Will A Child Born In the UK Automatically Get British Citizenship?

In today’s blog, we’ll be looking at how a child born in the UK can acquire British citizenship.

A child born in the UK does not directly become a British Citizen. After the implementation of the British Nationality Act of 1981, being born in the UK itself is not enough for getting British nationality. Children born in the UK can acquire nationality according to the condition of their parents.

British nationality will be automatically given to a child at the time of birth according to the following conditions:

• The child’s mother or father is a British citizen at the time of his birth, or;
• The child’s mother or father is settled in the UK, which means that either of the parents has acquired an Indefinite Leave to Remain or a Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme.

The child will not automatically get British citizenship If these conditions are not met at the time of birth.

If a child is born in the UK but does not acquire British citizenship at the time of birth, the child should apply as a dependent through the same visa route as the parents have at the time of birth. In this case, the child should not leave the UK until a UK immigration document or British passport is issued.

If either or both of the parents get British nationality or become settled in the UK when the child is a minor and is inside the UK, the child may apply for British citizenship. Before the child can apply for a British passport, an application to be registered has to be filed.