This is why its important that any applications for British Citizenship by descent (grandparent) are complete before the child turns 18. Several countries around the globe will grant citizenship if your parents, grandparents or even great-grandparents were born in said country. You can obtain an Irish passport without first petitioning for citizenship. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Can I get British citizenship through my grandparents? Our team of experts will be happy to assist. A mixed bag of connections is a better thing. How can IAS help with my British Citizenship by descent application? You or your parent were born in a former British Territory (See list above). 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 exceptional circumstances, a discretionary registration is provided such as being gifted in sports, music or theatre etc. Can you inherit UK citizenship if you have a British great-grandparent? 2. 1 Can an American get Scottish citizenship by descent? My great-grandparents both naturalized as US citizens in 1943, when my grandmother was 15. How do I renew my UK passport in New York? extremely impressed with the assistance provided by Shaun Weldon (British Passport Consultant). Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. British citizenship by descent. Each application for British Citizenship by descent (grandparent) will be assessed by UKVI on an individual basis. We hope this blog post has been helpful in providing you with information on British citizenship by descent. From start to finish the whole process took 21. days. I first reached out to one of these companies and was told that I was not eligible. The reason why that's relevant is because on 1 January 1983, we had another British nationality law change and British Citizenship was introduced as a concept for the first time. "Citizenship by descent" is a process that allows you to apply for citizenship based on your grandparents' lineage. So what I'm going to take you through is basically two scenarios that have come up in the last couple of months. What is the alternative to British Citizenship by double descent? We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. MyBritishPassport offers fast, reliable and affordable British passport services. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. An estimated 800,000 Americans can be eligible for Slovak citizenship by ancestry. The British Protection would have been taken away by independence arrangements of Zambia in 1964. It does not store any personal data. Luckily I didn't take their word for it so I called the local embassy and in fact, I was eligible. I was ready to make the appointment but COVID happened and everything shut down. If you are a South African planning to have dual citizenship with the UK, we have information on how to keep your South African citizenship. Regular updates and clear and easy to follow, directions for each step. You can apply for an Irish passport without making an application for citizenship. Habitual residence will be the test for existing UK citizens based in Scotland at the time of independence to become automatically Scottish citizens. Republic of Ireland Yes, you could qualify for British citizenship through your mother. But as you said, its very rare. We will also fully represent you in any hearings/tribunals. If you, or your parent, were born on the island of Ireland on or after 1 January 2005, your right to Irish citizenship depends on: Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. However, youre also in luck if one of your grandparents was born in Ireland. At the time that he was born, Right of Abode was already a concept. In addition, you can visit any EU country without a visa for up to 90 days. Children who are under the age of 18 may be eligible for British citizenship by descent, A person born before the 1st of January 1949, A person born after the 1st of January 1949, A parent has spent at least 3 years in the UK where there hasnt been an absence from the country for more than 270 days over the 3 year period and the relevant grandparent was born in the UK. And much more! If someone has an Irish grandparent, then they can claim Irish citizenship by descent - but only if that grandparent was born in Ireland or Northern Ireland. The whole experience was fast & efficient. With no future travel plans, this wasn't going to. Laws frequently change so if your country is on this list, your next stop should be contacting your local embassy. The U.S. citizen must be able to directly file a visa petition (Form I-130) for every person that he or she wishes to help immigrate. Can I become a Scottish citizen if my grandfather was born there? All has worked out well. The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel. Shaun continued to keep me informed so there was none of the anxiety that I had anticipated in dealing with UK Home Affairs. Jade Robinson Apr 7, 2021. For a child, they have to be under 18 for registration to be done. ", "Spouse visa uk application was successful after working with your staff. MP: Without even knowing. Answer (1 of 12): The answer to this common question is no. 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. But for some, there may be another option. Like British Citizenship by descent through a grandparent, citizenship through a parent is equally complex, due to the number of rules and different scenarios that need to be clarified in the process. If you are not British but have a British grandparent and are a Commonwealth citizen, then you have the option to apply for a UK Ancestry Visa as an alternative to applying for British Citizenship by descent (grandparent), also known as double descent. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Sigh. 4 Can a U.S. citizen petition for grandchild? What was the architecture like in ancient Rome? The nationality of your grandparents is not relevant. Applying for British citizenship through a grandparent is a three-step process that takes several years. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". If you or your parent were born on the island of Ireland before 2005, you are an Irish citizen. Our teams in the UK, South Africa and Australia can ensure that when you decide to move Citizenship by descent, or citizenship by ancestry, is one of those options. There is 16% Greek/South Italian, 12% Sardinian, and 8% Scandinavian, specifically from SE Norway which seems to be a rare group (reflected in only 6 of my 12,000 + DNA matches). 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. 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. Getting your British passport renewed while living in the USA can be a. daunting challenge, but MyBritishPassport really made things so easy. They made the whole. More info One parent must be an Austrian citizen with some specific requirements. 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. 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. "We used this service for the spouse visa extension application to assure that all the information was valid and correct. My wife's British Passport was renewed professionally and hassle-free. Mishal Patel:Welcome. 21 Mallow Street This comes with a number of privileges, including the right to freely live, work and study in the UK, access to public funds and protection from British embassies, consulates and high commissions whilst abroad. I can happily recommend them! Can a child born outside the UK become a British citizen? In the case of ancestors, citizenship is by descent. THREE weeks. to Hanel Smith, Miguel, who handled my renewal was so professional and helpful at all times. Even refunded because I paid for my own express delivery. Be living in the UK and have permission to remain in the UK during the entire duration of the citizenship application process. It's by far the easiest way to get EU citizenship. You can read more about applying for citizenship based on Irish descent or associations on the ISD website. 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. And this registration does not require the child to be resident in the UK or to have spent any time there. You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK. Basically, it wasn't a full European colony, it had a treaty with the UK and everyone born there was afforded British Protection. GENUKI 1 Dual citizenship happens automatically in some situations, such as when a child is born in the U.S. to parents who are residents of a foreign country. They were forced to leave the country before March 11, 1990, due to persecution. The process took me a little longer than normal because I had an error on my birth certificate. 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 . I can highly recommend their service. Can you miss someone you were never with? They should be able to tell you whether you're eligible or not. Citizenship by double descent refers to the ability to acquire British citizenship through grandparents, and by triple is through great-grandparents. We're here for you in person, over the phone, and via Skype. But it is very much possible. The information provided on this page can help you find out how to get British Citizenship by descent through your Grandparent. 25 Richefond Circle, Ridgeside, Umhlanga 4320 A second passport also grants the right to live, work, and do business in the country. In order for you to obtain British citizenship by descent, at least one of the following statements would need to be true for your situation: If one of these statements is true for you, you can begin the process of applying for your British passport. So if neither of your parents were Dutch citizens at the time of your birth, then you do not qualify for nationality via descent. With our untimed Advice Session, our professional immigration lawyers will review your case and provide you with comprehensive advice, completely tailored to your needs and your situation. 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. Now, we will start again, as we did with the other scenario, with the great-grandparent first. You can claim British citizenship by double descent if you have a grandparent (and in rare cases a great-grandparent) born in the UK. Can I enter the UK with a passport about to expire? Double descent will require you to meet certain guidelines depending on when you and your grandparents were born. contact a member of the MyBritishPassport team. My grandmother married my US citizen grandfather in 1953. Click here to read more verified Google Reviews. Are there British Citizenship by double descent rules that I need to be aware of? The last step is to visit the embassy in person to apply for citizenship. Unless the parents are foreign diplomats, the child generally becomes a citizen of the U.S. (in addition to the country-of-residence of their parents). Beware of companies who claim they can verify whether you are eligible and then help you with the process. We guide our clients from start to finish and ensure that their application forms have been completed correctly, they have submitted the right, original supporting documentation and the correct photograph. 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. These can be complex cases which means they must be assessed on a case-by-case basis. This route to British Citizenship is less common than by descent by a parent or by double descent by a grandparent. The transmission of passports is of great concern so a service that chooses and monitors transmission via reliable courier services and methods reduces a lot of anxiety. Not only will you become a citizen of your family's . Bear in mind that some of these claims are time sensitive.