UK Child Registration
United Kingdom
Citizenship
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See if you're a match →A child born in the UK after 1982 may be entitled to register as British if they were not British at birth but later a parent became British, settled, or joined the UK armed forces. The child generally must apply before turning 18 and meet good-character rules if aged 10 or older.
- Type
- Citizenship registration
- Registration fit
- People who may have a direct registration right
- Core records
- Records showing the specific registration right
- What to know
- Usually a strong right if the facts and records line up
Summary
Sections 1(3) and 1(3A) of the British Nationality Act 1981 can let certain children born in the UK register as British citizens. These routes apply when the child was not British at birth, but a parent later became British, became settled, or became a UK armed-forces member.
This is usually an entitlement route, meaning the child should be registered if the legal requirements are met. The application normally must be made before the child turns 18.
Eligibility
You may be a fit if:
- The child was born in the UK on or after 1 January 1983.
- The child was not automatically British at birth.
- The child is still under 18 when the application is made.
- After the child's birth, a parent became British or settled in the UK; or, for Section 1(3A), a parent became a UK armed-forces member.
- The child meets the good-character requirement if aged 10 or older.
What This Route Allows
If approved, the child registers as a British citizen. Registration under these provisions generally gives British citizenship otherwise than by descent, which can matter for future children born outside the UK.
What This Route Is Not
- A route for adults.
- A route for children who were already British at birth.
- The same as Section 1(4), which can apply after 10 years of childhood residence in the UK.
- A substitute for checking whether the child is already British automatically.
Next Steps
- Confirm the child was born in the UK and is still under 18.
- Confirm whether the child was already British at birth.
- Gather evidence of the parent's later British citizenship, settlement, or armed-forces membership.
- Prepare good-character information if the child is aged 10 or older.
- Apply for registration using the appropriate form and evidence.