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Apply for British citizenship if you have a British parent - who's eligible, fees and how to apply

• Who can apply

  You may be eligible for British citizenship if you have a British parent.…

• You were born on or after 1 July 2006

  You’re automatically a British citizen if you were born outside the UK and…

• You were born between 1983 and June 2006

  You’re automatically a British citizen if you were born outside the UK and…

• You were born before 1983

  You may automatically be a British citizen if you were born before 1…

• After you've applied

  You’ll usually get a decision within 6 months - some applications can take…

Who has parental responsibility for looking after children, and how to apply for parental responsibility if you were unmarried to the mother or are not on the birth certificate

• What parental responsibility is

  Having parental responsibility means you have legal rights and duties…

• Who has parental responsibility

  You automatically have parental responsibility if you give birth to the…

• Apply for parental responsibility

  If you’re not the birth mother, you can apply to court to get parental…

How to get contact with your grandchildren if parents divorce or separate and will not let you see them: mediation, applying for a court order

Guide for parents and legal guardians about applications to Homes for Ukraine for children who are not travelling with or joining their parent or legal guardian.

• Updated: 5 August 2025

Information and resources for leaders, managers and practitioners seeking to improve children’s outcomes by supporting the parental relationship.

• Updated: 12 June 2025

How to set up or manage a child maintenance arrangement, including what to do if a parent does not pay, how to contact the Child Maintenance Service, and signing in to your account.

Guidance for councils about applications to Homes for Ukraine for children who are not travelling with or joining their parent or legal guardian.

• Updated: 3 November 2025

Guidance for employees and employers: employment rights when on maternity, paternity, adoption, neonatal care or parental bereavement leave - keeping in touch days, annual leave, returning to work, redundancy.

Legal rights for intended parents and surrogates; how legal parenthood is transferred; children born outside the UK; pay and leave rights

Research bringing together evidence on parenting behaviours and the extent to which public policy can support parents.

• Updated: 20 February 2017