Citizenship by Descent in the UK

Citizenship by descent in the UK can be obtained by citizens who prove that they have a parent of British origin, regardless of the place of birth. We invite you to discover information about United Kingdom’s citizenship by descent and to contact our lawyers on immigration issues. You can thus benefit from a relatively simple and fast process when applying for British descent citizenship.

Quick Facts
Applicable legislation	British Nationality Act 1981
Who can obtain British citizenship by descent?	Citizens proving they have at least one parent with British origins
Requirements for getting British citizenship by descent	Having at least 18 years of age, being born outside the UK from a British parent, or if adopted by British parents
Documents solicited	– birth certificates, – standard forms, – other documents proving family relations with British citizens
Citizenship by descent after grandparents (YES/NO)	YES
British citizenship is automatically passed	To children born outside the UK with at least one British parent
Appointments	To the UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services. One of our UK immigration lawyers can represent you.
Biometric data taken	At the time of application for citizenship by descent
Applying for a British passport	Once citizenship by descent is granted
Other ways to claim British citizenship by descent	If one of the parents was born in a former British territory
British passport ranking	The 4th most powerful in the  world
Dual citizenship permitted (YES/NO)	YES
Costs for citizenship ceremony	Around GBP 80
Citizenship applications made online	Permitted. One of our immigration lawyers in London can help you in this endeavor.
Why work with our UK immigration lawyers?	Experience and efficiency in citizenship applications for foreigners, representation in front of the authorities, and complete legal services at affordable costs

Citizenship in the UK by descent – Criteria to take into account

Certain criteria are the basis for obtaining citizenship by descent in the UK:

• If you are at least 18 years old, and after your birth, one of your parents became a British citizen.
• You have lived in the UK for 10 years or more.
• Those born in the UK after January 1983 automatically received British citizenship, as do those with one of their parents of British origin.
• If you were born outside the UK, but one of your parents is of British origin, then citizenship is automatically granted at birth.
• And those born outside the UK after July 1st of 2006, with one of their parents of British origin, can acquire the respective citizenship.
• Children adopted in the UK can receive British citizenship from their parents. Contact us for details about how to get citizenship through heritage in the UK.

You can find out more about British descent citizenship from our immigration lawyers in the UK. Our experts can explain in detail the criteria that are taken into account for Welsh citizenship by descent. Plus, you can also discover the following infographic we have prepared on this topic:

Getting a passport by ancestry in the UK

Interested in British passport by ancestry? If you prove that you have relatives of British origin, even if you were born outside the UK, you can apply for citizenship through heritage in the UK. Those interested in this status can apply for a UK ancestry visa great-grandparent, having at their disposal the legal services offered by our specialists in the field. The formalities are quite simple and at hand because if you bring the required documents, the process of obtaining ancestry citizenship in the UK can begin. Here is other information in this regard:

• An automatic UK ancestry passport is issued if clear evidence is provided about the degree of kinship with persons of British origin.
• The immigration status of parents and/or grandparents will be taken into account, and the authorities will make checks in this regard.
• British ancestry citizenship is obtained automatically if you were born outside the UK before or after July 2006, if one of the parents has this origin.
• Ancestry citizenship in the UK can be obtained automatically by those born between 1983 and 2006 if it is proved that one of the parents or other relatives has British origin.
• Proof of the marriage certificate is required in the case mentioned above, if the mother was not of British origin and if she received this status after the marriage.
• In the case of those born before 1983, they can automatically obtain citizenship through origin in the UK if the father is or was of British origin.

Once citizenship is obtained, the persons in question can apply for a UK ancestry passport. We can tell you more about the UK ancestry visa great-grandparent and we can also explain all the conditions. You can also discover the video presentation we have prepared:

Registration for those who do not receive automatic citizenship through ancestry in the UK

People who are not eligible to automatically receive ancestry citizenship in the UK can register on the government’s platform. Personal information about family, descent, and more is required here. Important documents such as birth/marriage/death certificates are also requested. Once analyzed, the authorities will issue a decision regarding British ancestry citizenship. A meeting with the immigration authorities follows, namely the UK Visa and Immigration Office for other evaluations. Specialized legal help is recommended in this case to be able to complete the required documents and information. Our UK immigration lawyers can represent clients in this process to obtain a UK ancestry passport or UK ancestry visa great-grandparent, as the case may be.

British citizenship at birth – How to apply

If you are interested in citizenship by descent in the UK, you should know that you can confidently call one of our immigration solicitors in the UK for legal advice. There are special forms that can be filled out online, but there are aspects that you must take into account. Here are some details in this regard:

• Once you know the eligibility criteria and have completed the required forms, you must pay attention to UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services for an appointment. Here, your biometric information is taken.
• The authorities ask for supporting documents to prove that you have British relatives and meet British citizenship at birth requirements. We advise you to contact us to know more about citizenship by descent in the UK.
• If the application for United Kingdom’s citizenship by descent is accepted, a ceremony will take place, not before paying a fee of around GBP 80. If you need more about citizenship through ancestry in the UK, you may call us.

Citizenship by descent in the UK can be quite a complex process for those who do not know all the requirements. That is why we recommend the services offered by our immigration lawyer in the UK who can tell you more about British descent citizenship or Wales citizenship by descent.

What is the UK citizenship by double descent?

UK citizenship by double descent is obtained by foreign individuals who prove that they have a grandparent or in some rare cases a great-grandparent of British origin. British citizenship by double descent or double descent citizenship in the UK can be claimed if certain conditions related to UK immigration are respected. Here is some useful information about UK citizenship by double descent:

• Minors can be eligible for UK citizenship by double descent if they prove that they have or had a grandparent of British origin.
• People born before January 1, 1949, and after January 1, 1949, and prove British origin in the family can apply for double descent citizenship in the UK.
• Birth certificates are important in this case. Moreover, it is possible to collaborate with local authorities in the UK to access the archives.

The immigration authorities in the UK analyze each case individually and may request other documents, if necessary. As this situation is quite delicate, we recommend those interested in double descent citizenship in the UK opt for our legal services.

Double descent citizenship in the UK conditions for minors

Children under 18 years of age who want to claim UK citizenship by double descent must consider the eligibility criteria. In this case, the minors, together with their parents/tutors can be represented by one of our UK immigration solicitors. Here are some essential conditions:

• The applicant has a grandparent born in the UK and parents who have lived in this country for at least 3 years and no more than 270 days outside the country during these 3 years.
• Cases of stateless children born from at least a British parent are also accepted. This means that the child did not receive citizenship in the country in which he/she was born, nor did he receive citizenship from his/her parents. But if it is proven that there are British origins in the family, the applicant might be eligible for UK citizenship by double descent.
• Double descent citizenship in the UK is also available in the situation where the minor’s parents will stay in this country for at least 3 years. In this case, it is proved that the child is still under 18 when the application for British Citizenship by descent is prepared.

Such cases of UK citizenship by double descent can seem quite complicated, especially in the case of minors. Both parents and tutors, depending on the case, can be guided in this approach, from a legal point of view. Moreover, citizens who obtain this status can enjoy a double descent UK passport.

Immigration facts in the UK

Here are some statistical data about immigration to the UK, and also emigration:

• According to the Office for National Statistics and the data for 2023, around 1.2 million people migrated to the UK.
• Over 532,000 British citizens emigrated in the same year.
• 9% of the total population in the UK has a different nationality.
• Around 3.4 million people from the European Union lived in the UK, according to the same data.

Are you interested in residency in the UK? You can opt for our legal services, including for citizenship through origin in the UK. Our experts can also guide you regarding the UK investor visa or innovator visa in the UK, so don’t hesitate to contact us. We are here to inform you about citizenship by descent in the UK.