British Nationality Act 1981

Part IV British Subjects

30 Continuance as British subjects of existing British subjects of certain descriptions.

A person who immediately before commencement was—

(a) a British subject without citizenship by virtue of section 13 or 16 of the 1948 Act; or

(b) a British subject by virtue of section 1 of the M1 British Nationality Act 1965 (registration of alien women who have been married to British subjects of certain descriptions),

shall as from commencement be a British subject by virtue of this section.

Marginal Citations

M1 1965 c. 34.

31 Continuance as British subjects of certain former citizens of Eire. U.K.

(1) A person is within this subsection if immediately before 1st January 1949 he was both a citizen of Eire and a British subject.

(2) A person within subsection (1) who immediately before commencement was a British subject by virtue of section 2 of the 1948 Act (continuance of certain citizens of Eire as British subjects) shall as from commencement be a British subject by virtue of this subsection.

(3) If at any time after commencement a citizen of the Republic of Ireland who is within subsection (1) but is not a British subject by virtue of subsection (2) gives notice in writing to the Secretary of State claiming to remain a British subject on either or both of the following grounds, namely—

(a) that he is or has been in Crown Service under the government of the United Kingdom; and

(b) that he has associations by way of descent, residence or otherwise with the United Kingdom or with any dependent territory,

he shall as from that time be a British subject by virtue of this subsection.

(4) A person who is a British subject by virtue of subsection (2) or (3) shall be deemed to have remained a British subject from 1st January 1949 to the time when (whether already a British subject by virtue of the said section 2 or not) he became a British subject by virtue of that subsection.

32 Registration of minors.

If while a person is a minor an application is made for his registration as a British subject, the Secretary of State may, if he thinks fit, cause him to be registered as a British subject.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 32 restricted (4.12.2006) by Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 (c. 13), ss. 58, 62; S.I. 2006/2838, art. 4(1) (subject to art. 4(2))

33 Registration of certain alien women entitled to registration as British subjects immediately before commencement. U.K.

A woman who immediately before commencement was the wife of a British subject shall be entitled, on an application for her registration as a British subject made within five years after commencement, to be registered as a British subject if—

(a) immediately before commencement she would (if she had applied for it) have been entitled under section 1 of the M2 British Nationality Act 1965 to be registered as a British subject by virtue of her marriage to the man who was then her husband; and

(b) on the date of the application under this section that man is a British subject; and

(c) she remained married to him throughout the period from commencement to that date.

Marginal Citations

M2 1965 c. 34.

34 Renunciation.

The provisions of section 12 shall apply in relation to British subjects and the status of a British subject as they apply in relation to British citizens and British citizenship.

35 Circumstances in which British subjects are to lose that status.

A person who under this Act is a British subject otherwise than by virtue of section 31 shall cease to be such a subject if, in whatever circumstances and whether under this Act or otherwise, he acquires any other citizenship or nationality whatever.