Check if you're a British citizen
Born in the UK or a British colony before 1 January 1983
You’re usually a British citizen automatically if you were born in the UK.
There are 2 exceptions. You will not be a British citizen if your father was either:
- a diplomat working for a foreign country
- an ‘enemy alien in occupation’ - this only applies to you if your father was in the Channel Islands during World War 2 when you were born
If you were born in a British colony
You’re a British citizen automatically if both of the following apply:
- you were a citizen of the UK and Colonies (CUKC) on 31 December 1982
- you had the ‘right of abode’ in the UK (this means you could live and work in the UK free of any immigration controls)
There’s one exception. You might not be a British citizen if you got a certificate to confirm that you’re registered as a Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKC) under the ‘British Nationality (No 2) Act 1964. Read more detail about who can claim British citizenship automatically.