UK Act of Parliament 1981 United Kingdom

British Nationality Act 1981

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At a glance

Enforced by

Home Office

What's here

5 compliance obligations · 1 statutory instrument

Who this Act binds

Plus 5 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.

What this Act requires

Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.

Part I — British Citizenship

s.004

Acquisition by registration: certain persons without other citizenship

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State must register eligible persons as British citizens Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 26 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.004

Acquisition by registration: further provision for British overseas territories citizens

s.004

Acquisition by registration: Irish citizens

s.004

Acquisition by registration: certain persons born before 1983

s.004

Acquisition by registration: children of members of the armed forces

s.004

The general conditions

s.004

Person unable to be registered under other provisions of this Act

s.004

Person unable to become citizen automatically after commencement

s.004

Citizen of UK and colonies unable to become citizen at commencement

s.004

Other person unable to become citizen at commencement

s.004

Sections 4E to 4I: supplementary provision

s.004

Acquisition by registration: certain British overseas territories citizens

s.004

Acquisition by registration: special circumstances

s.010

Acquisition in connection with immigration rules Appendix EU

Part II — British overseas territories citizenship

Browse 20 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.017

Registration: remedying inability of mothers to transmit citizenship

s.017

Registration: unmarried fathers; the general conditions

s.017

Person unable to be registered under other provisions of this Act

s.017

Person unable to become citizen automatically after commencement

s.017

Citizen of UK and Colonies unable to become citizen at commencement

s.017

Other person unable to become citizen at commencement

s.017

Sections 17B to 17F: supplementary provision

s.017

Acquisition by registration: descendants of those born in British Indian Ocean Territory

s.017

Acquisition by registration: special circumstances

Part III — British Overseas Citizenship

Browse 4 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part IV — British Subjects

Browse 6 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part V — Miscellaneous and Supplementary

s.041

Registration: requirement to be of good character

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Home Office must ensure citizenship applicants are of good character Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 23 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.040

Deprivation of citizenship: appeal

s.040

Review of power under section 40(4A)

s.042

Registration and naturalisation: fee

s.042

Registration and naturalisation: timing

s.044

Waiver of requirement for full capacity

s.050

Meaning of references to being in breach of immigration laws

s.050

Immigration restrictions to be disregarded in certain cases

Schedules

Browse 67 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
s.sch001

(1) Subject to paragraph 2, the requirements for naturalisation as...

s.sch001

In this Schedule “the relevant territory” has the meaning given...

s.sch001

(1) This paragraph applies for the purposes of this Schedule....

s.sch001

(1) If in the special circumstances of any particular case...

s.sch001

(1) A person has a qualifying immigration status for the...

s.sch001

Subject to paragraph 4, the requirements for naturalisation as a...

s.sch001

Paragraph 2 shall apply in relation to paragraph 3 with...

s.sch001

(1) Subject to paragraph 3(5), a person has a qualifying...

s.sch001

(1) The qualifying period for the purposes of paragraph 1...

s.sch001

(1) Subject to paragraph 6, the requirements for naturalisation as...

s.sch001

(1) If in the special circumstances of any particular case...

s.sch001

Subject to paragraph 8, the requirements for naturalisation as a...

s.sch001

Paragraph 6 shall apply in relation to paragraph 7 with...

s.sch001

(1) For the purposes of this Schedule a person shall...

s.sch002

(1) Where a person born in the United Kingdom after...

s.sch002

(1) Where a person born in a British overseas territory...

s.sch002

(1) A person born in the United Kingdom or a...

s.sch002

(1) A person born in the United Kingdom or a...

s.sch002

(1) A person born outside the United Kingdom and the...

s.sch002

(1) A person born before commencement shall be entitled, on...

s.sch002

If in the special circumstances of any particular case the...

s.sch004

In this Schedule “the 1971 Act” means the Immigration Act...

s.sch004

For “patrial”— (a) where it occurs in the provisions of...

s.sch004

(1) For “certificate of patriality”, wherever (except in section 33(1))...

s.sch004

In section 3(7) of the 1971 Act (powers available where...

s.sch004

In section 8(5) of the 1971 Act, for the words...

s.sch004

In section 25(5) of the 1971 Act (extension of provisions...

s.sch004

In section 33 of the 1971 Act (interpretation)—

s.sch004a

Deprivation of Citizenship without notice: judicial oversight

s.sch004a

Deprivation without notice: application to Special Immigration Appeals Commission

s.sch004a

Deprivation of citizenship without notice: review

s.sch004a

Interpretation

s.sch005

The form of citizenship oath and pledge is as follows...

s.sch005

The form of citizenship oath and pledge is as follows...

s.sch005

The form of citizenship oath is as follows for registration...

s.sch005

The form of citizenship oath is as follows for registration...

s.sch006

Anguilla Bermuda British Antarctic Territory British Indian Ocean Territory Cayman...

s.sch007

In section 3(3) (persons prohibited from broadcasting whilst on or...

s.sch007

In section 1(3) (person prohibited from harming Antarctic flora and...

s.sch007

In paragraph 3 of Schedule 11 (territorial extent)— in the...

s.sch008

(1) This paragraph applies to any application—

s.sch008

Where a person who has been registered or to whom...

s.sch008

(1) This paragraph applies to a person born less than...

s.sch008

(1) Where— (a) a person has before commencement duly made...

s.sch008

Any application for a certificate of patriality under the Immigration...

s.sch008

Where a person who has been refused a certificate of...

s.sch008

Any appeal under Part II of the Immigration Act 1971...

s.sch008

In relation to appeals against any decision taken or other...

s.schedule/7/crossheading/adoption/act/1976/c/36_par

In section 47(2) (nationality enactments)— (a) in paragraph (a), for...

s.schedule/7/crossheading/adoption/scotland/act/1978

In section 41(2) (nationality enactments)— (a) in paragraph (a), for...

s.schedule/7/crossheading/consular/relations/act/196

In section 1(2) (meaning of certain terms in Schedule 1),...

s.schedule/7/crossheading/diplomatic/privileges/act/

For section 3(2) (disregard, in connection with citizenship of children...

s.schedule/7/crossheading/emergency/laws/reenactment

In section 9 (territorial extent of Part I), in subsection...

s.schedule/7/crossheading/fugitive/offenders/act/196

. . . .

s.schedule/7/crossheading/income/and/corporation/tax

. . . .

s.schedule/7/crossheading/national/health/service/sc

In paragraph 3 of Schedule 10 (territorial extent)—

s.schedule/7/crossheading/solomon/islands/act/1978/c

In section 6 (construction of nationality provisions)—

s.schedule/7/crossheading/state/immunity/act/1978/c/

In section 4(5) (definition of “national of the United Kingdom”),...

Read the full Act on legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)

Enforcement and responsible bodies

The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.

Home Office

Government department responsible for immigration, security, and law and order. Administers UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), issues sponsor licences for employers hiring …

Connected legislation

1 statutory instrument

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