PART 1Nationality
British overseas territories citizenship
I1I23Provision for Chagos Islanders to acquire British Nationality
In Part 2 of the British Nationality Act 1981 (British overseas territories citizenship), after section 17G (as inserted by section 2), insert—
17HAcquisition by registration: descendants of those born in British Indian Ocean Territory
1
A person is entitled to be registered as a British overseas territories citizen on an application made under this section if—
a
they are a direct descendant of a person (“P”) who was a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies by virtue of P’s birth in the British Indian Ocean Territory or, prior to 8 November 1965, in those islands designated as the British Indian Ocean Territory on that date, and
b
they have never been a British overseas territories citizen or a British Dependent Territories citizen.
2
An application under this section must be made—
a
in the case of a person aged 18 years or over on the commencement date, before the end of the period of five years beginning with the commencement date;
b
in the case of a person aged under 18 on the commencement date, or a person who is born before the end of the period of five years beginning with the commencement date, before they reach the age of 23 years.
3
In subsection (2), “the commencement date” means the date on which this section comes into force.