Born in the UK or a British colony before 1 January 1983

You鈥檙e usually a British citizen automatically if you were born in the UK.

There are 3 exceptions. You will not be a British citizen if:

  • your father was a diplomat working for a foreign country
  • your mother was a diplomat working for a foreign country and you were born on or after 10 April 1968
  • your father was an 鈥榚nemy alien in occupation鈥� in the Channel Islands during World War 2

If you were born in a British colony

You鈥檙e a British citizen automatically if both of the following apply:

  • you were a citizen of the UK and Colonies (CUKC) on 31 December 1982
  • you had the 鈥榬ight of abode鈥� in the UK (this means you could live and work in the UK free of any immigration controls)

There鈥檚 one exception. You might not be a British citizen if you got a certificate to confirm that you鈥檙e registered as a Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKC) under the 鈥楤ritish Nationality (No 2) Act 1964. Read more detail about who can claim British citizenship automatically.