Guidance

Naturalisation as a BOTC: caseworker guidance

Immigration staff guidance on the requirements for naturalisation as a British overseas territories citizen (BOTC) under section 18(1) and section 18(2).

• From: UK Visas and Immigration
• Published: 27 July 2017
• Last updated: 24 July 2024
  Show all updates

  1. 24 July 2024

     Updated guidance to remove the section on the 'citizenship ban' to reflect the Illegal Migration Act 2023 (Amendment) Regulations 2024.

  2. 21 July 2023

     Updated guidance following Royal Assent of Illegal Migration Act 2023.

  3. 28 June 2022

     This guidance has been amended following changes made by the Nationality and Borders Act 2022. The section on presence at the start of the qualifying period has been amended.

  4. 27 July 2017

     First published.

Documents

Naturalisation as a BOTC at discretion (accessible)

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Naturalisation as a BOTC at discretion

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Details

UK Visas and Immigration guidance for staff about what requirements an individual must meet to be naturalised under section 18(1) and section 18(2) of the British Nationality Act 1981.

It also covers:

• handling applications where children have been included

• assessing whether an individual meets the language requirement for naturalisation

• the requirements that must be met by individuals acting as referees on an application.