British & Commonwealth Citizenship
Commonwealth Nationality Laws
British (history) Australian Barbadian Canadian (history) Indian Malaysian Maltese New Zealand South African Irish citizens in the UK Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Commonwealth_of_Nations. ... This article concerns the History of British nationality law. ... Barbados achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1966 as a commonwealth with HM the Queen Elizabeth II remaining the head of state. ... Canada was the second nation in the then British Commonwealth to establish its own nationality law in 1946, with the enactment of the Canadian Citizenship Act 1946. ... This article concerns British nationality law in respect of citizens of the Republic of Ireland. ...
Classes of Citizens and Subjects
British citizen British subject British Overseas Territories citizen British Overseas citizen British National (Overseas) British protected person Commonwealth citizen British Nationality Law ... In British nationality law, the term British subject has at different times had different meanings. ... // British Nationality Act 1981 The British Nationality Act 1981 came into force on 1 January 1983, and divided Citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKCs) into three categories: British citizens CUKCs with the right of abode in the United Kingdom and Islands (i. ... In British nationality law, the status of British Overseas citizen (BOC) is one of several categories of British national. ... This article concerns matters of British nationality law in relation to Hong Kong. ... British Protected Person (BPP) is a form of British nationality under the British Nationality Act 1981. ... A Commonwealth citizen, formerly known as a British subject, is generally a person who is a national of any country within the Commonwealth of Nations. ...
Rights and Visas
Right of abode Indefinite leave to remain Permanent resident (Australia) Permanent resident (Canada) Belonger status UK Ancestry Entry Clearance Right of Abode is a status under United Kingdom immigration laws that gives an unrestricted right to live in the United Kingdom. ... Indefinite Leave to Remain or ILR, is an immigration status granted to a person who does not hold right of abode in the United Kingdom, but who has been admitted to the UK without any time limit on his stay and who is free to take up employment, without restriction. ... Australian permanent residents are residents of Australia who hold permanent residency visas but are not citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia. ... A Permanent Resident in Canada is someone who is not a Canadian citizen but has the legal right to enter or remain in Canada. ... A legal classification normally associated with Britains Overseas Territories. ...
Acts
Ireland Act 1949 British Nationality Act 1981 Falkland Islands (1983) Overseas Territories Act 2002 Canadian Citizenship Act 1946 The Ireland Act 1949 is a UK Act of Parliament which was intended to deal with the consequences of the then recently passed Republic of Ireland Act 1948 as passed by the Irish parliament (Oireachtas). ... The British Nationality Act 1981 was an Act of Parliament passed by the British Parliament. ... The British Overseas Territories Act 2002 is an Act of Parliament passed in the United Kingdom in 2002, which superseded the British Nationality Act 1981. ... The Canadian Citizenship Act is an Act of the Government of Canada, which came into effect on July 1, 1947, recognizing the definition of a Canadian, including reference to them being British subjects. ...

A UK Ancestry Entry Clearance often referred to as an "Ancestry Visa" is a United Kingdom Entry Clearance for Commonwealth citizens with a grandparent born in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands or Isle of Man who wish to work in the United Kingdom. Entry Clearance is a catch all term under UK Immigration legislation that refers to both visas and entry certificates issued to persons seeking to enter the UK. The point being, that while all visa nationals will require a visa to enter the UK, there are certain circumstances where non-Visa... A Commonwealth citizen, formerly known as a British subject, is generally a person who is a national of any country within the Commonwealth of Nations. ... The Channel Islands are a group of islands off the coast of Normandy, France, in the English Channel. ...

Requirements

The main requirements are:^[1]

• a grandparent born in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and Isle of Man at any time; or a grandparent born in what is now the Republic of Ireland on or before March 31, 1922.
• a citizen of a Commonwealth country (it does not matter how citizenship was acquired). Zimbabwe remains a Commonwealth country for visa purposes.
• aged 17 or over
• intends to undertake employment
• able to support oneself in the United Kingdom without recourse to public funds.

The Commonwealth of Nations (CN), usually known as the Commonwealth, is a voluntary association of 53 independent sovereign states, the majority of which are former colonies of the United Kingdom. ...

Term of Visa

The Entry Clearance is valid for five years. After this one may apply for an extension or alternatively apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). ILR will normally only be granted if the five years have been spent in employment in the UK. Indefinite Leave to Remain or ILR, is an immigration status granted to a person who does not hold right of abode in the United Kingdom, but who has been admitted to the UK without any time limit on his stay and who is free to take up employment, without restriction. ...

This Entry Clearance does not allow full time study in the United Kingdom as the holder is expected to work. This is possible only after ILR is obtained, or if the person obtains a student visa.

British Citizenship

After acquiring Indefinite Leave to Remain, it is possible to apply for British citizenship by naturalisation after meeting normal residence requirements. See British nationality law Indefinite Leave to Remain or ILR, is an immigration status granted to a person who does not hold right of abode in the United Kingdom, but who has been admitted to the UK without any time limit on his stay and who is free to take up employment, without restriction. ... British nationality law is the law of the United Kingdom concerning British citizenship and other categories of British nationality. ...

• The increase in the period of time under UK Ancestry to 5 years before ILR can be applied for effectively means that applicants (who are usually not married to British citizens) must wait 6 years for British citizenship. This is because naturalisation as a British citizen for a person not married to a British citizen requires that ILR or its equivalent be held for 12 months.
• Children born in the United Kingdom to persons with UK Ancestry (since 1983) are not British citizens by birth. However the child can be registered a British citizen once the parent obtains ILR if the child is still under 18 (it is not necessary to wait for the parent to become British).

Irish born grandparent

A grandparent born in Northern Ireland, or what is now the Republic of Ireland prior to 1 April 1922, gives rise to an entitlement to a right to admission under UK Ancestry. However there may also be an entitlement to register as an Irish citizen by descent which grants full permanent residency in the UK immediately. See Irish nationality law Motto: [citation needed] (French for God and my right)2 Anthem: UK: God Save the Queen Regional: (de facto) Londonderry Air Capital Belfast Largest city Belfast Official language(s) English (de facto), Irish, Ulster Scots 3, NI Sign Language Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister Tony Blair... Irish nationality law is the law of the Republic of Ireland governing citizenship. ...

This may be possible as an alternative to, or in addition to, a UK Ancestry Entry Clearance.

Possible Abolition

On 26 October 2005, The Times newspaper in Britain published an article outlining possible plans by the British Home Office to abolish admission under UK Ancestry in favour of a points based migration system. The issue had apparently been raised in the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee. The possibility of abolition alarmed many people with British-born grandparents living in Commonwealth countries.

Scotland's First Minister, Jack McConnell, expressed his concern over the possible abolition of the UK Ancestry Entry Clearance. Mr. McConnell had recently been in Canada to encourage Canadians of Scottish heritage to move to Scotland. Canada has over 4 million citizens that are of Scottish descent. Part of the reason for this campaign was the concern over declining population and birthrate in Scotland. His campaign received a great deal of interest in Canada. The First Minister (First Meinister in Scots; Prìomh Mhinistear in Scots Gaelic) is the leader of Scotlands national devolved government, the Scottish Executive, which was established in 1999 along with the reconvened Scottish Parliament. ... Jack McConnell The Right Honourable Jack Wilson McConnell MSP (born June 30, 1960 in Irvine, North Ayrshire) is a Scottish politician, leader of the Labour Party in Scotland and the current First Minister of Scotland. ... ... Motto: (Eng: No one provokes me with impunity)1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots 2 Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen of the UK Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification    - by...

However, details of a new points based system announced on 7 March 2006 made it clear that ancestry routes to the UK would not be affected. The new points system covers those workers wishing to enter the UK without EU/EEA member state citizenship or ancestral links to the UK.

Notes

2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 14 is the 134th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (135th in leap years). ...

See also

• Permanent residency
• Right of abode
• Indefinite Leave to Remain
• British nationality law

Permanent residency refers to a persons status such that the person is allowed to reside indefinitely within the country despite not having citizenship. ... The right of abode refers to an individuals freedom from immigration control in a particular country. ... Indefinite Leave to Remain or ILR, is an immigration status granted to a person who does not hold right of abode in the United Kingdom, but who has been admitted to the UK without any time limit on his stay and who is free to take up employment, without restriction. ... British nationality law is the law of the United Kingdom concerning British citizenship and other categories of British nationality. ...

External links

• Home Office details on new points based migration system
• Times Article on Ancestry Visa abolition
• Sydney Morning Herald article on Ancestry Visa abolition