GB
United Kingdom · Citizenship by Descent · processing 180-365 days
British citizenship is normally acquired automatically by a child born outside the UK when a parent was British otherwise than by descent at the time of birth. Automatic transmission generally extends to one generation born abroad, subject to date-specific rules and exceptions such as qualifying Crown service. People who did not acquire citizenship automatically may qualify to register under separate statutory provisions for historical discrimination or other circumstances.
Automatic citizenship is normally limited to one generation born abroad; a British citizen by descent usually cannot automatically pass citizenship to a child also born abroad. Eligibility depends on where and when the applicant was born, the parent's status at that time, and other family circumstances. Separate registration provisions can address historical gender discrimination, unmarried British fathers, Crown service, and other statutory cases; UKM is a registration route for certain people affected by historic sex discrimination and is not a general double-descent route. Adult registration fees vary by route; the Home Office lists £1,540 for adult registration generally and £130 for UKM/UKF registration (ceremony fee only), while child registration is generally £1,000. A first standard adult passport applied for from outside the UK costs £116.50 online. UK citizenship does not confer EU citizenship or EU free movement.
Last verified Oct 9, 2026 Last changed Oct 9, 2026 Source
updated passport rank and destination count to July 2026 Henley figures (https://www.henleyglobal.com/newsroom/press-releases/henley-passport-index-20th-anniversary) Source
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