italian citizenship law is also not based on "blood" but on descent from a citizen of Italy who died after the unification of Italy in 1861. And the speed with which I received my new passport was amazing. But the actual applicant is quite interesting. I can happily recommend them! Using their service was effortless and amazing. I dread to think if had used Portuguese mailing services and relied on CTT! Likewise, anyone who has lived in Scotland for at least 10 years at any point in their life and can show a demonstrable connection to Scotland could apply for citizenship. So he would have acquired not just his great-grandfather's (or through that connection Citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies status, but also, through his paternal grandmother, he would have also held Right of Abode. People who were born before 1 January 1983 but outside of the UK to a British-born father would qualify for UK nationality as long as their parents were married at the time of their birth. The Ireland citizenship by Ancestry or Descentis open to individuals with Irish ancestry going back as far as great grandparents. I was born in 1987. Find out more about British citizenship by descent grandparent by getting in touch with our professional immigration lawyers in London. Or, have a great-grandparent who was a Romanian citizen and lost citizenship involuntarily. Born in South Africa before 1983 and inherited father's CUKC status with Right of Abode, which became British citizenship. So, when he approached us, you know, we were quite flabbergasted about all of this and no doubt he was as well! says "any foreign national with Serbian descent, has the right to acquire Serbian citizenship by written request" but includes no more specific information. Thats quite important, because if he had, he wouldnt have remained British, or what we call a Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies, which he was at the time the father was born in South Africa. Have a grandparent that was born in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, on a British-registered ship or aircraft or in the Republic of Ireland before 31st of March 1922. Those born between the dates of 1 January 1983 and 30 June 2006 could qualify for British citizenship through descent, even if they were born outside of the UK (but to a British-born mother). In this case around the 1980s. 353 061 518 025, IAS Head Office UK His mothers citizenship only passes on if she applied and got it before he was born. A person who has a parent or grandparent eligible for Scottish citizenship, will be able to register as a Scottish citizen by descent. Couldnt have done it, Im sure, without these friendly and efficient people.Thank you! We're here for you in person, over the phone, and via Skype. Bear in mind that some of these claims are time sensitive. Excellent service.Queries responded to quickly.Makes the overall process far less stressful. 4. I recommend this company the IAS for immigration services. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Very happy with the service. South Africa at that point, was also part of the UK colonies. Then from there, with that information, you can decide whether youd like to engage our services to help you prove this very complicated route with the government. In scenario one, I'll start off with obviously our great-grandfather. Amendments to the nationality law became . This comes with a number of privileges, including the right to freely live, work and study in the UK, access to public funds and protection from British embassies, consulates and high commissions whilst abroad. Can I get British citizenship through my great grandparents? It's a much more complex route. You can get citizenship by descent up to the third generation in Lithuania as well. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. British Passport Renewal from New Zealand. V94 X285 The MOST helpful service from Christa, an absolute GEM. They are two overriding facts: 1. So we have a scenario here where the child was born to a British by descent parent, the child is under 18 and the childs grandfather was actually British other than by descent and the father had spent more than three years in the UK before the child was born. My great-grandparents both naturalized as US citizens in 1943, when my grandmother was 15. A person has the right to apply for citizenship by descent in the case in which the applicant has (or has had) a mother or a father or grandparents that were of Czech descent or who are/were Czech nationals. Can I get Scottish citizenship through my grandparents? Our team is also always there should you have any questions or concerns and we keep you updated on every step of the process. If your parent obtained citizenship (through his/her grandparent) either prior to your birth OR prior to July 1, 1986, you are then eligible to apply for citizenship through your Irish citizen parent. The courier and checking makes this an easy and approachable way to get a passport and worth. People with Scottish descent (a parent or grandparent who qualifies for Scottish citizenship) would be able to apply for Scottish citizenship. The process is the same as applying for citizenship through a parent. So, for those who dont know, a person who is British by descent cannot generally automatically pass the nationality to a further generation born out of the UK. Scottish, Welsh, and Irish. This is known as double descent. How can IAS help with my British Citizenship by descent application? So if you suspect you might qualify or you have no idea and you just want to see, we have a free online assessment that you can complete and Mishal and his team will go through your family tree and see what changes you have and will be completely honest with you if we dont think that theres a good chance, or if we thing that there is a chance but not much of a chance and you can try your luck, or if theres a very good chance. Request a call back from our immigration experts Call us: New passport received in 3 weeks. British citizenship by triple descent refers to the ability to acquire British Citizenship through great-grandparents. This is known as British Citizenship by descent, or more specifically, British Citizenship by double descent. Sigh. But as you said, its very rare. More info Have at least one parent who was a Slovakian citizen at the time of your birth. Have at least one parent who was a Norwegian citizen at the time of your birth. The rules around eligibility for British citizenship by descent vary depending on when you were born and the circumstances of your parent/s or grandparent/s at the time of your birth. Couldn't be happier with the service. But for some, there may be another option. A friend of mine's husband just got his UK citizenship by descent and he doesn't have to go back to the embassy in person for his passport. We hope this blog post has been helpful in providing you with information on British citizenship by descent. What are the advantages of going to a private university? Erica Erim. Each application for British Citizenship by descent (grandparent) will be assessed by UKVI on an individual basis. Even refunded because I paid for my own express delivery. I am a very happy client and would choose this service again. Children under the age of 18 will need to claim citizenship before the age of 18 or they will lose all rights to British nationality. Children born after 1 July 2006 could qualify for British citizenship as long as the father is British. With British citizenship by descent, however, you can not normally pass citizenship to children born outside of the UK, unless they were born to a parent in crown, designated or EU service. Yes, absolutely. My name is Tallulah and I'm here with Mishal Patel. If you, or your parent, were born on the island of Ireland on or after 1 January 2005, your right to Irish citizenship depends on: This is a complex area of British nationality and every case must be assessed on an individual basis. Can I get British citizenship through my grandfather? Citizenship by double descent refers to the ability to acquire British citizenship through grandparents, and by triple is through great-grandparents. This is known as double descent. My great-grandfather died in 1972, and my great-grandmother died in 2000. You could also be eligible for British citizenship by birth, by descent, or by double descent (British citizenship through a grandparent). No other of the rights or duties that go with British citizenship are affected by this status. Were available in-person, via the phone or online. Thanks for making the passport renewal process so simple and efficient. The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel. Otherwise for citizenship, you must have a Finnish father who is legally married to your mother. Mishal Patel:Welcome. However, youre also in luck if one of your grandparents was born in Ireland. A gentleman name Shaun gave me precise updates along the way which took the stress out of. You can claim British citizenship by double descent if you have a grandparent (and in rare cases a great-grandparent) born in the UK. The customer service was top notch! Canadian friends told me it could take months to obtain a passport. Please visit our Citizenship By Descent page for information . Can a U.S. citizen petition for grandchild? The date of their birth. Many countries let you claim citizenship if your parents, grandparents or in some cases great grandparents were born in said country. And so, on 1 January 1983, unknown to him, obviously, he was reclassified automatically as a full British citizen and, hence, should be holding a British passport in the modern day. Slovakia is an EU country with one of the world's best passports. But, more importantly, the Citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies would have passed on, would you believe, from the father to his son who was born in South Africa in 1980. efficient. Completed in. However, there are a few circumstances where this is not the case. The Ireland citizenship by ancestry program is a great way to get a Irish passport. Some countries have stringent requirements where you must have a parent who is from that particular country - but others are much easier. I can highly recommend their service. UK nationality means that you can work, study and travel freely within the United Kingdom. Wonderful service from Carla who made the process so easyThank youAmanda. More info Have at least one parent or grandparent who was a Spanish citizen, with some restrictions. The woman who was married to the paternal grandfather. Now this is where the paternal grandmother's birth becomes quite important. Retiring in Naples, Italy Offers Food, Beaches and Dolce far Niente! TV: So its possible to be a British citizen without even knowing it. How do you wish a happy belated birthday? How do I prove my British citizenship by descent? Have at least one Hungarian parent or grandparent and may have to pass a basic Hungarian language test. There are time limits within passport application so a responsive service is invaluable. People with Scottish descent (a parent or grandparent who qualifies for Scottish citizenship) would be able to apply for Scottish citizenship. UK immigration rules allow an automatic claim to British Citizenship if you have a grandparent (and, in rare cases, a great-grandparent) born in the UK. money. IAS Head Office USA 3. Ensure you have the greatest chance of a successful appeal. Everything was included in the fee, and it was well worth it to avoid tracking, mailing, and stressing over the whereabouts of my documents. Because, you see, a lot of people have this misconception that they become a citizen the day the passport is issued. But it is very much possible. Have at least one parent or grandparent who was a Czech or Czechoslovak citizen. MP:In this instance, it was a great-grandmother born in the UK. And this registration does not require the child to be resident in the UK or to have spent any time there. Which is the best romantic novel by an Indian author? If you're not able to secure citizenship somewherethere's also the option to live a nomadic lifestyle and travel the world. There are other avenues to dual citizenship too, with some of the most popular being investment and naturalization. Contact IAS now we offer free advice sessions and are available in-person, by phone, and online. For further information on the citizenship by investment programs of Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, email CACitizenship.com today at: contact@cacitizesnhip.com You can read also: Citizenship by Investment To avoid confusion and to streamline your application, MyBritishPassport can assist you with every aspect of the process. Once my documents were on their way he kept me posted on what was happening. 5 Countries That Will Grant Citizenship Based On Your Ancestry. +1 844 290 6312, IAS Ireland +27 (0) 31 536 8844, London This is the clients paternal grandfather and he was born in Kenya. If you are a citizen of one country and your great grandparents were citizens of another country, you may be able to get dual citizenship through them. No he doesn't qualify (has to be his grandparent at a minimum). In order to apply for British citizenship by descent (grandparent), you will initially have to apply for British Citizenship. For example, you might automatically become a citizen if youre born outside the UK to a British parent.You were born outside the UK. It can be done while the child is in South Africa and the child will get a British passport. So, again, the grandfather is also a British subject, just like his father, our great-grandfather. Fully recommend it for Brits living abroad. It's by far the easiest way to get EU citizenship. with "My British Passport". 16th Floor Below is MyBritishPassports guide to British citizenship by descent. Greek citizenship can derive from parents, grandparents or even great-grandparents who are or were Greek citizens. Children under the age of 18 will need to claim citizenship before the age of 18 or they will lose all rights to British nationality. We will represent you in any case. As we saw in the earlier example, when the British Nationality Act 1981 came into effect on 1 January 1983, this father was then reclassified as a British citizen by descent. So now we're talking about the fourth generation here, that was born in South Africa. The center of the Scotland DNA ethnicity region ranges from just south of Newburgh, Fife Parish, and extends north to the Orkney Islands. So, in this particular case, remember I said the fathers father was born in Kenya, with his own mother (the great-grandmother) born in the UK? Can I get a British passport if my great grandfather was British? I was dreading the prospect of renewing my passport but with terrific service from these guys it was smooth and. These can be complex cases which means they must be assessed on a case-by-case basis. If at the time of your birth one of your parents was a British citizen or settled in the UK, then you are automatically a British citizen. Rather, its more about where they were born. He was then able to pass on his nationality to his son, and his son was then a Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies and a South African at the time of his birth automatically. Namely, it is necessary to register with the Irish Foreign Births Register. Communications were prompt, courteous. I was kept up to date throughout. Children under the age of 18 will need to claim citizenship before the age of 18 or they will lose all rights to British nationality. 5 Tips for a Smooth UK Passport Application Process. How do I apply for a British passport through descent? Irish citizenship can be obtained in two ways: through birth or naturalization, and both options allow for an Irish passport or ID card to be acquired. Youre a woman who was married to a British man before the year 1949. With our untimed Advice Session, our professional immigration lawyers will review your case and provide you with comprehensive advice, completely tailored to your needs and your situation. MyBritishPassport made this daunting task go smoothly and quickly. How do I get British citizenship by descent? I just received my new British passport and could not be happier with the service I received from Brittany at. If relevant, they can also assess eligibility for citizenship by descent through a parent, or any other route that may be applicable to you, such as the British Citizenship by double descent route or the UK Ancestry Visa. A parent will be staying in the UK for at least another 3 years in the future, providing that the child is still under the age of 18 when the application for British Citizenship by descent is made. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Can you claim Scottish citizenship by descent? While it's common to qualify for citizenship by descent, usually a great-grandparent is a degree too far. On a daily basis Move Up receives phones calls of applicants asking "if I have a UK born great grandparent, can I qualify?" to which our consultants conclude that One of the easiest ways to acquire dual citizenship is by descent. Your case will become a top priority for our lawyers and you will benefit from our highest-quality services. Assuming that the rUK continues to allow dual citizenship (and of course that was cast in doubt for the case of Scottish citizens by Theresa May earlier in 2013), even those resident in Scotland . Is it possible for a South African to inherit British citizenship through a great-grandparent? No country will grant you citizenship based on the results of a DNA test alone. My grandmother married my US citizen grandfather in 1953. That would have been the person who was married to the person who worked in Rhodesia? But often there is a bigger reason for wanting to get citizenship by ancestry. Yes, as long as you hold a full British passport, you are considered to be a British citizen and can travel in and out of the UK as much as you want. The procedure under Section 58c of the Austrian Citizenship Act begins with the filing of a declaration ("Anzeige"). If grandparent, he or she must have been born in Ireland. This is known as British Citizenship by descent, or more specifically, British Citizenship by double descent. Citizenship for those born in another country is unusual in that it requires registration in the Records of a Municipality of the Hellenic Republic. However, the interesting thing here was that the person who was born in Northern Rhodesia, the father in this example, actually had two forms of British nationality. If you can prove one of your grandparents was born in the U.K., you first have to apply for . OL9 6QR THREE weeks. Jade Robinson Apr 7, 2021. Whether you're seeking to reconnect with your family heritage, move overseas, or simply want a second passport at your disposal, at least 50 countries offer some version of citizenship by . Ellen Street TV: Amazing. According to Dutch nationality law you can qualify for Dutch citizenship via your parents if they were Dutch at the time of your birth. I hesitated briefly, but realised that this was the best solution for me to renew my passport. Likewise, anyone who has lived in Scotland for at least 10 years at any point in their life and can show a demonstrable connection to Scotland could apply for citizenship. Likewise, anyone born in Scotland but resident elsewhere will automatically have Scottish citizenship at the date of independence. More info Have a Chilean parent who can prove one of their parents or grandparents was granted Chilean citizenship by birth or naturalization. So if neither of your parents were Dutch citizens at the time of your birth, then you do not qualify for nationality via descent. Pass the Good character requirement this means you should not have committed immigration fraud or been convicted of any serious crimes. How do I qualify for British citizenship by descent? For further information on British citizenship by descent from South Africa, feel free to contact a member of the MyBritishPassport team.