British Nationality Act 1981
View on legislation.gov.ukLast amended by Nationality and Borders Act 2022 in 2022. Further reforms to nationality law including deprivation without notice.
Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.
Summary
The primary legislation governing British nationality. Defines categories of British nationality (British citizen, British overseas territories citizen, British overseas citizen, etc.), sets out how citizenship is acquired (by birth, descent, registration, or naturalisation), and provides for deprivation of citizenship.
Key Points
- Categories of British nationality
- Acquisition by birth, descent, registration, and naturalisation
- Deprivation of citizenship powers
- Good character requirement for naturalisation
- Creates six forms of British nationality, primarily British citizenship (Part I)
- Acquisition by birth in the UK — requires at least one parent who is a British citizen or settled (s.1)
- Acquisition by descent — born outside UK to a British citizen parent (s.2)
- Registration routes for certain categories (ss.3–6)
- Naturalisation requirements: 5 years residence, good character, language (s.6, Sch.1)
- Deprivation of citizenship powers (s.40)
- Stateless persons provisions (s.36, Sch.2)
Parts & Sections
Amendments History
2014 — Immigration Act 2014
Extended deprivation powers to cover cases where statelessness would result, subject to conditions.
2022 — Nationality and Borders Act 2022
Further reforms to nationality law including deprivation without notice.
2014 — Immigration Act 2014
Extended power to deprive citizenship even if it would render a person stateless (for conduct seriously prejudicial to vital interests).