British citizenship · IAA-regulated advice
British Citizenship by Descent Advice in Birmingham & London
Born outside the UK to a British parent? You may already be British, or you may be able to register. We check your family’s dates and documents, confirm the right route and prepare your application, for a fixed fee agreed in writing.
Last checked 11 October 2026 · Reviewed by Vishal Gautam, IAA-regulated adviser
Overview
What is British citizenship by descent?
If you were born outside the UK and one of your parents was British when you were born, you may be British automatically. Your parent usually needs to have been British ‘otherwise than by descent’: for example born or adopted in the UK, or given citizenship in their own right, such as by naturalisation. If so, there’s nothing to apply for: you confirm your citizenship with a British passport or a status letter.
Citizenship normally passes to one generation born abroad. If your parent was British by descent, or the law at the time didn’t let them pass it on (mothers before 1983, and unmarried fathers before July 2006), you may be able to register as a British citizen instead.
✓This is the right route if…
- You were born outside the UK, and a parent was British when you were born
- Your British parent was born or adopted in the UK, became British in their own right, or was a Crown servant abroad when you were born
- Your child was born abroad to a parent who is British by descent, and you want to register them
- You were born before 1983 to a British mother, or to a British father who wasn’t married to your mother
→Look at another route if…
Quick check
Could you be British by descent? Six questions, one minute
Answer honestly. Nothing is saved or sent: this is a general guide, not advice on your case.
Were you (or your child) born outside the UK?For nationality law, the UK includes the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
Was one of your parents British (or a citizen of the UK and Colonies, before 1983) when you were born?What counts is their status on the day you were born, not now.
Did your British parent become British other than through their own parent? For example, born or adopted in the UK, or naturalised.If they were themselves born abroad to a British parent, they’re probably British by descent.
If your British parent is your father and you were born before 1 July 2006, was he married to your mother?Answer yes if your British parent is your mother, or if you were born later and your mother wasn’t married to someone else.
If you were born before 1 January 1983, is your British parent your father?Before 1983, citizenship by descent passed only through fathers. Answer yes if you were born in 1983 or later.
Do you have your parent’s birth, adoption, naturalisation or registration certificate, or their old British passport?You’ll also need your full birth certificate, showing your parents’ names.
Eligibility
British citizenship by descent requirements
It turns on your parent’s status on the day you were born, your date of birth and, if you need to register, where your family has lived.
Automatic citizenship by descent
- Born outside the UK on or after 1 January 1983, to a parent who was British otherwise than by descent when you were born
- That includes a parent born or adopted in the UK, or given citizenship in their own right (not based on having a British parent)
- A British parent serving abroad in Crown service, recruited in the UK, can pass on citizenship even if they’re British by descent
- Born before 1 July 2006: a British father counted only if he was married to your mother (or, in some cases, married her later)
Born before 1983? The rules were different and citizenship passed through married fathers. We check which rules applied to you.
Registering a child of a parent who is British by descent
- Section 3(2): the parent who is British by descent lived in the UK for 3 years at some time before the birth, with no more than 270 days away, and their own parent was British otherwise than by descent
- Section 3(5): the child and both parents lived in the UK for the 3 years before the application, with no more than 270 days away each, and both parents consent
- A child registered under 3(5) is British otherwise than by descent, so can pass it on. Under 3(2) the child is British by descent
- Children aged 10 or over must be of good character
If a parent has died, or the parents are divorced or legally separated, the section 3(5) residence test applies to the child and one parent.
Born before 1983 to a British mother
- Before 1 January 1983, citizenship by descent passed only through fathers
- Section 4C lets you register if you’d have become a citizen of the UK and Colonies had women been able to pass it on, and would have had the right of abode
- You apply on Form UKM, endorsed by two referees
- You become a British citizen by descent, so you can’t usually pass it on to children born abroad
Your mother’s birth, naturalisation or registration certificate is usually the key document.
British father not married to your mother
- Before 1 July 2006, an unmarried British father couldn’t usually pass on citizenship
- From 1 July 2006 he can, with proof of paternity, unless your mother was married to someone else
- If you’d have been British had your parents been married, you can register on Form UKF
- You must prove that he is your natural father, and you need two referees
If your parents married after you were born, you may already be British: it depends on the law where your father lived at the time (legitimation).
Limits on passing it on
- A British citizen by descent can’t usually pass citizenship automatically to a child born outside the UK
- The child may be able to register while under 18, under section 3(2) or 3(5)
- Exception: a parent in Crown service abroad, recruited in the UK, passes it on automatically
- If you’re already British by descent, you can’t change that by naturalising or registering
Planning a family abroad, or a move to the UK? The choice between 3(2) and 3(5) affects your grandchildren too.
Documents
Citizenship by descent documents: the easy part
Most families can list the documents. The hard part is proving your parent’s status on the exact day you were born, sometimes decades ago and in another country.
What everyone needs
- Your passport, or your child’s
- Your full birth certificate, showing your parents’ names
- Proof of your parent’s British status, such as their birth or naturalisation certificate
- Your parents’ marriage certificate, if your claim is through your father
- Proof of time in the UK, for a residence-based registration
- Both parents’ consent, for a child’s registration
Plus certified translations of anything not in English or Welsh. Some forms also need two referees.
Costs & timeline
Citizenship by descent cost and processing time
If you’re already British, you only pay for a passport: £116.50 online from abroad for an adult, or £102 in the UK. Registering a child costs £1,000, and most registration decisions are made within 6 months.
| Child registration (Form MN1)sections 3(2) and 3(5); £130 more if the child turns 18 during the application | £1,000 |
| First British passport, child under 16online, applying from abroad | £75.50 |
| Registering a child, then their first passportbefore translations and any delivery charges | £1,075.50 |
| Child registration (Form MN1)sections 3(2) and 3(5); £130 more if the child turns 18 during the application | £1,000 |
| First British passport, child under 16online, applying in the UK | £66.50 |
| Registering a child, then their first passportbefore translations and any delivery charges | £1,066.50 |
Home Office fees from the fees table in force from 8 October 2026 and GOV.UK; passport fees from GOV.UK and HM Passport Office’s published fees, checked 11 October 2026. Already British? You pay only for a passport (adult: £102 online in the UK, £116.50 online from abroad) or a status letter (£489). Forms UKM and UKF have no application fee, only the £130 ceremony fee if you’re 18 or over. A fee waiver may be possible for a child who can’t afford the registration fee. Our consultation fees →
Check your family history
Before you applyYour parent’s status on the day you were born, your date of birth, and whether you’re already British.
Already British?
Apply for a passportUse your parent’s documents. In the UK it usually takes 3 weeks; from abroad, timings differ. You may be asked to attend an interview.
Register, if you need to
Online form, then biometricsForm MN1 for a child, or Form UKM or UKF for the historical routes. You then give your fingerprints and photo at an appointment.
Decision
Usually within 6 monthsSome take longer, and you’ll be told if so. A priority service, usually deciding within 30 working days, may be available.
Ceremony and passport
Ceremony if 18 or overAdults attend a citizenship ceremony within 90 days of the invitation. Then apply for a passport: you can’t travel on the certificate.
Avoid a refusal
Common citizenship by descent refusal reasons
Most problems come from dates and paperwork, not from the law itself. These are the issues we check first.
A parent who is British by descent
If your parent was themselves born abroad to a British parent, they’re usually British by descent and can’t pass it on automatically.
We check: how each generation became British, one step at a time.
The wrong rules for the date
Different rules apply to births before 1983, between 1983 and June 2006, and from July 2006.
We check: which rules applied on the day you were born.
Too many days abroad
Sections 3(2) and 3(5) allow no more than 270 days away in the 3 years. Under 3(5), the Home Office can’t overlook extra days.
We check: travel dates for the child and each parent before you apply.
Turning 18
Registration under 3(2) or 3(5) must be applied for before the child turns 18, so the 3 years for 3(5) must start by age 15.
We check: deadlines, and whether to apply now under 3(2) or wait for 3(5).
Link to the British parent not proved
A claim through a father may need his marriage certificate, or proof of paternity if your parents weren’t married.
We check: which documents prove the link to your British parent.
Good character
Applicants aged 10 or over must be of good character for most registration routes, including sections 3(2) and 3(5).
We check: anything in your history that needs explaining, in confidence.
How we help
Our citizenship by descent services
Choose a one-off consultation, or let us handle your application from start to finish for a fixed fee.
Status check
We go through your family’s dates and documents and tell you whether you’re already British, or which route fits.
Evidence review
We check the documents that prove your parent’s status, and the residence and consent a child’s registration needs.
Application
We prepare your child’s registration or your status letter request, with a cover letter that shows how you qualify.
The next generation
If you’re British by descent, we explain how your own children born abroad could register.
Our scope: we’re regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority at Level 1. There’s no right of appeal against a nationality decision. If you’re refused, we explain your options, and where your case needs a higher level of advice, such as a complex historical claim, we refer you to a solicitor or higher-level adviser.
FAQs
Citizenship by descent questions, answered
Do I need to apply for citizenship if my parent was British?
Not if you’re British automatically. You apply for a British passport, or a letter confirming your status, using your parent’s documents. You only register if you weren’t British at birth.
Can I pass British citizenship to my children born abroad?
If you’re British by descent, not automatically. Your child may be able to register while under 18: under section 3(2) if you lived in the UK for 3 years before the birth (and your own parent was British otherwise than by descent), or under section 3(5) if your family lives in the UK for the 3 years before applying. A child registered under 3(5) can pass citizenship on to the next generation.
My mother is British but I was born abroad before 1983. Am I British?
Not automatically, because before 1983 citizenship by descent passed only through fathers. You may be able to register under section 4C on Form UKM if you’d have become a citizen had women been able to pass it on. There’s no application fee, only the £130 ceremony fee, and you’d be British by descent.
My British father wasn’t married to my mother. Can I still be British?
If you were born before 1 July 2006, you didn’t usually get citizenship from an unmarried father. You can register on Form UKF if you’d have been British had your parents been married, with proof of paternity. From 1 July 2006, an unmarried British father can pass it on, unless your mother was married to someone else.
Can I live and work in the UK if I’m British by descent?
Yes. As a British citizen you can live and work in the UK free of immigration controls, like any other British citizen. The difference is only in passing citizenship on to children born abroad.
Can I travel to the UK on my other passport?
Not on its own. A dual citizen with British citizenship can’t get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), so you travel on a valid British passport, or on your other passport with a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode. Check your status before you book.
How long does it take?
If you’re already British, a passport applied for in the UK usually takes 3 weeks from when your documents arrive; from abroad, timings differ. Registration decisions usually take up to 6 months, and a priority service may be available.
Should I register, or naturalise instead?
If you register on Form UKM or UKF, you become British by descent. If you live in the UK, the Home Office guidance suggests considering naturalisation instead, which makes you British otherwise than by descent so you can pass it on. It costs more and has residence, English and Life in the UK requirements, so ask us to compare.
Related routes
Other ways to British citizenship
Citizenship by birth
Born in the UK to a British or settled parent.
Read more →Register a child
Children who aren’t British automatically.
Read more →Naturalisation
After 5 years in the UK and indefinite leave.
Read more →Citizenship by marriage
Married to a British citizen, with indefinite leave.
Read more →Ready when you are
Heritage, sorted.
Book a consultation, or start with the free quick check on this page.