New registration route for children of British fathers!

The Immigration Act 2014, which received royal assent in May this year, introduces a new registration route for individuals who would have become British citizens under the British Nationality Act 1981 had their parents been married.

Previously, any child who was born of a British father before 1 July 2006 could only obtain British citizenship if his or her parents had been married. This law is now to be a thing of the past, allowing those born before 1 July 2006 to acquire citizenship through his or her British father irrespective of whether their parents were married.

Work in Progress

The new provision is yet to commence and UK Visas and Immigration will update its guidance only once Parliament announces the date on which the provision will take effect. However when it becomes a reality, The Act will be applicable to the following individuals:

• people who qualify for registration had their parents been married
• individuals born after 1 January 1983 who would have become British citizens automatically had their parents been married
• people born before 1 January 1983 who were citizens of the UK and Colonies on the date and would have become British citizens if their parents were married
• individuals born before 1 January 1983 who have obtained the status of British subject or citizen of the UK and Colonies and would have gone on to become a British citizen if their parents were married

Watch this space…!