Pathways To UK Citizenship For Children

British citizenship by birth

Children born in the UK will not automatically be born British citizens. A child born in the UK will only acquire British citizenship if, at the time of their birth, they are born to a parent who is British or has 'settled' in the UK (often referred to as having permanent residence, settled status or indefinite leave to remain). Children in these circumstances will be born British 'otherwise than by descent' and can pass their citizenship to their own children, whether they are born in or outside of the UK.

Children born outside the UK to a British parent may be 'British by descent'. British citizenship is normally automatically passed down one generation to children born outside the UK. However, this depends on when the child was born and how the parent acquired their British citizenship. Those who are British by descent cannot automatically pass their citizenship down to their children.