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British Nationality Act 1981 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 18 August 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date.
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 affected provisions when you open the content using the Table of Contents below.
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
Acquisition after commencement
4.Acquisition by registration: British overseas territories citizens etc.
4A.Acquisition by registration: further provision for British overseas territories citizens
4B. Acquisition by registration: certain persons without other citizenship
4C.Acquisition by registration: certain persons born before 1983
4D.Acquisition by registration: children of members of the armed forces
4F.Person unable to be registered under other provisions of this Act
4G.Person unable to become citizen automatically after commencement
4H.Citizen of UK and colonies unable to become citizen at commencement
4K.Acquisition by registration: certain British overseas territories citizens
5.Acquisition by registration: British overseas territories citizens having connection with Gibraltar
Part II British overseas territories citizenship
Acquisition after commencement
17A.Registration: remedying inability of mothers to transmit citizenship
17C.Person unable to be registered under other provisions of this Act
17D.Person unable to become citizen automatically after commencement
17E.Citizen of UK and Colonies unable to become citizen at commencement
17H.Acquisition by registration: descendants of those born in British Indian Ocean Territory
30. Continuance as British subjects of existing British subjects of certain descriptions.
31. Continuance as British subjects of certain former citizens of Eire.
33. Registration of certain alien women entitled to registration as British subjects immediately before commencement.
35. Circumstances in which British subjects are to lose that status.
Part V Miscellaneous and Supplementary
42. Registration and naturalisation: citizenship ceremony, oath and pledge
43. Exercise of functions of Secretary of State by Governors and others.
49.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
50A.Meaning of references to being in breach of immigration laws
50B.Immigration restrictions to be disregarded in certain cases
51. Meaning of certain expressions relating to nationality in other Acts and instruments.
52. Consequential amendments, transitional provisions, repeals and savings.
SCHEDULES
Requirements for Naturalisation
The qualifying period for naturalisation as a British citizen under section 6
Naturalisation as a British overseas territories citizen under section 18(1)
Naturalisation as a British overseas territories citizen under section 18(2)
Periods to be treated as periods of absence from U.K. or a British overseas territory
Provisions for Reducing Statelessness
Persons born in a British overseas territory after commencement
Persons aged 18 to 22 born in the United Kingdom or a British overseas territory after commencement
Minors aged 5 to 17 born in the United Kingdom or a British overseas territory after commencement
Persons born outside the United Kingdom and the British overseas territories after commencement
Amendments of Immigration Act 1971
1.In this Schedule “the 1971 Act” means the Immigration Act...
2.For “patrial”— (a) where it occurs in the provisions of...
3.(1) For “certificate of patriality”, wherever (except in section 33(1))...
4.In section 3(7) of the 1971 Act (powers available where...
6.In section 25(5) of the 1971 Act (extension of provisions...
Deprivation of Citizenship without notice: judicial oversight
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