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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…

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: 31 January 2025

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…

You can apply for a Parent of a Child Student visa if your child attends an independent school in the UK.

Foster carers look after children when their parents are not able to - becoming a foster carer, money and support available, fostering agencies, foster parents

What to do if you need to get child maintenance and one of the parents lives abroad.

Find out how to apply to become a child's special guardian.

Apply for British citizenship if you were born in the UK - who's eligible, fees and how to apply

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

Parents' Learning Allowance for full-time students with children - funding, apply, eligibility.