British Indian Ocean Territory: Knowledge Base profile
Published 16 April 2024
Version 2.0
About: British Indian Ocean Territory
This document contains useful information about the British Indian Ocean Territory which will assist His Majesty’s Passport Office staff process passport applications.
Contacts
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Publication
Below is information on when this version of the document was published:
- version 2.0
- published for Home Office staff on 12 April 2024
Changes from last version of this document
This document has been updated with minor formatting changes.
British Indian Ocean Territory: nationality
This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about nationality for people born in the British Indian Ocean Territory
The British Indian Ocean Territory (also known as the Chagos Archipelago or Chagos Islands) is a British overseas territory.
There is no permanent population on the islands.
People born in the British Indian Ocean Territory may be eligible to hold:
- British overseas territories citizenship
- British citizenship.
Their direct descendants born outside the British Indian Ocean Territory (for example in Mauritius or the Seychelles) may also have an automatic claim or be eligible to register.
In November 2022, the UK government launched a British nationality route for individuals of Chagossian descent. It allows them to become British nationals free of charge, by registering as British nationals under sections 17H and 4K of the British Nationality Act 1981.
British Indian Ocean Territory: documents
This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about documents issued in the British Indian Ocean Territory
Birth certificates
The Civil Status Office in Mauritius holds the records for people born in Chagos, in the British Indian Ocean Territory.