Americans can visit the U.K. as a tourist and stay for up to six months, no visa required. 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. My grandmother married my US citizen grandfather in 1953. 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). There are other avenues to dual citizenship too, with some of the most popular being investment and naturalization. If one or more of your grandparents was born in the UK, there may be some circumstances in which you could claim British Citizenship through them, called British Citizenship by double descent. The courier and checking makes this an easy and approachable way to get a passport and worth. And this South African family approached us because the father had made an application for his childs British passport that got refused on the basis that he was British by descent and had a child born outside of the UK. Would recommend them to anyone needing to renew the British passport, My experience with this company was absolutely fantastic. These are all the right ingredients for registration as a British citizen for the child. "Citizenship by descent" is a process that allows you to apply for citizenship based on your grandparents' lineage. One of the easiest ways to acquire dual citizenship is by descent. All direct descendants of a persecuted ancestor are eligible, including children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Children who were adopted as minors are considered direct descendants as well. They should be able to tell you whether you're eligible or not. This means you would be required to apply for British citizenship by descent and will be eligible providing you meet guidelines to qualify. Would highly recommend to anyone needing a new or renewed British Passport.Thanks especially. It could be your parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, or even further ancestor. They are well worth the price. This is known as British Citizenship by descent, or more specifically, British Citizenship by double descent. And that is completely free of charge. You can get your citizenship status on the basis of a parents or, in some cases, grandparents British nationality. process stress-free and I'm so glad I made this choice. 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). Last modified on May 25th, 2022 at 7:18 am. This means you would be required to apply for British citizenship by descent and will be eligible providing you meet guidelines to qualify. I dealt with Carla and she was amazing! Have at least one parent or grandparent who was a Romanian citizen at some point in their lifetime. In an independent Scotland all British citizens born or habitually resident in Scotland on day one of independence will have the right to acquire a Scottish passport, although, as in most countries, there will be no requirement to hold one. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. I was ready to make the appointment but COVID happened and everything shut down. However, a DNA test does not prove anything about how many generations back your ancestry in any given country may have been. My name is Tallulah and I'm here with Mishal Patel. At the time that he was born, Right of Abode was already a concept. Couldn't have done it, I'm sure, without these friendly and efficient people.Thank you! 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. NY 10017 Instead of 6 months, it took me 8 months to gather everything I needed. If you can claim citizenship by descent through a relative from Spain, Ireland, Italy or any other EU or EEU country and associated micro-states, you can essentially live, work and study anywhere in the EU without ever applying for a visa. This is a complex area of British nationality and every case must be assessed on an individual basis. Can an American get Scottish citizenship by descent? Have at least one parent or grandparent who was a Czech or Czechoslovak citizen. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. 3 How long can a US citizen stay in Scotland? The renewal process was relatively straightforward and one was kept informed at every step in the process.I was. No country will grant you citizenship based on the results of a DNA test alone. It does not store any personal data. Children born after 1 July 2006 could qualify for British citizenship as long as the father is British. You or your parents being born in a former British Territory (British Protectorates, British Protected States, Mandated Territories, Foreign Countries with ETJ or Post 1949 Colonies). 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. So now we're talking about the fourth generation here, that was born in South Africa. Does double descent qualify British citizenship? I dread to think if had used Portuguese mailing services and relied on CTT! Using their service was effortless and amazing. From the time I applied online until the time I received my new passport was a total of. says "any foreign national with Serbian descent, has the right to acquire Serbian citizenship by written request" but includes no more specific information. As UK citizenship rules are complex, call us on +1 844 290 6312 for help to ascertain if you are eligible to claim British citizenship by descent (grandparent). Regent Square, Doncaster Road, Kenilworth, 7708 Apparently this can all be done virtually. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. One parent must have been a Croatian citizen at the time of birth, but you must have been registered with the Croatian government before your 18th birthday. Now, anyone born there, just like in the other example, would have been a British Subject. How do I check for plagiarism on my Macbook? 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. 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. What should I expect from a recruiter first call? In addition, you can visit any EU country without a visa for up to 90 days. Yes, the good news is that you can obtain British citizenship through your father, as long as he was born in the UK. He was so patient when I got things, wrong. I am a very happy client and would choose this service again. 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. 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. 2023 Immigration Advice Service LTD. OISC Registration Number - F201100299. People with Scottish descent (a parent or grandparent who qualifies for Scottish citizenship) would be able to apply for Scottish citizenship. This is less restrictive than current British nationality law, which allows citizenship by decent to pass down only one generation. Contact IAS now we offer free advice sessions and are available in-person, by phone, and online. 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. What are the advantages of going to a private university? There are several ways that you can qualify for British Citizenship by descent (grandparent) but they must be provisional in the law providing that a grandparent or great grandparent was classified as British or born in the UK. ", "Spouse visa uk application was successful after working with your staff. Thats quite important, because if he had, he wouldnt have remained British, or what we call a Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies, which he was at the time the father was born in South Africa. Can I get a British passport if my grandparents were born in Scotland? Your case will become a top priority for our lawyers and you will benefit from our highest-quality services. Call us: You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. However, if their father is a UK citizen, they were born outside of the United Kingdom but their parents were never married, they may or may not be eligible for UK nationality. 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. A gentleman name Shaun gave me precise updates along the way which took the stress out of. 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. Irish and Italian descendantsI'm talking to you. GENUKI It's by far the easiest way to get EU citizenship. EH1 3YY. If you or your parent were born on the island of Ireland before 2005, you are an Irish citizen. I can happily recommend them! Before you can begin this application, you must be registered or naturalized as a British citizen. And this registration does not require the child to be resident in the UK or to have spent any time there. This is known as double descent. V94 X285 However, there are a few circumstances where this is not the case. In this particular instance, he was born in the UK. Then his son, who would be the grandfather in this example, was born in South Africa. Great-grandparent: 16%; Great-great grandparent: 32%; Great-great-great grandparent: 64%; . 5 Countries That Will Grant Citizenship Based On Your Ancestry. Your legal advisor will then complete and submit your forms to the Home Office on your behalf. Call us: 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. More info Have at least one parent or grandparent who was a Spanish citizen, with some restrictions. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Very good service and well ahead of time deserve six stars, Being of the older generation, I found that dealing with My British Passport an absolute pleasure, all aspects of the. This route to British Citizenship is less common than by descent by a parent or by double descent by a grandparent. I completed the online application, paid and sent in a photo etc. Those born between the dates of 1 January 1983 and 30 June 2006 could qualify for British citizenship through descent, even if they were born outside of the UK (but to a British-born mother). Can a child born outside the UK become a British citizen? As a South African, you could be eligible for British citizenship by descent even if you haven't spent any time in the UK. I hesitated briefly, but realised that this was the best solution for me to renew my passport. Evelyn (AKA, Mrs. Rover) has a few passions in life: real estate, traveling and dreaming about retiring with Mr. Rover. If you have lived in the UK for a certain period of time, you could be eligible for citizenship. Using their DHL services, the whole process took less than one month! 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. In order to apply for British citizenship by descent (grandparent), you will initially have to apply for British Citizenship. How can IAS help with my British Citizenship by descent application? Each application for British Citizenship by descent (grandparent) will be assessed by UKVI on an individual basis. Otherwise for citizenship, you must have a Finnish father who is legally married to your mother. Ive had the pleasure to have Carla handle my application at MyBristishPassport, she has been very professional and. For further information on British citizenship by descent from South Africa, feel free to contact a member of the MyBritishPassport team. Very proactive and responds quickly. 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 . 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. There are time limits within passport application so a responsive service is invaluable. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". They are two overriding facts: 1. Pass the Good character requirement this means you should not have committed immigration fraud or been convicted of any serious crimes. 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. 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. I definitely would use them again.Many Thanks. Professional, efficient, swift, friendly. Can I get British citizenship through my great grandparents? Most highly recommended! 25 Richefond Circle, Ridgeside, Umhlanga 4320 Include (1) Proof Of Residency document (utility bills, bank statements, lease) Pay Application Fee via Cashiers Check or Money Order Mail Everything to the nearest Irish Consulate How Much Did Everything Cost? Ashwood House Prove that youre able to support yourself whilst be accommodated in the UK. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Now he would have been a South African and Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies and he would have carried that on til about 1971. If you're not able to secure citizenship somewherethere's also the option to live a nomadic lifestyle and travel the world. Thank you for this opportunity to share my appreciation for the British passport office. People who were born before 1 January 1983 but outside of the UK to a British-born father would qualify for UK nationality as long as their parents were married at the time of their birth. Many countries let you claim citizenship if your parents, grandparents or in some cases great grandparents were born in said country. 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. People with Scottish descent (a parent or grandparent who qualifies for Scottish citizenship) would be able to apply for Scottish citizenship. I've also included links to pages that are clear in how to obtain your citizenship by descent. With British citizenship by descent, however, you can not normally pass citizenship to children born outside of the UK, unless they were born to a parent in crown, designated or EU service. In order for you to qualify for British Citizenship by descent (double descent), there are particular guidelines that you need to match. 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: Find out more about British citizenship by descent grandparent by getting in touch with our professional immigration lawyers in London. This is known as double descent. He was able to address and answer with ease and patience to ensure I understood completely the requirements from my end. Apostilled copies are certified by the Secretary of State, Get my birth certificate and marriage certificate translated by an embassy-approved translator. contact a member of the MyBritishPassport team. You can get citizenship by descent up to the third generation in Lithuania as well. For further information on the citizenship by investment programs of Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, email CACitizenship.com today at: contact@cacitizesnhip.com You can read also: Citizenship by Investment What is the alternative to British Citizenship by double descent? If you were born before 1 January 1983, your mother would have needed to register you as a British citizen when you were born. 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. Even if your father or great-grandfather did not have a British passport, or theres no sign of it, that doesnt mean that you arent British. 8 comments. 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. However, a British by descent parent can register their children if certain conditions are met. More info One parent must be an Austrian citizen with some specific requirements. British Citizenship for a child born outside the UK to parents that are British citizens is not automatic. It was well worth the fee and I can recommend them without reservation. Your (British-born) grandfather was in crown service at the time of your relevant parents birth, You or a parent were born in a former British colony, Your parent had a British-born mother, non-British father and was registered as a British citizen between February 2nd and December 31st, 1982, You/your parent was born in a former British territory (this excludes main Commonwealth countries of 1949), You/your parent was a registered British citizen, Your parent was in crown service when you were born, Your parents were married before 1949 and your paternal grandfather was born in Britain, Your maternal grandfather was born in the UK and you were born outside the EEA, You and your parent were not in a Commonwealth country (must have been born before 1915), You or your parent were born in a former British territory, Your grandparent or parent was married to a British man before 1949. South Africa at that point, was also part of the UK colonies. However, if their parents were never married, further research would need to be conducted. Can you claim Scottish citizenship by descent? 2 Can I move to Scotland if my grandfather was born there? 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. Greek citizenship can derive from parents, grandparents or even great-grandparents who are or were Greek citizens. it. Of course, the first request was returned because I didnt do something right. Thanks for making the passport renewal process so simple and efficient. Even refunded because I paid for my own express delivery. CITIZENSHIP BY DESCENT Time to Polish Citizenship: 1-2 years Polish Citizenship Application Costs: Approximately 300 Eligibility: Polish great-grandparent, grandparent, or at least one parent Visa-Free Access to 180+ Countries Acquiring Dual Citizenship Allowed: Yes LEARN MORE GET IRISH CITIZENSHIP BY DESCENT Time to Irish Citizenship: 1 year with prompt communication and efficient courier collection and delivery. One Croydon, 12-16 Addiscombe Road, London, CR0 0XT Be careful though, as each country has specific rules, application. I was dreading the prospect of renewing my passport but with terrific service from these guys it was smooth and. Habitual residence will be the test for existing UK citizens based in Scotland at the time of independence to become automatically Scottish citizens. Everything was included in the fee, and it was well worth it to avoid tracking, mailing, and stressing over the whereabouts of my documents. You will need to meet requirements set out under Scottish immigration law, such as good character and residency. I first reached out to one of these companies and was told that I was not eligible. TV: So you mentioned the importance of the maternal grandmother. Namely, it is necessary to register with the Irish Foreign Births Register. In other words a UK passport.