British
Nationality

The law governing British nationality is extremely complex and it is therefore always advisable to seek professional advice to determine whether or not you are a British citizen or are entitled to apply for registration as a British citizen.

People often confuse applying for a British passport with applying for British citizenship. It is only possible to obtain a British passport if you are already a British citizen. If you are not already a British citizen but qualify to apply for British citizenship you will need to submit a successful British citizenship application before you can apply for a British passport.

Become a British Nationality Citizen

There are essentially 4 ways to become a British citizen:

• Automatically (example, by virtue of having been born in the UK before 1 January 1983 or by descent if born outside the UK to a British parent who acquired his/her British citizenship other than by descent)
• Registration (example, a child who is born in the UK after 1 January 1983 whose parent acquires indefinite leave to remain in the UK before the child’s birth)
• Naturalisation (example, someone who has spent 5 years in the UK on a work visa and 1 year holding indefinite leave to remain in the UK)
• Discretion exercised by the UK Home Office pursuant to recent changes made to British nationality law aimed at rectifying historical discrimination against women in the law. South Africans who have a grandparent born in the UK may qualify to apply for British citizenship pursuant to the above mentioned changes to the law.

Someone who acquired British citizenship automatically does not need to apply for confirmation of their citizenship and can apply for a British passport at any time.

Someone who acquired British citizenship by registration, naturalisation or pursuant to the recent changes made to British nationality law must apply for confirmation of their British citizenship and will thereafter be entitled to apply for a British passport.