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British Nationality Act 1981
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- UK Public General Acts
- 1981 c. 61
- Part V
- Section 42
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Changes over time for: Section 42
Alternative versions:
- 01/02/1991- Amendment
- 21/07/1993- Amendment
- 26/02/2002- Amendment
- 01/01/2004- Amendment
- 28/06/2022
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British Nationality Act 1981, Section 42 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 17 November 2024. 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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[F142 Registration and naturalisation: citizenship ceremony, oath and pledgeU.K.
(1)A person of full age shall not be registered under this Act as a British citizen unless he has made the relevant citizenship oath and pledge specified in Schedule 5 at a citizenship ceremony.
(2)A certificate of naturalisation as a British citizen shall not be granted under this Act to a person of full age unless he has made the relevant citizenship oath and pledge specified in Schedule 5 at a citizenship ceremony.
(3)A person of full age shall not be registered under this Act as a British overseas territories citizen unless he has made the relevant citizenship oath and pledge specified in Schedule 5.
(4)A certificate of naturalisation as a British overseas territories citizen shall not be granted under this Act to a person of full age unless he has made the relevant citizenship oath and pledge specified in Schedule 5.
(5)A person of full age shall not be registered under this Act as a British Overseas citizen or a British subject unless he has made the relevant citizenship oath specified in Schedule 5.
(6)Where the Secretary of State thinks it appropriate because of the special circumstances of a case he may—
(a)disapply any of subsections (1) to (5), or
(b)modify the effect of any of those subsections.
(7)Sections 5 and 6 of the Oaths Act 1978 (c. 19) (affirmation) apply to a citizenship oath; and a reference in this Act to a citizenship oath includes a reference to a citizenship affirmation.]
Textual Amendments
F1Ss. 42-42B substituted (1.1.2004) for s. 42 by Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (c. 41), ss. 3, 162, Sch. 1 para. 1 (with s. 159); S.I. 2003/3156, art. 2(a) (with arts. 3, 4)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Ss. 41, 42, 44-48 extended by British Nationality (Falkland Islands) Act 1983 (c.6, SIF 87), s. 4(2)(a)-(f)
C2Ss. 40-42, 44-48, 50 extended by British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1991 (c.34, SIF 87), s.2(3)
C3S. 42 amended (18.7.1996) by 1996 c. 41, s. 2(2)
C4S. 42 modified (19.3.1997) by 1997 c. 20, s. 2(3)
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