Is Your Child Eligible For British Citizenship?

1. British Citizenship for UK-Born Children: Eligibility and Registration Routes

We frequently receive enquiries asking, 'My child was born in the UK, can they become a British citizen?' In this article we will explore whether a child born in the UK is eligible as a British citizen and the routes available to register a child as a British citizen.

If a child was born in the UK and at the time of their birth, if either of their parents were British citizens themselves or settled in the UK, the child is automatically born a British citizen. This means that an application can be made for a British passport for the child.

If a child was born in the UK but at the time neither of their parents was a British citizen or settled, then the child was not automatically born a British citizen. It may be possible to register a child for British citizenship depending on their circumstances.