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You may be eligible for British overseas territories citizenship and British citizenship if both of the following apply:

• your parent is a British overseas territories citizen
• you were not born in the UK

It depends on when you were born, and your parents’ circumstances.

Check your eligibility:

• if you were born before 1983 and your mother was a British overseas territories citizen
• if your parents were not married

If you or your parents were born in the UK, you might automatically be a British citizen. Check if you’re a British citizen.

How much it costs

You may have to pay a fee to apply for British citizenship depending on your circumstances.

You may also need to pay a fee for British overseas territories citizenship, depending on which territory you have a connection with.

You’ll need to pay £130 to attend a citizenship ceremony if you’re applying for both British citizenship and British overseas territories citizenship.

If you’re only applying to become a British overseas territories citizen, you’ll need to make an oath and pledge. The fee you’ll pay depends on the territory where you make your oath and pledge.

You can apply to become a British overseas territories citizen and a British citizen if both of the following apply:

• you were born before 1 January 1983
• you would have become a British overseas territories citizen if your mother had been able to pass citizenship on to you when you were born

Documents you’ll need to apply

You’ll need to provide the following documents to show how you could have become a British overseas territories citizen through your mother:

• your passport
• your birth certificate

You’ll also need to provide one of the following:

• your mother’s birth certificate
• your mother’s certificate of naturalisation or registration as a citizen of the UK and Colonies
• papers showing your mother’s legal adoption
• your mother’s expired passport that shows she was a citizen of the UK and Colonies

How to apply

Fill in the form. You can use the same form to apply to become a British overseas territories citizen and a British citizen.

If you apply from outside the UK

You’ll be asked to make an appointment at a visa application centre to provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photo). You’ll get a letter telling you how to do this after you’ve applied.

If you apply from inside the UK

You’ll be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) centre to provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photo). You’ll get a letter telling you how to do this after you’ve applied.

If you’re applying from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man

If you live in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, you have to apply in person or by post.

Check which you can do with your lieutenant-governor’s office.

You can apply to become a British overseas territories citizen and a British citizen if one of the following apply:

• you would have automatically become a British overseas territories citizen if your parents had been married
• you could have applied to become a British overseas territories citizen if your parents had been married

You must have not previously given up (renounced) your citizenship as a British overseas territories citizen.

Documents you’ll need to apply

You’ll need to provide the following documents to show how you could have become a British overseas territories citizen through your father:

• your passport
• your birth certificate

If your birth certificate does not have your father’s name on it, you’ll need to provide another document that shows how you’re related, for example a court order.

You’ll also need to provide one of the following:

• your father’s birth certificate
• your father’s certificate of naturalisation or registration as a citizen of the UK and Colonies
• papers showing your father’s legal adoption
• your father’s expired passport that shows he was a citizen of the UK and Colonies

How to apply

Fill in the form. You can use the same form to apply to become a British overseas territories citizen and a British citizen.

If you apply from outside the UK

You’ll be asked to make an appointment at a visa application centre to provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photo). You’ll get a letter telling you how to do this after you’ve applied.

If you apply from inside the UK

You’ll be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) centre to provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photo). You’ll get a letter telling you how to do this after you’ve applied.

If you’re applying from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man

If you live in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, you have to apply in person or by post.

Check which you can do with your lieutenant-governor’s office.

You’ll usually get a decision within 6 months - some applications can take longer. If yours will take longer you’ll be told before 6 months have passed.

You’ll be told if you need to provide more information to help with your application.

If your circumstances change

Contact UK Visas and Immigration (part of the Home Office) if your situation changes during your application. For example, you move house, get married or are arrested.

If you become a British citizen and a British overseas territory citizen

If your application to become a British citizen and British overseas territories citizen is successful and you’re 18 years old or over, you’ll need to attend a citizenship ceremony.

If you live outside the UK, you will be invited to attend a ceremony in the territory or country you are living in.

If you become a British overseas territory citizen

If you are only applying to become a British overseas territories citizen and your application is successful, you’ll need to make an oath and pledge. You’ll be sent details on how to do this.

Travelling to and from the UK

Once you get a British passport you must use this to enter the UK.

If you do not want a British passport you can apply for a certificate of entitlement instead.

You cannot enter the UK using your certificate of British citizenship.