This is the first in a series of episodes we'll be doing on routes to British nationality for South Africans. So, for those who dont know, a person who is British by descent cannot generally automatically pass the nationality to a further generation born out of the UK. leading provider of British passport application and renewal services from, British Passport renewal from South Africa. He was then able to pass on his nationality to his son, and his son was then a Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies and a South African at the time of his birth automatically. With no future travel plans, this wasn't going to. However, there is no Scottish citizenship officially, as it falls under British citizenship of the United Kingdom. You can get citizenship by descent up to the third generation in Lithuania as well. There are several ways that you can qualify for British Citizenship by descent (grandparent) but they must be provisional in the law providing that a grandparent or great grandparent was classified as British or born in the UK. No.. if you had a British born Grandparent you could get a 5 year Ancestry Visa for the UK.. in some circumstances you can get Irish Citizenship through a great-grandparent born on the Island of Ireland. He was born in South Africa in about 1980, I believe. Have a Swedish parent at the time of your birth. They both have passed away but being able to become a citizen of the place where my grandparents were born (and my mother) is a big deal. More info One parent must be an Austrian citizen with some specific requirements. This is a bummer for a lot of folks. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 4 Can a U.S. citizen petition for grandchild? Habitual residence will be the test for existing UK citizens based in Scotland at the time of independence to become automatically Scottish citizens. This is known as double descent. These can be complex cases which means they must be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Its then through this process that youll be able to confirm whether or not youre eligible to make a double descent claim. Several countries around the globe will grant citizenship if your parents, grandparents or even great-grandparents were born in said country. The courier picked up my documents from my home en route to UK and delivered my new passport back to me a few weeks later. Have at least one parent who was a Singaporean citizen at the time of your birth. There is no specific application process to apply for American British dual nationality all you need to do is to apply to become a UK citizen. Can I get British citizenship through my grandfather? Well, most people who are eligible for UK passports qualify for British citizenship by descent, meaning either you, one or both of your parents were born in the United Kingdom. I provided all of my paperwork and the visit went quite smoothly. This is known as British Citizenship double descent. Then you had the next generation a boy being born in a place that was a UK colony. If British Citizenship by descent is not appropriate for your situation and a visa route is something you are considering, you can find out about UK visas routes for Americans by visiting UK immigration advice for U.S. citizens. German Citizenship by Descent & Ancestry - Germany Visa Argentina , Brazil , Ghana , Ireland , South Africa. This is known as British Citizenship by descent, or more specifically, British Citizenship by double descent. This service was invaluable. +613 (0) 8651 4500. There are other avenues to dual citizenship too, with some of the most popular being investment and naturalization. Scottish, Welsh, and Irish. Can I get Scottish citizenship through DNA test? Can I get British citizenship through my grandparents? Irish citizenship through birth or descent - Citizens Information What is Irish Citizenship By Descent? Thank you for doing such an excellent job Shaun! If a country isnt on this list, it doesnt mean there isnt an opportunity, so please check. I could not have asked for better service. it. MP: Without even knowing. Citizenship through descent from Irish grandparent If one of your grandparents was born in Ireland, but neither of your parents was born in Ireland, you may become an Irish citizen. Have at least one parent who was a Dutch citizen at the time of your birth. The procedure that I had to follow was well documented and easy to complete. There are time limits within passport application so a responsive service is invaluable. Whether you're seeking to reconnect with your family heritage, move overseas, or simply want a second passport at your disposal, at least 50 countries offer some version of citizenship by . Have a father who is a Taiwanese citizen at your time of birth. Children under the age of 18 will need to claim citizenship before the age of 18 or they will lose all rights to British nationality. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Wonderful service from Carla who made the process so easyThank youAmanda. And the speed with which I received my new passport was amazing. In summary, our father basically held two forms of British nationality: Now, the person that approached us was actually his child. How do I prove my British citizenship by descent? More info Have a Chilean parent who can prove one of their parents or grandparents was granted Chilean citizenship by birth or naturalization. Migration and citizenship in an independent Scotland Have at least one parent who was a South African citizen at the time of your birth. In order to apply for British citizenship by descent (grandparent), you will initially have to apply for British Citizenship. Also, take this list as a jumping off point. Namely, it is necessary to register with the Irish Foreign Births Register. Once things open up again, Ill make that appointment. Like British Citizenship by descent through a grandparent, citizenship through a parent is equally complex, due to the number of rules and different scenarios that need to be clarified in the process. For more information speak with our team today on 0333 305 9375. The customer service was top notch! Yes, absolutely. Find out more about citizenship by descent and whether you could be eligible. Click here to read more verified Google Reviews. Pass the Good character requirement this means you should not have committed immigration fraud or been convicted of any serious crimes. Slovakia Citizenship by Descent or Ancestry | Global RCG MyBritishPassport offers an independent service, not associated in any way with any government. Prove that youre able to support yourself whilst be accommodated in the UK. What should I expect from a recruiter first call? I highly recommend them. An estimated 800,000 Americans can be eligible for Slovak citizenship by ancestry. The must also have held Polish citizenship until the day of your birth. Amendments to the nationality law became . We are a professional services company that specialises in cross-border financial and immigration advice and solutions. The whole experience was fast & efficient. For example, you might automatically become a citizen if youre born outside the UK to a British parent.You were born outside the UK. Professional, efficient, swift, friendly. EU Countries That Offer Citizenship by Descendant & Their Application be a problem for me, stateside. It can be done while the child is in South Africa and the child will get a British passport. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Apply for citizenship if you have a British parent - GOV.UK I can thoroughly recommend this service! Have at least one parent who was a Norwegian citizen at the time of your birth. This means you would be required to apply for British citizenship by descent and will be eligible providing you meet guidelines to qualify. Letting go of your passport in a foreign country & not getting to actually see the person dealing with the renewal is. +27 (0) 21 657 2120, Durban A person has the right to apply for citizenship by descent in the case in which the applicant has (or has had) a mother or a father or grandparents that were of Czech descent or who are/were Czech nationals. NY 10017 This is known as British Citizenship by descent, or more specifically, British Citizenship by double descent. Our monthly newsletter with all the news and important updates, delivered to your inbox, Cape Town Call us: And the speed with which I received my new passport was amazing. Very professional and helpful if I had issues. Oldham Readers ask: How To Get Dual Citizenship In Scotland? Would recommend them to anyone needing to renew the British passport, My experience with this company was absolutely fantastic. Be careful though, as each country has specific rules, application. However, if their parents were never married, further research would need to be conducted. Fully recommend it for Brits living abroad. Regent Square, Doncaster Road, Kenilworth, 7708 You can obtain a residence permit in Finland if at least one of your parents or grandparents is or has been a native Finnish citizen. It is a UK grandparent who can give the Right of Abode to those who are Citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies, as our gentleman was. Have at least one parent or grandparent who was a Portuguese citizen. At first seemed like an expensive option, but I can confirm it's 100% worth the. I was born in 1987. You can claim British citizenship by double descent if you have a grandparent (and in rare cases a great-grandparent) born in the UK. Claim a British passport from your great-grandparent - Sable International Likewise, anyone who has lived in Scotland for at least 10 years at any point in their life and can show a demonstrable connection to Scotland could apply for citizenship. Now, what happened here is between the fathers birth in South Africa in 1980 and his fathers birth in Kenya, Kenya gained independence. You or your parents being born in a former British Territory (British Protectorates, British Protected States, Mandated Territories, Foreign Countries with ETJ or Post 1949 Colonies). Can I become a Scottish citizen if my grandfather was born there? The information provided on this page can help you find out how to get British Citizenship by descent through your Grandparent. You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK. More info Have parents, grandparents or great-grandparents who lived in Poland after 1920 or whose address can be found in various registers. Since this is a complex procedure with a number of routes depending on your age, it is advisable to get the help of an immigration expert. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. I was dreading the prospect of renewing my passport but with terrific service from these guys it was smooth and. This is also known as citizenship by birth. citizenship - Do I qualify for a Dutch passport through my grandfather Have at least one parent who was a French citizen at your time of birth. British citizenship by triple descent refers to the ability to acquire British Citizenship through great-grandparents. Were available in-person, via the phone or online. Irish Citizenship By Descent: How I Became A Dual Citizen - Expert Vagabond Obtaining UK citizenship through a grandparent or great grandparent If someone has an Irish grandparent, then they can claim Irish citizenship by descent - but only if that grandparent was born in Ireland or Northern Ireland. Then his son, who would be the grandfather in this example, was born in South Africa. Can I get Irish Citizenship through my great great-grandparents +1 844 290 6312, IAS Ireland All direct descendants of a persecuted ancestor are eligible, including children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. This is why its important that any applications for British Citizenship by descent (grandparent) are complete before the child turns 18. Now, I wont go into it in too much detail, but these connections meant the paternal grandfather was actually British other than by descent on 1 January 1983. Theyre quite rare so I'm surprised to see them one after the other. All appl. The Ireland citizenship by Ancestry or Descentis open to individuals with Irish ancestry going back as far as great grandparents. British Citizenship by Descent (Grandparent) - Immigration Advice Service British Citizenship by Descent | Double Descent | UK Nationality You can read more about applying for citizenship based on Irish descent or associations on the ISD website. So if you have a child under 18 and you have these UK connections, even if its a great grandparent, or you have these connections to a previous UK colony, its so important to fill out the assessment and give as much detail as possible. If grandparent, he or she must have been born in Ireland. 5 Tips for a Smooth UK Passport Application Process. The process and requirements vary from country-to-country so Ive compiled a list of country requirements. If youre thinking about retiring abroad, your options may be limited based on your ability to legally stay in a country for a longer period of time. However, youre also in luck if one of your grandparents was born in Ireland. My great-grandparents both naturalized as US citizens in 1943, when my grandmother was 15. Shaun answered all my questions promptly and. Christa kept in touch with me regularly on progress and the new passport arrived by courier a few days ago. If you can claim citizenship by descent through a relative from Spain, Ireland, Italy or any other EU or EEU country and associated micro-states, you can essentially live, work and study anywhere in the EU without ever applying for a visa. Can a U.S. citizen petition for grandchild? 5 Countries That Will Grant Citizenship Based On Your Ancestry. The U.S. citizen must be able to directly file a visa petition (Form I-130) for every person that he or she wishes to help immigrate. Fast turn around time and prompt communication throughout. Now, one thing that I didn't mention was we also had a paternal grandmother born in the UK, and I'll also explain why that's important for this solution to have worked. Rather, its more about where they were born. You can also learn more about British Citizenship by Birth. Now, around that time, the UK chose to differentiate between those seen as belonging to the Overseas Territories or those who are British belonging to the UK i.e. These are the following circumstances in which you can claim British Citizenship by double descent if you were born after 1983: If you were born before January 1st, 1983: You may be able to claim British Citizenship by double descent when: If you were born before January 1st, 1949: The most common cases of those born before 1949 claiming British Citizenship by descent (grandparent) include: Only British citizens are able to apply for a British passport. Their consultant, Christa Devenish was fantastic - nothing was too much. In this case the important one was the grandmother, because she was born in the UK and the great-grandfather, her husband, was born in South Africa. So would have got British Protection, which is a form of British nationality in the period before 1983 and very much still alive now, and also would have got their father's British Subject status, which at that point was called Citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKC). Now, we will start again, as we did with the other scenario, with the great-grandparent first. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. EH1 3YY. Contact IAS now we offer free advice sessions and are available in-person, by phone, and online. The process is the same as applying for citizenship through a parent. Citizenship by descent, or citizenship by ancestry, is one of those options. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. What is the alternative to British Citizenship by descent (grandparent)? More info Have at least one parent or grandparent who was a Spanish citizen, with some restrictions. There are 3 possible scenarios in which a successful claim for British Citizenship by descent through a grandparent can be made: Once a child turns 18, there are particular circumstances that normally apply for British Citizenship that are no longer available for applications. Now he would have been a South African and Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies and he would have carried that on til about 1971. British citizenship by descent is a term used to describe someone who was born outside of the UK and acquired British citizenship on the basis of their ancestry. Have at least one parent who is a Turkish citizen at your time of birth. L-1B Visa (Specialized Knowledge Workers), P2 Visa (Reciprocal Exchange Program Performers), Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Program, Canada PR Pathways for Hong Kong Citizens, Canada Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). But often there is a bigger reason for wanting to get citizenship by ancestry. All rights reserved. Once my documents were on their way he kept me posted on what was happening. However, there are a few circumstances where this is not the case. Limerick Can I get Irish citizenship if my grandparents were Irish? On a daily basis Move Up receives phones calls of applicants asking "if I have a UK born great grandparent, can I qualify?" to which our consultants conclude that What are the differences between group & component? Those born between the dates of 1 January 1983 and 30 June 2006, would qualify for UK citizenship as long as their father is considered to be a British citizen. In general, due to the way that British citizenship can only be passed down one generation by a parent who has "British citizenship otherwise than by descent" to a child born outside of the UK . Have at least one Hungarian parent or grandparent and may have to pass a basic Hungarian language test. My grandmother married my US citizen grandfather in 1953.