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British Nationality Act 1981
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- 1981 c. 61
- Part V
- Section 43
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Changes to legislation:
British Nationality Act 1981, Section 43 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 27 December 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.
Changes to Legislation
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 43:
- 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- s. 6(3) (4) inserted by 2009 c. 11 s. 40(2) (Amending provision prospectively repealed by 2022 c. 36, s. 9(3)(a))
- s. 41(1)(bc)-(be) inserted by 2009 c. 11 s. 41(2) (Amending provision prospectively repealed by 2022 c. 36, s. 9(3)(a))
- s. 41(1B) (1C) inserted by 2009 c. 11 s. 41(3) (Amending provision prospectively repealed by 2022 c. 36, s. 9(3)(a))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- Sch. 1 para. 2(1)(ba)(bb) inserted by 2009 c. 11 s. 39(5) (Amending provision prospectively repealed by 2022 c. 36, s. 9(3)(a))
- Sch. 1 para. 2(1)(ca) inserted by 2009 c. 11 s. 39(7) (Amending provision prospectively repealed by 2022 c. 36, s. 9(3)(a))
- Sch. 1 para. 2(5) inserted by 2009 c. 11 s. 39(10) (Amending provision prospectively repealed by 2022 c. 36, s. 9(3)(a))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- Sch. 1 para. 2(1)(c) repealed by 2009 c. 11 s. 39(6) Sch. Pt. 2 (Amending provision prospectively repealed by 2022 c. 36, s. 9(3)(a))
- Sch. 1 para. 2(1)(a) substituted by 2009 c. 11 s. 39(4) (Amending provision prospectively repealed by 2022 c. 36, s. 9(3)(a))
- Sch. 1 para. 2(2)-(4) substituted for Sch. 1 para. 2(2)(3) by 2009 c. 11 s. 39(9) (Amending provision prospectively repealed by 2022 c. 36, s. 9(3)(a))
- Sch. 1 para. 2(1)(d) word substituted by 2009 c. 11 s. 39(8)(a) (Amending provision prospectively repealed by 2022 c. 36, s. 9(3)(a))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))
43 Exercise of functions of Secretary of State by Governors and others.U.K.
(1)Subject to subsection (3), the Secretary of State may, in the case of any of his functions under this Act with respect to any of the matters mentioned in subsection (2), make arrangements for that function to be exercised—
(a)in any of the Islands, by the Lieutenant-Governor in cases concerning British citizens or British citizenship;
(b)in any [F1British overseas territory]F2. . . , by the Governor in cases concerning [F3British overseas territories citizens] or [F4British overseas territories citizenship][F5and in cases concerning British Nationals (Overseas) or the status of a British National (Overseas)]
(2)The said matters are—
(a)registration and naturalisation; and
(b)renunciation, resumption and deprivation of British citizenship or [F4British overseas territories citizenship].
[F6(c)renunciation and deprivation of the status of a British National (Overseas).]
(3)Nothing in this section applies in the case of any power to make regulations or rules conferred on the Secretary of State by this Act.
(4)Arrangements under subsection (1) may provide for any such function as is there mentioned to be exercisable only with the approval of the Secretary of State.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 43(1)(b) substituted (26.2.2002) by British Overseas Territories Act 2002 (c. 8), s. 1(1)(b)
F2Words in s. 43(1)(b) repealed (26.2.2002) by British Overseas Territories Act 2002 (c. 8), s. 7, Sch. 2
F3Words in s. 43(1)(b) substituted (26.2.2002) by British Overseas Territories Act 2002 (c. 8), s. 2(2)(b)
F4Words in s. 43 substituted (26.2.2002) by British Overseas Territories Act 2002 (c. 8), s. 2(2)(a)
F5By S.I. 1986/948, art. 7(6)(b) it is provided that s. 43 shall have effect as if in subsection (1)(b) at the end there were inserted the words “and in cases concerning British Nationals (Overseas) or the status of a British National (Overseas)”
F6By S.I. 1986/948, art. 7(6)(c) it is provided that s. 43 shall have effect as if in sub-section (2) at the end there were inserted paragraph (c)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 43 amended by S.I. 1986/948, art. 7(6)(a)
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