The short answer
Being born in the UK does not always make you a British citizen. For people born before 1 January 1983, birth in the UK was enough. For those born on or after that date, it usually depends on the status of a parent at the time of the birth. Checking the rule that applies to your date of birth is the first step to knowing your position, and many people discover they are British, or entitled to register, when they apply for a passport.
Born before 1 January 1983
A person born in the UK before 1 January 1983 is generally a British citizen automatically, whatever their parents’ nationality, with a few exceptions such as the children of diplomats and some children of enemy occupiers. Some people born in British colonies before that date also have a claim.
Born on or after 1 January 1983
A person born in the UK on or after 1 January 1983 is British automatically only if, at the time of the birth, at least one parent was:
- a British citizen, or
- settled in the UK, which means having indefinite leave to remain, settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or being exempt from immigration control.
If neither parent was British or settled at the time of the birth, the child is not British automatically, even though they were born here. Some rules changed over time, in particular for children born to unmarried fathers, who could not pass on citizenship before 1 July 2006, and for the parents of children born in the years before 2000 whose status later improved. Which rule applies depends on the exact date of birth and the parents’ status on that date.
If you are not British automatically
You may still be entitled to register as a British citizen, as of right. The most common routes are:
- A parent became British or settled after your birth, and you were under 18 when you applied.
- You have lived in the UK for the first ten years of your life, and have not been absent for more than 90 days in any one of those years.
- You are stateless, and meet the conditions for registration.
The fee to register a child under 18 is £1,000, and the fee to register an adult is £1,540, plus £130 for the ceremony (fees from 8 October 2026). See registering a child as a British citizen.
How to find out
The Home Office has an online tool for checking whether you are a British citizen. The answer depends on dates and documents, and where there is doubt, we can look at the birth certificate, your parents’ documents and any naturalisation or settlement certificates, and tell you where you stand before you apply for a passport. See British passports.
Why it matters
A person who believes they are British but is not can find that a passport application is refused, that a job or a mortgage is put at risk, or that they have been living in the UK without status. Putting the position right early, by registration, is far easier than doing it after a problem has arisen.
