There are 3 possible scenarios in which a successful claim for British Citizenship by descent through a grandparent can be made: Once a child turns 18, there are particular circumstances that normally apply for British Citizenship that are no longer available for applications. from a great-grandparent) are very rare, but a recent case involving quadruple decent has just been dealt with by the Home Office. However, a DNA test does not prove anything about how many generations back your ancestry in any given country may have been. Have at least one parent or grandparent who was a Romanian citizen at some point in their lifetime. The information provided on this page can help you find out how to get British Citizenship by descent through your Grandparent. Can I move to Scotland if my grandfather was born there? TV: Amazing. Now, what happened here is between the fathers birth in South Africa in 1980 and his fathers birth in Kenya, Kenya gained independence. A big thank you to Brittany! If I'm approved, I'll have to fly back to apply for my passport in person. This is known as double descent. One of the easiest ways to acquire dual citizenship is by descent. United Kingdom Passport Renewal from abroad: Tips for 2023, your father was born or naturalized in the United Kingdom, your mother was born or naturalized in the United Kingdom, you were born abroad but one or both of your maternal grandparents were born in the United Kingdom (this would qualify you for British citizenship by double descent). Would highly recommend. straightforward, and went without a hitch. If you were born outside of the UK, you may still be eligible for British citizenship by descent if your parent was a British citizen at the time of your birth. The passport is just evidence of ones citizenship. The process of applying for a British passport varies depending on your country of origin and whether or not you already hold a valid passport. In that case, you will need to submit records relating to you and your parent. Last modified on May 25th, 2022 at 7:18 am. But often there is a bigger reason for wanting to get citizenship by ancestry. leading provider of British passport application and renewal services from, British Passport renewal from South Africa. Which of the parents was a German citizen (the mother or the father). MyBritishPassport made this daunting task go smoothly and quickly. Can I get a British passport if my grandparents were born in Scotland? All has worked out well. I have . Couldn't be happier with the service. +27 (0) 21 657 2120, Durban Citizenship by Ancestry in Croatia is granted if persons have a parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent who had or holds citizenship of Croatia. The center of the Scotland DNA ethnicity region ranges from just south of Newburgh, Fife Parish, and extends north to the Orkney Islands. But you can register that child born out of the UK, if one of the fathers relevant parents (the childs grandparents) was British other than by descent on 1 January 1983. People with Scottish descent (a parent or grandparent who qualifies for Scottish citizenship) would be able to apply for Scottish citizenship. He was so patient when I got things, wrong. May be opening up to grandparents and great-grandparents with new law that may be passed. This is known as British Citizenship by descent, or more specifically, British Citizenship by double descent. What are the advantages of going to a private university? Great job. Where does Thigmotropism occur in plants? How do I get British citizenship by descent? More info Have at least one parent who is an Israeli citizen at your time of birth, or claim through Law of Return. Because it is a UK grandparent who can give the Right of Abode to those who are Citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies, as our gentleman was. What is the alternative to British Citizenship by descent (grandparent)? I recommend this company the IAS for immigration services. What should I expect from a recruiter first call? This is also known as citizenship by birth. Like Scottish English, Irish English has unmarked plurality in nouns indicating time and measure"two mile," for instance, and "five year."; Irish English makes an explicit distinction between singular you/ye and plural youse (also found in other varieties): "So I said to our Jill and Mary: 'Youse wash the dishes.'"; Another characteristic of Irish English is nominalization, giving a word or . Contact IAS now we offer free advice sessions and are available in-person, by phone, and online. 5 Tips for a Smooth UK Passport Application Process. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". In this case the important one was the grandmother, because she was born in the UK and the great-grandfather, her husband, was born in South Africa. Now, anyone born there, just like in the other example, would have been a British Subject. My name is Tallulah and I'm here with Mishal Patel. And so, on 1 January 1983, unknown to him, obviously, he was reclassified automatically as a full British citizen and, hence, should be holding a British passport in the modern day. MyBritishPassport is a leading provider of British passport application and renewal services from abroad. Have at least one parent or grandparent who was a Slovenian citizen. Recently, a publication from the Ministerial office in Ireland outlined guidance in relation to Irish Citizenship by association (or through great-grandparent) which recommends that the individual . So he would have acquired not just his great-grandfather's (or through that connection Citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies status, but also, through his paternal grandmother, he would have also held Right of Abode. MyBritishPassport.Everything was handled professionally and politely. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. If you were not born in the UK and and you have a parent, grandparent, and in some cases, great grandparent who was British, you may be able to claim British Citizenship by descent. British citizenship by descent is when a person born abroad is able to acquire citizenship through the immigration status of one or both parents. But the actual applicant is quite interesting. If your father was naturalized (ie he was not born in the UK), your birth would have needed to take place after the naturalization to be eligible. I first reached out to one of these companies and was told that I was not eligible. One parent must be a native of Argentina at the time of your birth. British citizenship by descent is a type of British citizenship that can be obtained by people with at least one parent who is a British citizen. However, in this particular scenario, we are of the opinion that this person has been a British national from the day of birth and, hence, he just needs to go ahead and apply for a British passport. And what the UK chooses to do there, at that point, is reclassify Citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies into British citizens if they had the Right of Abode, which in our case, our gentleman here did. Bear in mind that some of these claims are time sensitive. However, if their parents were never married, further research would need to be conducted. If your parent obtained citizenship (through his/her grandparent) either prior to your birth OR prior to July 1, 1986, you are then eligible to apply for citizenship through your Irish citizen parent. NY 10017 And the speed with which I received my new passport was amazing. Now, he carried on having those two statuses until 1 January 1983, which I mentioned earlier the date the current British Nationality Act came into force. Have at least one parent who was a Filipino citizen at the time of your birth. Shaun continued to keep me informed so there was none of the anxiety that I had anticipated in dealing with UK Home Affairs. Although British passports have changed somewhat since the UK has left the European Union, they are still considered to be one of the most sought-after passports in the world and is well worth pursuing if you feel you may be eligible. In this particular scenario, we dont have movement of people. How do I check for plagiarism on my Macbook? So, when he approached us, you know, we were quite flabbergasted about all of this and no doubt he was as well! The whole experience was fast & efficient. Outstanding service throughout. According to Dutch nationality law you can qualify for Dutch citizenship via your parents if they were Dutch at the time of your birth. To be granted nationality rights in any country, you need legal proof that a parent or grandparent was a citizen. 4. British citizenship by descent is a term used to describe someone who was born outside of the UK and acquired British citizenship on the basis of their ancestry. But, more importantly, the Citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies would have passed on, would you believe, from the father to his son who was born in South Africa in 1980. This is known as British Citizenship by descent, or more specifically, British Citizenship by double descent. At first seemed like an expensive option, but I can confirm it's 100% worth the. So that's scenario one that we came across, that we're still gonna go ahead and apply for that chaps British passport. In addition, you can visit any EU country without a visa for up to 90 days. Scottish, Welsh, and Irish. As we saw in the earlier example, when the British Nationality Act 1981 came into effect on 1 January 1983, this father was then reclassified as a British citizen by descent. ", "Spouse visa uk application was successful after working with your staff. In order to apply for British citizenship by descent (grandparent), you will initially have to apply for British Citizenship. Remember what I said earlier. A person has the right to apply for citizenship by descent in the case in which the applicant has (or has had) a mother or a father or grandparents that were of Czech descent or who are/were Czech nationals. Can you miss someone you were never with? Once things open up again, Ill make that appointment. Christa kept me up to date every step of the way & assured my every concern. Absolute brilliant service. +613 (0) 8651 4500. Children under the age of 18 will need to claim citizenship before the age of 18 or they will lose all rights to British nationality. patiently! Have at least one parent who is a Turkish citizen at your time of birth. Can you claim Scottish citizenship by descent? Passport swiftly and without any hassle whatsoever! However, a British by descent parent can register their children if certain conditions are met. OL9 6QR The procedure that I had to follow was well documented and easy to complete. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Have at least one parent who was a Norwegian citizen at the time of your birth. Its actually a child. They are well worth the price. British citizenship is normally automatically passed down one generation to children born outside the UK. I can happily recommend them! There is a fee of 50.00 per certificate requiring authentication. It was well worth the fee and I can recommend them without reservation. Amendments to the nationality law became . If youre thinking about retiring abroad, your options may be limited based on your ability to legally stay in a country for a longer period of time. MP: Without even knowing. This is a complex area of British nationality and every case must be assessed on an individual basis. Can I get a British passport if my great grandfather was British? So he doesn't have that option if there's not a grandparent with citizenship in the paper trail. Read some of the instances when one of your ancestors is entitled to German citizenship and may have passed it down to you. From start to finish the whole process took 21. days. says "any foreign national with Serbian descent, has the right to acquire Serbian citizenship by written request" but includes no more specific information. They will advise you on the best route towards British Citizenship, working closely to support your family and preparing a robust application. Argentina , Brazil , Ghana , Ireland , South Africa. Have at least one parent who was a German citizen at your time of birth, though there may be other exceptions to allow for citizenship. This is a bummer for a lot of folks. If you have lived in the UK for a certain period of time, you could be eligible for citizenship. These are the following circumstances in which you can claim British Citizenship by double descent if you were born after 1983: If you were born before January 1st, 1983: You may be able to claim British Citizenship by double descent when: If you were born before January 1st, 1949: The most common cases of those born before 1949 claiming British Citizenship by descent (grandparent) include: Only British citizens are able to apply for a British passport. It can be done while the child is in South Africa and the child will get a British passport. Be careful though, as each country has specific rules, application. Their consultant, Christa Devenish was fantastic - nothing was too much. How can you apply for British citizenship by double descent? Can I get a British passport if my grandfather was British? If neither of your parents was a British citizen or settled in the UK when you were born, then you can register to become a British citizen. People with Scottish descent (a parent or grandparent who qualifies for Scottish citizenship) would be able to apply for Scottish citizenship. British citizenship by descent. Basically, if you have a parent, grandparent, great-grandparent or other ancestors who were born in another country, you may be able to claim citizenship. Foreigners normally must have 5 years of residence in Ireland before being able to apply for naturalization. Can I enter the UK with a passport about to expire? I can thoroughly recommend this service! And this registration does not require the child to be resident in the UK or to have spent any time there. My grandparents always wanted to go back to their country. But at this stage, now we have the main applicant having Citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies by descent, which actually originated all the way from his great-grandfather's birth in the UK. This includes: If you were born outside of the UK and claim to have a UK-born grandparent, you may be eligible to apply for British Citizenship by descent (double descent) depending on your circumstances. So if you have a child under 18 and you have these UK connections, even if its a great grandparent, or you have these connections to a previous UK colony, its so important to fill out the assessment and give as much detail as possible. Then from there, with that information, you can decide whether youd like to engage our services to help you prove this very complicated route with the government. If you're not automatically a citizen, you may be eligible to apply to 'register' as one. Professional, efficient, swift, friendly. Now, we will start again, as we did with the other scenario, with the great-grandparent first. They were forced to leave the country before March 11, 1990, due to persecution. How far in advance can I renew my UK Passport? To be able to start establishing your eligibility for Polish citizenship by descent, you need to have at least one Polish ancestor. Today we'll be discussing one of the questions we get most often. Can someone from England become a Scottish citizen? So if you suspect you might qualify or you have no idea and you just want to see, we have a free online assessment that you can complete and Mishal and his team will go through your family tree and see what changes you have and will be completely honest with you if we dont think that theres a good chance, or if we thing that there is a chance but not much of a chance and you can try your luck, or if theres a very good chance. British Citizenship by Descent (Grandparent) UK immigration rules allow an automatic claim to British Citizenship if you have a grandparent (and, in rare cases, a great-grandparent) born in the UK. But, because none of the great-grandparents were born in Kenya, the grandfather who was born in Kenya could not become a Kenyan citizen. Step #1: Determine if you have ancestry that could lead to citizenship by descent Step #2: Determine if you are eligible Step #3: Gather all the required documents Step #4: Submit your application Obtaining citizenship through ancestry is usually straightforward. UK immigration rules allow an automatic claim to British Citizenship if you have a grandparent (and, in rare cases, a great-grandparent) born in the UK. And the law simply does not recognize grandchildren of U.S. citizens as having a qualifying relationship for I-130 filing and green-card eligibility purposes. If you have family from either of those countries, you'll have an easier time than most in getting your dual citizenship. My great-grandparents both naturalized as US citizens in 1943, when my grandmother was 15. When that is done, fill out the application form online, print it out, and mail it in along with your documents, photos, and fee. More info Have at least one parent who was a Slovakian citizen at the time of your birth. People with Scottish descent (a parent or grandparent who qualifies for Scottish citizenship) would be able to apply for Scottish citizenship. Whenever I had a question or needed further clarification, I was able to get in contact with him and get an answer quickly. Laws frequently change so if your country is on this list, your next stop should be contacting your local embassy. I thought the whole process was handled very professionally and with great care - I would not have any hesitation in, recommending this service to anyone applying for a British passport, Shaun was exceptionally helpful and informative. You can claim British citizenship by double descent if you have a grandparent (and in rare cases a great-grandparent) born in the UK. This is known as British Citizenship by descent, or more specifically, British Citizenship by double descent. Evelyn (AKA, Mrs. Rover) has a few passions in life: real estate, traveling and dreaming about retiring with Mr. Rover. Sincerely thanking 'Hanel' at MyBritishPassport for her professional assistance in helping me secure my renewed British. There are time limits within passport application so a responsive service is invaluable. Its then through this process that youll be able to confirm whether or not youre eligible to make a double descent claim. +44 (0) 20 7759 7514, Melbourne Click here to read more verified Google Reviews. One Croydon, 12-16 Addiscombe Road, London, CR0 0XT On a daily basis Move Up receives phones calls of applicants asking "if I have a UK born great grandparent, can I qualify?" to which our consultants conclude that Can you inherit UK citizenship if you have a British great-grandparent? Responses were prompt, and instructions easy to follow. Have at least one parent or grandparent who was a Czech or Czechoslovak citizen. Thank you for doing such an excellent job Shaun! Whether you're seeking to reconnect with your family heritage, move overseas, or simply want a second passport at your disposal, at least 50 countries offer some version of citizenship by . Republic of Ireland with "My British Passport". There are other avenues to dual citizenship too, with some of the most popular being investment and naturalization. We are a professional services company that specialises in cross-border financial and immigration advice and solutions. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. However, certain circumstances have to be met by the parents, as the Czech Republic enacted specific rules of law which can limit the . If your parent is classed as a British Citizen you may be eligible to apply for British Citizenship by descent. UK immigration rules allow an automatic claim to British Citizenship if you have a grandparent (and, in rare cases, a great-grandparent) born in the UK. A British citizen by descent refers to a person who was born outside the UK who has acquired citizenship through a UK-born parent or grandparent. Retire in Antigua, Guatemala and Enjoy Beautiful Vistas and Great Weather, Enjoy Your Retirement by Living The Tapas Life, Retiring in Buenos Aires: Affordable Big City Living, Request my moms birth certificate from her home country, Request apostilled copies of my birth certificate, my marriage certificate and my moms marriage certificate. This means you would be required to apply for British citizenship by descent and will be eligible providing you meet guidelines to qualify. Excellent service from start to finish. By acquiring British citizenship by descent, you can become a UK national even if you were born abroad. Its not the grant of ones citizenship. If you are looking to obtain British citizenship, you have come to the right place. 21 Mallow Street More info Have at least one parent or grandparent with Irish citizenship. My wife's British Passport was renewed professionally and hassle-free. Kept informed at all times during application, courier, service, progress report, and delivery. Likewise, anyone who has lived in Scotland for at least 10 years at any point in their life and can show a demonstrable connection to Scotland could apply for citizenship. Well, most people who are eligible for UK passports qualify for British citizenship by descent, meaning either you, one or both of your parents were born in the United Kingdom. It was a British protectorate. We offer a range of services to help you obtain your British passport, including: British passport renewals, British passport applications, British Passport replacements, and British certificates. The courier picked up my documents from my home en route to UK and delivered my new passport back to me a few weeks later. What are the differences between group & component? They made the whole. They both have passed away but being able to become a citizen of the place where my grandparents were born (and my mother) is a big deal. Double descent will require you to meet certain guidelines depending on when you and your grandparents were born. Irish and Italian descendantsI'm talking to you. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. But, you're eligible for citizenship if both of your parents are Croatian citizens, even if you don't register. There are other avenues to dual citizenship too, with some of the most popular being investment and naturalization. Citizenship by descent, or citizenship by ancestry, is one of those options. Great-grandparent: 16%; Great-great grandparent: 32%; Great-great-great grandparent: 64%; . This means you would be required to apply for British citizenship by descent and will be eligible providing you meet guidelines to qualify. If you are a citizen of a Commonwealth country and have a grandparent who was born in the UK (this includes the Republic of Ireland if born before 1922 as it was then part of the UK), you can apply for a visa to live and work in Scotland and the rest of the UK. 5 Can I get Irish citizenship if my grandparents were Irish? We are grateful for your help and patience. The MOST helpful service from Christa, an absolute GEM. Imagine, if you can claim citizenship for a European country that is a member of the EU. From the time I applied online until the time I received my new passport was a total of. Children under the age of 18 will need to claim citizenship before the age of 18 or they will lose all rights to British nationality. Call us: The must also have held Polish citizenship until the day of your birth. In scenario one, I'll start off with obviously our great-grandfather. I dealt with Carla and she was amazing! British citizenship is usually passed down 2 generations and UK Ancestry working rights are granted to the third generation of UK born relatives. This is the first in a series of episodes we'll be doing on routes to British nationality for South Africans. 2023 Sable International. Thank you so much, I will recommend your service to anyone who needs a seamless passport renewal. The date of their birth. Each application for British Citizenship by descent (grandparent) will be assessed by UKVI on an individual basis. Status_Silver_5114 3 days ago. Very proactive and responds quickly. However, there are a few circumstances where this is not the case. To stay longer, youll need to qualify for a visa. We hope this blog post has been helpful in providing you with information on British citizenship by descent. I never worried about it but in order to do this, I had to get it fixed. 4 Can a U.S. citizen petition for grandchild? +1 844 290 6312, IAS Ireland In order to be eligible to apply for a UK Ancestry Visa, you would need to match the following requirements: It must be noted that if you have step-parents then you will be unable to claim for an Ancestry Visa. We will also fully represent you in any hearings/tribunals. Have at least one parent who is a Mexican citizen born in Mexico. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Okay. You can also learn more about British Citizenship by Birth. MP: Absolutely and that kind of was the case for my second scenario as well, where we did have a great-grandparent born in the UK. I was kept up to date throughout. How do I apply for a British passport through descent? But it is very much possible. The Ireland citizenship by ancestry program is a great way to get a Irish passport. This can save you a lot of money, hassle and time in terms of visa applications. 1 Can an American get Scottish citizenship by descent? Fast turn around time and prompt communication throughout. that agent was not responding well! If you are a citizen of one country and your great grandparents were citizens of another country, you may be able to get dual citizenship through them. There are four common ways to qualify for Irish citizenship based on ancestry: You are an Irish citizen if you or your parent were born on the island of Ireland before 2005. L-1B Visa (Specialized Knowledge Workers), P2 Visa (Reciprocal Exchange Program Performers), Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Program, Canada PR Pathways for Hong Kong Citizens, Canada Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Because, you see, a lot of people have this misconception that they become a citizen the day the passport is issued. British citizenship by descent is a type of British citizenship that can be obtained by people with at least one parent who is a British citizen. A second passport also grants the right to live, work, and do business in the country. This is known as double descent. If only your mother is Greek, you have the right to citizenship by descent, provided that you were born: In or out of wedlock after August 5, 1984. Citizenship for those born in another country is unusual in that it requires registration in the Records of a Municipality of the Hellenic Republic. British citizenship by triple descent refers to the ability to acquire British Citizenship through great-grandparents. If relevant, they can also assess eligibility for citizenship by descent through a parent, or any other route that may be applicable to you, such as the British Citizenship by double descent route or the UK Ancestry Visa. Check your eligibility if you were born: on or after 1 July 2006. between 1983 and June 2006. before . He then approached the passport office and they confirmed that he is British. My mom was born in 1956 and married my US citizen father in 1986. Perfect for those living in the US.,This is a very efficient service. The more detail you give, the more accurate we can be with providing your likelihood. Request a call back from our immigration experts I just received my new British passport and could not be happier with the service I received from Brittany at. Children under the age of 18 will need to claim citizenship before the age of 18 or they will lose all rights to British nationality. The nationality of your grandparents is not relevant. You will need to meet requirements set out under Scottish immigration law, such as good character and residency.