Guidance and regulation

Immigration staff guidance providing historical background information on nationality and help with assessing citizenship claims.

• From: UK Visas and Immigration
• Updated: 22 May 2023

Use this guidance to find out how your child can become a British citizen if you adopt in the UK from abroad.

• From: UK Visas and Immigration
• Updated: 12 March 2014

This guidance tells HM Passport Office staff what parental responsibility is and why we need it for passport purposes.

• From: HM Passport Office
• Updated: 24 January 2024

Tells HM Passport Office staff how to deal with passport applications for customers that hold British citizenship.

• From: HM Passport Office
• Updated: 30 June 2023

Immigration staff guidance on deprivation of British citizenship.

• From: UK Visas and Immigration
• Updated: 5 October 2023

Immigration staff guidance on considering automatic claims to citizenship based on a child’s relationship with their father.

• From: UK Visas and Immigration
• Updated: 15 March 2019

HM Passport Office guidance on how to deal with applications involving parental responsibility, court orders, testamentary guardians and loco parentis.

• From: HM Passport Office
• Updated: 24 January 2024

Registration as a British Overseas Territories citizen and British citizen: Chagossian descendant.

• From: Home Office
• Updated: 4 October 2023

Nationality instructions about how UK Visas and Immigration decides on applications from citizens of the UK and colonies.

• From: UK Visas and Immigration
• Updated: 17 December 2007

Immigration staff guidance about British subjects and how to consider applications to acquire that status.

• From: UK Visas and Immigration
• Updated: 21 July 2023

Immigration staff guidance on what the full capacity requirement is for applications and what to consider before granting an application.

• From: UK Visas and Immigration
• Updated: 27 July 2017

HM Passport Office guidance about parental responsibility, birth parents, adoption and surrogacy.

• From: HM Passport Office
• Updated: 24 January 2024

Nationality instructions about how UK Visas and Immigration decides applications of the oath of allegiance and pledge of loyalty.

• From: UK Visas and Immigration
• Updated: 17 December 2007

Immigration staff guidance on nationality applications and claims to British citizenship based on adoption.

• From: UK Visas and Immigration
• Updated: 27 July 2017

Immigration staff guidance on authority levels for decisions on British nationality applications based on different circumstances.

• From: UK Visas and Immigration
• Updated: 7 March 2024

Immigration staff guidance on how surrogacy in the UK affects a child’s claim to British nationality.

• From: UK Visas and Immigration
• Updated: 19 March 2019

Immigration staff guidance providing an overview of British protected person (BPP) status and the requirements of registration.

• From: UK Visas and Immigration
• Updated: 27 July 2017

Casework instructions for how UK Visas and Immigration decides applications for citizenship.

• From: UK Visas and Immigration
• Updated: 1 July 2009

Immigration staff guidance about the registration of minors born both in and outside of the British overseas territories.

• From: UK Visas and Immigration
• Updated: 21 July 2023

Information pack for partners to help raise awareness of the Windrush Scheme.

• From: Home Office
• Updated: 16 February 2022