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How to apply for British citizenship if you're a British overseas citizen, protected person, subject, national or overseas territories citizen - who's eligible, fees and where to send your application.

• Who can apply as a British national

  You may be eligible to apply to ‘register’ as a British citizen if you…

• Most types of British nationality

  You may be able to apply if you are one of the following: a British…

• You've lived in the UK or worked as a Crown servant

  You may be able to apply if you hold any form of British nationality and…

• You have a connection with Gibraltar

  You probably became a British citizen automatically if you were registered…

• You've lived in Hong Kong

  You may be eligible to apply if you’re ‘ordinarily resident’ in Hong Kong…

• Where to send your application

  Where you send your application depends on the country you’re currently…

• After you've applied

  You’ll get a letter confirming your application. It can take up to 4…

Dual citizenship (also known as dual nationality) is allowed in the UK. Read the rules and how to apply.

Check if you're automatically a British citizen - it depends on where and when you were born and your parents' immigration status.

• Overview

  If you or your parents were born in the UK, you might automatically be a…

• 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.…

• Born in the UK between 1 January 1983 and 1 October 2000

  Whether you’re a British citizen depends on where your parents were from…

• Born in the UK between 2 October 2000 and 29 April 2006

  Whether you’re a British citizen depends on where your parents were from…

• Born in the UK between 30 April 2006 and 30 June 2021

  Whether you’re a British citizen depends on where your parents were from…

• Born in the UK from 1 July 2021 onwards

  Whether you’re a British citizen depends on where your parents were from…

• Born outside the UK or stateless

  If at least one of your parents is a British citizen You might…

• Your parents' immigration status when you were born

  If you were born in the UK after 31 December 1982 and your parents were…

There are different ways to apply for British citizenship, including ‘naturalisation’. Check your eligibility to apply.

Apply to give up (renounce) your British citizenship or status - ‘declaration of renunciation’

Apply for British citizenship if you're married to, or in a civil partnership with, a British citizen - form AN, who's eligible, fees and how to apply.

The National Citizen Service Trust worked to empower young people as part of the government’s National Youth Guarantee. The National Citizen Service (NCS) was founded in 2009 and granted Royal Charter Body status in 2018. It provided opportunities for 16...

• Updated: 19 June 2025

The different types of British nationality explained - British citizen, British overseas territories citizen, British overseas citizen, British subject, British national (overseas), British protected person

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

How to apply for British citizenship if you're stateless - who's eligible, fees and where to send your application