Joel K. Says:
I’m American, born and bred, but one of my parents is English. Does that mean I can get a British passport?
Global Diversification Expert Ted Baumann Says:
Hi Joel,
Like a surprising number of countries, the United Kingdom’s approach to ancestral citizenship is complicated by numerous legal changes over the years.
The bottom line is that if you were born outside the U.K. and one of your parents is British, your rights to citizenship will depend on when you were born and whether they were married when you were born.
If your father was born in the U.K. before 1983, you are automatically British regardless of when you were born (whereas British mothers didn’t automatically pass down citizenship before 1983).
If your mother was born in the U.K. before 1983, you qualify for British citizenship and you might even be British already depending on when you were born:
- You were born before 1 January 1983—you can apply for British nationality.
- You were born on or after 1 January 1983—you are British already and may apply for a passport.
Then there’s the question of the marital status of your parents. Historically, you could not claim British citizenship through your father if your parents weren’t married at the time of your birth. This discrimination was partly fixed in legislation that came into effect on 1 July 2006.
For anyone born after that date, the fact your parents weren’t married is irrelevant. If you were born before 1 July 2006, you will need to make a special application for citizenship.
Assuming you’re in the US, you would make an appointment with a British embassy or consulate in the United States, and explain that you wish to apply for ancestral citizenship.
They will tell you what documentation you need, but at a minimum you will need your parents’ birth certificates and marriage certificate, as well as your own birth certificate.
Best of luck!
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