S. 4B inserted (30.4.2003) by Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (c. 41), ss. 12(1), 162 (with s. 159); S.I. 2003/754, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 (with arts. 3, 4, Sch. 2 (as amended by S.I. 2003/1040, art. 2 and S.I. 2003/1339, art. 4))

Word in s. 4B(1) repealed (13.1.2010) by Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 (c. 11), ss. 44(2)(a), 56, 58, Sch. Pt. 2; S.I. 2009/2731, art. 4(c)(i)(j)

S. 4B(1)(d) and preceding word inserted (13.1.2010) by Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 (c. 11), ss. 44(2)(b), 56, 58; S.I. 2009/2731, art. 4(c)

Words in s. 4B(2)(c) substituted (13.1.2010) by Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 (c. 11), ss. 44(3), 56, 58; S.I. 2009/2731, art. 4(c)

S. 4B(3) inserted (13.1.2010) by Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 (c. 11), ss. 44(4), 58; S.I. 2009/2731, art. 4(c)

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/61/section/4BBritish Nationality Act 1981An 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.1982-01-01texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2024-05-17Expert Participation2023-12-15Part I British Citizenship Acquisition after commencement
4B Acquisition by registration: certain persons without other citizenship(1)

This section applies to a person who has the status of—

(a)

British Overseas citizen,

(b)

British subject under this Act, . . .

(c)

British protected person., or

(d)

British National (Overseas)

(2)

A person to whom this section applies shall be entitled to be registered as a British citizen if—

(a)

he applies for registration under this section,

(b)

the Secretary of State is satisfied that the person does not have, apart from the status mentioned in subsection (1), any citizenship or nationality, and

(c)

the Secretary of State is satisfied that the person has not after the relevant day renounced, voluntarily relinquished or lost through action or inaction any citizenship or nationality

(3)

For the purposes of subsection (2)(c), the “ relevant day ” means—

(a)

in the case of a person to whom this section applies by virtue of subsection (1)(d) only, 19th March 2009, and

(b)

in any other case, 4th July 2002.

This XML file does not appear to have any style information associated with it. The document tree is shown below.
<akomaNtoso xmlns:uk="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/namespaces/UK-AKN" xmlns:ukl="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/namespaces/legislation" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" xsi:schemaLocation="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0 http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/akn-core/v1.0/cos01/part2-specs/schemas/akomantoso30.xsd">
<act name="ukpga">
<meta>
<identification source="#">
<FRBRWork>
<FRBRthis value="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/1981/61"/>
<FRBRuri value="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/1981/61"/>
<FRBRdate date="1981-10-30" name="enacted"/>
<FRBRauthor href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/legislature/UnitedKingdomParliament"/>
<FRBRcountry value="GB-UKM"/>
<FRBRnumber value="61"/>
<FRBRname value="1981 c. 61"/>
<FRBRprescriptive value="true"/>
</FRBRWork>
<FRBRExpression>
<FRBRthis value="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/61/2023-12-15"/>
<FRBRuri value="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/61/2023-12-15"/>
<FRBRdate date="2023-12-15" name="validFrom"/>
<FRBRauthor href="#"/>
<FRBRlanguage language="eng"/>
</FRBRExpression>
<FRBRManifestation>
<FRBRthis value="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/61/2023-12-15/data.akn"/>
<FRBRuri value="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/61/2023-12-15/data.akn"/>
<FRBRdate date="2024-12-13Z" name="transform"/>
<FRBRauthor href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk"/>
<FRBRformat value="application/akn+xml"/>
</FRBRManifestation>
</identification>
<lifecycle source="#">
<eventRef refersTo="#enactment" date="1981-10-30" eId="date-enacted" source="#"/>
<eventRef date="2010-01-13" eId="date-2010-01-13" source="#"/>
<eventRef date="2023-07-20" eId="date-2023-07-20" source="#"/>
<eventRef date="2023-12-15" eId="date-2023-12-15" source="#"/>
</lifecycle>
<analysis source="#">
<restrictions source="#">
<restriction refersTo="#extent-e+w+s+ni" type="jurisdiction"/>
<restriction href="#part-I-crossheading-acquisition-after-commencement" refersTo="#extent-e+w+s+ni" type="jurisdiction"/>
<restriction href="#section-4B" refersTo="#extent-e+w+s+ni" type="jurisdiction"/>
<restriction refersTo="#period-from-2023-12-15" type="jurisdiction"/>
<restriction href="#body" refersTo="#period-from-2023-07-20" type="jurisdiction"/>
<restriction href="#part-I" refersTo="#period-from-2023-07-20" type="jurisdiction"/>
<restriction href="#part-I-crossheading-acquisition-after-commencement" refersTo="#period-from-2023-07-20" type="jurisdiction"/>
<restriction href="#section-4B" refersTo="#period-from-2010-01-13" type="jurisdiction"/>
</restrictions>
<otherAnalysis source="">
<uk:commentary href="#section-4B" refersTo="#c19256581"/>
<uk:commentary href="#section-4B" refersTo="#c20369681"/>
<uk:commentary href="#section-4B" refersTo="#c20369791"/>
<uk:commentary href="#section-4B" refersTo="#c20369811"/>
<uk:commentary href="#section-4B" refersTo="#c20369831"/>
</otherAnalysis>
</analysis>
<temporalData source="#">
<temporalGroup eId="period-from-2010-01-13">
<timeInterval start="#date-2010-01-13" refersTo="#"/>
</temporalGroup>
<temporalGroup eId="period-from-2023-07-20">
<timeInterval start="#date-2023-07-20" refersTo="#"/>
</temporalGroup>
<temporalGroup eId="period-from-2023-12-15">
<timeInterval start="#date-2023-12-15" refersTo="#"/>
</temporalGroup>
</temporalData>
<references source="#">
<TLCEvent eId="enactment" href="" showAs="EnactmentDate"/>
<TLCLocation eId="extent-e+w+s+ni" href="" showAs="E+W+S+N.I."/>
</references>
<notes source="#">
<note ukl:Name="Commentary" ukl:Type="F" class="commentary F" eId="c19256581" marker="F1">
<p>
S. 4B inserted (30.4.2003) by
<ref eId="c00405" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2002/41">Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (c. 41)</ref>
,
<ref eId="c00406" class="subref operative" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2002/41/section/12/1">ss. 12(1)</ref>
,
<ref eId="c00407" class="subref" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2002/41/section/162">162</ref>
(with
<ref eId="c00408" class="subref" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2002/41/section/159">s. 159</ref>
);
<ref eId="c00409" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2003/754">S.I. 2003/754</ref>
,
<ref eId="c00410" class="subref operative" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2003/754/article/2/1">art. 2(1)</ref>
,
<ref eId="c00411" class="subref" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2003/754/schedule/1">Sch. 1</ref>
(with
<ref eId="c00412" class="subref" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2003/754/article/3">arts. 3</ref>
,
<ref eId="c00413" class="subref" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2003/754/article/4">4</ref>
,
<ref eId="c00414" class="subref" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2003/754/schedule/2">Sch. 2</ref>
(as amended by
<ref eId="c00415" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2003/1040">S.I. 2003/1040</ref>
,
<ref eId="c00416" class="subref" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2003/1040/article/2">art. 2</ref>
and
<ref eId="c00417" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2003/1339">S.I. 2003/1339</ref>
,
<ref eId="c00418" class="subref" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2003/1339/article/4">art. 4</ref>
))
</p>
</note>
<note ukl:Name="Commentary" ukl:Type="F" class="commentary F" eId="c20369681" marker="F2">
<p>
Word in s. 4B(1) repealed (13.1.2010) by
<ref eId="c00319" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2009/11">Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 (c. 11)</ref>
,
<ref eId="c00320" class="subref" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2009/11/section/44/2/a">ss. 44(2)(a)</ref>
,
<ref eId="c00321" class="subref" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2009/11/section/56">56</ref>
,
<ref eId="c00322" class="subref" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2009/11/section/58">58</ref>
,
<ref eId="c00323" class="subref operative" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2009/11/schedule/part/2">Sch. Pt. 2</ref>
;
<ref eId="c00324" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2009/2731">S.I. 2009/2731</ref>
,
<ref eId="c00325" class="subref operative" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2009/2731/article/4/c/i/j">art. 4(c)(i)(j)</ref>
</p>
</note>
<note ukl:Name="Commentary" ukl:Type="F" class="commentary F" eId="c20369791" marker="F3">
<p>
S. 4B(1)(d) and preceding word inserted (13.1.2010) by
<ref eId="c00327" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2009/11">Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 (c. 11)</ref>
,
<ref eId="c00328" class="subref operative" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2009/11/section/44/2/b">ss. 44(2)(b)</ref>
,
<ref eId="c00329" class="subref" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2009/11/section/56">56</ref>
,
<ref eId="c00330" class="subref" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2009/11/section/58">58</ref>
;
<ref eId="c00331" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2009/2731">S.I. 2009/2731</ref>
,
<ref eId="c00332" class="subref operative" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2009/2731/article/4/c">art. 4(c)</ref>
</p>
</note>
<note ukl:Name="Commentary" ukl:Type="F" class="commentary F" eId="c20369811" marker="F4">
<p>
Words in s. 4B(2)(c) substituted (13.1.2010) by
<ref eId="c00334" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2009/11">Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 (c. 11)</ref>
,
<ref eId="c00335" class="subref operative" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2009/11/section/44/3">ss. 44(3)</ref>
,
<ref eId="c00336" class="subref" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2009/11/section/56">56</ref>
,
<ref eId="c00337" class="subref" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2009/11/section/58">58</ref>
;
<ref eId="c00338" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2009/2731">S.I. 2009/2731</ref>
,
<ref eId="c00339" class="subref operative" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2009/2731/article/4/c">art. 4(c)</ref>
</p>
</note>
<note ukl:Name="Commentary" ukl:Type="F" class="commentary F" eId="c20369831" marker="F5">
<p>
S. 4B(3) inserted (13.1.2010) by
<ref eId="c00341" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2009/11">Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 (c. 11)</ref>
,
<ref eId="c00342" class="subref operative" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2009/11/section/44/4">ss. 44(4)</ref>
,
<ref eId="c00343" class="subref" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2009/11/section/58">58</ref>
;
<ref eId="c00344" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2009/2731">S.I. 2009/2731</ref>
,
<ref eId="c00345" class="subref operative" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2009/2731/article/4/c">art. 4(c)</ref>
</p>
</note>
</notes>
<proprietary xmlns:ukm="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/namespaces/metadata" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:dct="http://purl.org/dc/terms/" source="#">
<dc:identifier>http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/61/section/4B</dc:identifier>
<dc:title>British Nationality Act 1981</dc:title>
<dc:description>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.</dc:description>
<dc:date>1982-01-01</dc:date>
<dc:type>text</dc:type>
<dc:format>text/xml</dc:format>
<dc:language>en</dc:language>
<dc:publisher>Statute Law Database</dc:publisher>
<dc:modified>2024-05-17</dc:modified>
<dc:contributor>Expert Participation</dc:contributor>
<dct:valid>2023-12-15</dct:valid>
<ukm:PrimaryMetadata>
<ukm:DocumentClassification>
<ukm:DocumentCategory Value="primary"/>
<ukm:DocumentMainType Value="UnitedKingdomPublicGeneralAct"/>
<ukm:DocumentStatus Value="revised"/>
</ukm:DocumentClassification>
<ukm:Year Value="1981"/>
<ukm:Number Value="61"/>
<ukm:EnactmentDate Date="1981-10-30"/>
</ukm:PrimaryMetadata>
<ukm:Alternatives>
<ukm:Alternative Date="2009-07-06" URI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/61/pdfs/ukpga_19810061_en.pdf" Title="Print Version"/>
</ukm:Alternatives>
<ukm:Statistics>
<ukm:TotalParagraphs Value="240"/>
<ukm:BodyParagraphs Value="84"/>
<ukm:ScheduleParagraphs Value="156"/>
<ukm:AttachmentParagraphs Value="0"/>
<ukm:TotalImages Value="0"/>
</ukm:Statistics>
</proprietary>
</meta>
<body eId="body">
<part eId="part-I">
<num>Part I</num>
<heading> British Citizenship</heading>
<hcontainer name="crossheading" ukl:Name="Pblock" eId="part-I-crossheading-acquisition-after-commencement">
<heading> Acquisition after commencement</heading>
<section eId="section-4B" uk:target="true">
<num>
<ins class="first" ukl:ChangeId="d29p686" ukl:CommentaryRef="c19256581">
<noteRef uk:name="commentary" href="#c19256581" class="commentary"/>
4B
</ins>
</num>
<heading>
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p686" ukl:CommentaryRef="c19256581"> Acquisition by registration: certain persons without other citizenship</ins>
</heading>
<subsection eId="section-4B-1">
<num>
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p686" ukl:CommentaryRef="c19256581">(1)</ins>
</num>
<intro>
<p>
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p686" ukl:CommentaryRef="c19256581">This section applies to a person who has the status of—</ins>
</p>
</intro>
<level class="para1" eId="section-4B-1-a">
<num>
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p686" ukl:CommentaryRef="c19256581">(a)</ins>
</num>
<content>
<p>
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p686" ukl:CommentaryRef="c19256581">British Overseas citizen,</ins>
</p>
</content>
</level>
<level class="para1" eId="section-4B-1-b">
<num>
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p686" ukl:CommentaryRef="c19256581">(b)</ins>
</num>
<content>
<p>
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p686" ukl:CommentaryRef="c19256581">British subject under this Act, </ins>
<noteRef href="#c20369681" uk:name="commentary" ukl:Name="CommentaryRef" class="commentary"/>
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p686" ukl:CommentaryRef="c19256581">. . . </ins>
</p>
</content>
</level>
<level class="para1" eId="section-4B-1-c">
<num>
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p686" ukl:CommentaryRef="c19256581">(c)</ins>
</num>
<content>
<p>
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p686" ukl:CommentaryRef="c19256581">British protected person.</ins>
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p686" ukl:CommentaryRef="c19256581">
<ins class="first" ukl:ChangeId="d29p723" ukl:CommentaryRef="c20369791">
<noteRef uk:name="commentary" href="#c20369791" class="commentary"/>
, or
</ins>
</ins>
</p>
</content>
</level>
<level class="para1" eId="section-4B-1-d">
<num>
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p686" ukl:CommentaryRef="c19256581">
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p723" ukl:CommentaryRef="c20369791">(d)</ins>
</ins>
</num>
<content>
<p>
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p686" ukl:CommentaryRef="c19256581">
<ins class="last" ukl:ChangeId="d29p723" ukl:CommentaryRef="c20369791">British National (Overseas)</ins>
</ins>
</p>
</content>
</level>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-4B-2">
<num>
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p686" ukl:CommentaryRef="c19256581">(2)</ins>
</num>
<intro>
<p>
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p686" ukl:CommentaryRef="c19256581">A person to whom this section applies shall be entitled to be registered as a British citizen if—</ins>
</p>
</intro>
<level class="para1" eId="section-4B-2-a">
<num>
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p686" ukl:CommentaryRef="c19256581">(a)</ins>
</num>
<content>
<p>
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p686" ukl:CommentaryRef="c19256581">he applies for registration under this section,</ins>
</p>
</content>
</level>
<level class="para1" eId="section-4B-2-b">
<num>
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p686" ukl:CommentaryRef="c19256581">(b)</ins>
</num>
<content>
<p>
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p686" ukl:CommentaryRef="c19256581">the Secretary of State is satisfied that the person does not have, apart from the status mentioned in subsection (1), any citizenship or nationality, and</ins>
</p>
</content>
</level>
<level class="para1" eId="section-4B-2-c">
<num>
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p686" ukl:CommentaryRef="c19256581">(c)</ins>
</num>
<content>
<p>
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p686" ukl:CommentaryRef="c19256581">the Secretary of State is satisfied that the person has not after </ins>
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p686" ukl:CommentaryRef="c19256581">
<ins class="substitution first last" ukl:ChangeId="d29p756" ukl:CommentaryRef="c20369811">
<noteRef uk:name="commentary" href="#c20369811" class="commentary"/>
the relevant day
</ins>
</ins>
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p686" ukl:CommentaryRef="c19256581"> renounced, voluntarily relinquished or lost through action or inaction any citizenship or nationality</ins>
</p>
</content>
</level>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-4B-3">
<num>
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p686" ukl:CommentaryRef="c19256581">
<ins class="first" ukl:ChangeId="d29p760" ukl:CommentaryRef="c20369831">
<noteRef uk:name="commentary" href="#c20369831" class="commentary"/>
(3)
</ins>
</ins>
</num>
<intro>
<p>
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p686" ukl:CommentaryRef="c19256581">
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p760" ukl:CommentaryRef="c20369831"> For the purposes of subsection (2)(c), the “ </ins>
</ins>
<term refersTo="#term-relevant-day" eId="term-relevant-day">
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p686" ukl:CommentaryRef="c19256581">
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p760" ukl:CommentaryRef="c20369831">relevant day</ins>
</ins>
</term>
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p686" ukl:CommentaryRef="c19256581">
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p760" ukl:CommentaryRef="c20369831"> ” means— </ins>
</ins>
</p>
</intro>
<level class="para1" eId="section-4B-3-a">
<num>
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p686" ukl:CommentaryRef="c19256581">
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p760" ukl:CommentaryRef="c20369831">(a)</ins>
</ins>
</num>
<content>
<p>
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p686" ukl:CommentaryRef="c19256581">
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p760" ukl:CommentaryRef="c20369831">in the case of a person to whom this section applies by virtue of subsection (1)(d) only, 19th March 2009, and</ins>
</ins>
</p>
</content>
</level>
<level class="para1" eId="section-4B-3-b">
<num>
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p686" ukl:CommentaryRef="c19256581">
<ins ukl:ChangeId="d29p760" ukl:CommentaryRef="c20369831">(b)</ins>
</ins>
</num>
<content>
<p>
<ins class="last" ukl:ChangeId="d29p686" ukl:CommentaryRef="c19256581">
<ins class="last" ukl:ChangeId="d29p760" ukl:CommentaryRef="c20369831">in any other case, 4th July 2002.</ins>
</ins>
</p>
</content>
</level>
</subsection>
</section>
</hcontainer>
</part>
</body>
</act>
</akomaNtoso>