Nationality and Borders Act 2022

4 Sections 1 to 3: related British citizenship

(1) Part 1 of the British Nationality Act 1981 (British citizenship) is amended as follows.

(2) After section 4J, insert—

“4K Acquisition by registration: certain British overseas territories citizens

(1) A person is entitled to be registered as a British citizen on an application made under this section if—

(a) they are entitled to be registered as a British overseas territories citizen under section 17A, 17C, 17D, 17E, 17F or 17H, or

(b) they would be entitled to be registered as a British overseas territories citizen under any of those sections but for the fact that they have already become a British overseas territories citizen under a different provision.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply in the case of a person—

(a) who is or would be entitled to be registered as a British overseas territories citizen by virtue only of a connection with the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, or

(b) who has previously been a British citizen.

(3) The Secretary of State may not register a person as a British citizen on an application under subsection (1)(a) unless the person is also registered as a British overseas territories citizen.”

(3) In section 14 (meaning of British citizen “by descent”), in subsection (1), after paragraph (da) insert—

“(db) the person is a British citizen by virtue of registration under section 4K and is—

(i) a British overseas territories citizen by virtue of registration under section 17A, or

(ii) a British overseas territories citizen by descent by virtue of section 17C(3), 17D(2), 17E(2) or 17F(5); or”.

(4) In Part 5 of that Act (miscellaneous and supplementary), in section 41A (registration: requirement to be of good character), after subsection (2A) (inserted by section 2) insert—

“(2B) Subsection (2C) applies to an application for registration of an adult or young person as a British citizen under section 4K who is, or would have been, entitled to be registered as a British overseas territories citizen under section 17C, so far as the relevant registration provision (as defined in section 17C(2)) is section 15(3), 17(2) or 17(5).

(2C) The application must not be granted unless the Secretary of State is satisfied that the adult or young person is of good character.”