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British Nationality Act 1981
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Changes to legislation:
British Nationality Act 1981, Section 4K is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 06 March 2025. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
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Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 4K:
- s. 4AA inserted by 2024 c. 19 s. 1(2)
- s. 6(3) (4) inserted by 2009 c. 11 s. 40(2) (Amending provision prospectively repealed by 2022 c. 36, s. 9(3)(a))
- s. 41(1)(bc)-(be) inserted by 2009 c. 11 s. 41(2) (Amending provision prospectively repealed by 2022 c. 36, s. 9(3)(a))
- s. 41(1B) (1C) inserted by 2009 c. 11 s. 41(3) (Amending provision prospectively repealed by 2022 c. 36, s. 9(3)(a))
- s. 50A(1)(aa) inserted by 2024 c. 19 s. 1(4)(a)
- Sch. 1 para. 2(1)(ba)(bb) inserted by 2009 c. 11 s. 39(5) (Amending provision prospectively repealed by 2022 c. 36, s. 9(3)(a))
- Sch. 1 para. 2(1)(ca) inserted by 2009 c. 11 s. 39(7) (Amending provision prospectively repealed by 2022 c. 36, s. 9(3)(a))
- Sch. 1 para. 2(5) inserted by 2009 c. 11 s. 39(10) (Amending provision prospectively repealed by 2022 c. 36, s. 9(3)(a))
- Sch. 1 para. 6(2)-(4) inserted by 2022 c. 36 Sch. 1 para. 3(4)(d)
- Sch. 1 para. 2(1)(c) repealed by 2009 c. 11 s. 39(6) Sch. Pt. 2 (Amending provision prospectively repealed by 2022 c. 36, s. 9(3)(a))
- Sch. 1 para. 2(1)(a) substituted by 2009 c. 11 s. 39(4) (Amending provision prospectively repealed by 2022 c. 36, s. 9(3)(a))
- Sch. 1 para. 2(2)-(4) substituted for Sch. 1 para. 2(2)(3) by 2009 c. 11 s. 39(9) (Amending provision prospectively repealed by 2022 c. 36, s. 9(3)(a))
- Sch. 1 para. 2(1)(d) word substituted by 2009 c. 11 s. 39(8)(a) (Amending provision prospectively repealed by 2022 c. 36, s. 9(3)(a))
- Sch. 1 para. 2(1)(d) words substituted by 2009 c. 11 s. 39(8)(b) (Amending provision prospectively repealed by 2022 c. 36, s. 9(3)(a))
Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
- s. 4AA inserted by 2024 c. 19 s. 1(2)
- s. 6(3) (4) inserted by 2009 c. 11 s. 40(2) (Amending provision prospectively repealed by 2022 c. 36, s. 9(3)(a))
- s. 41(1)(bc)-(be) inserted by 2009 c. 11 s. 41(2) (Amending provision prospectively repealed by 2022 c. 36, s. 9(3)(a))
- s. 41(1B) (1C) inserted by 2009 c. 11 s. 41(3) (Amending provision prospectively repealed by 2022 c. 36, s. 9(3)(a))
- s. 50A(1)(aa) inserted by 2024 c. 19 s. 1(4)(a)
- Sch. 1 para. 2(1)(ba)(bb) inserted by 2009 c. 11 s. 39(5) (Amending provision prospectively repealed by 2022 c. 36, s. 9(3)(a))
- Sch. 1 para. 2(1)(ca) inserted by 2009 c. 11 s. 39(7) (Amending provision prospectively repealed by 2022 c. 36, s. 9(3)(a))
- Sch. 1 para. 2(5) inserted by 2009 c. 11 s. 39(10) (Amending provision prospectively repealed by 2022 c. 36, s. 9(3)(a))
- Sch. 1 para. 6(2)-(4) inserted by 2022 c. 36 Sch. 1 para. 3(4)(d)
- Sch. 1 para. 2(1)(c) repealed by 2009 c. 11 s. 39(6) Sch. Pt. 2 (Amending provision prospectively repealed by 2022 c. 36, s. 9(3)(a))
- Sch. 1 para. 2(1)(a) substituted by 2009 c. 11 s. 39(4) (Amending provision prospectively repealed by 2022 c. 36, s. 9(3)(a))
- Sch. 1 para. 2(2)-(4) substituted for Sch. 1 para. 2(2)(3) by 2009 c. 11 s. 39(9) (Amending provision prospectively repealed by 2022 c. 36, s. 9(3)(a))
- Sch. 1 para. 2(1)(d) word substituted by 2009 c. 11 s. 39(8)(a) (Amending provision prospectively repealed by 2022 c. 36, s. 9(3)(a))
- Sch. 1 para. 2(1)(d) words substituted by 2009 c. 11 s. 39(8)(b) (Amending provision prospectively repealed by 2022 c. 36, s. 9(3)(a))
[F14KAcquisition by registration: certain British overseas territories citizensU.K.
(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.]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 4K inserted (28.6.2022 for specified purposes, 23.11.2022 in so far as not already in force) by Nationality and Borders Act 2022 (c. 36), ss. 4(2), 87(1); S.I. 2022/590, regs. 1(2), 2, Sch. 1 para. 3; S.I. 2022/1056, reg. 2(b)
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