天美影院

Guidance on how to consider applications for registration under sections 4C and 4F-4I of the British Nationality Act 1981

About this guidance

This guidance tells Nationality caseworkers how to consider applications for registration as a British citizen from:

• children born before 1 January 1983 to British mothers
• children who would have become a British citizen but for the fact that their father was not married to their mother

Contacts

If you have any questions about the guidance and your line manager or senior caseworker cannot help you or you think that the guidance has factual errors then email the Nationality policy team.

If you notice any formatting errors in this guidance (broken links, spelling mistakes and so on) or have any comments about the layout or navigability of the guidance then you can email the Guidance Review, Atlas and Forms team.

Publication

Below is information on when this version of the guidance was cleared:

• version 9.0
• published for Home Office staff on 07 August 2025

Changes from last version of this guidance

Changes to clarify paternity made to pages 10 and 11.

Introduction

This page tells you about applications for British citizenship made by children of British mothers or fathers.

Before 1 January 1983 British women were not able to pass on citizenship to their children born abroad in the same way as British men. Children born before 1 January 1983 to British mothers can apply for registration as a British citizen under .They will normally qualify if they would have become British citizens automatically under that Act had women been able to pass on citizenship in the same way as men.

Before 1 July 2006 a British man could not pass on citizenship to a child born outside the UK if he was not married to the child鈥檚 mother. Similarly, a child born between 1 January 1983 and 30 June 2006 in the UK to a settled or British citizen father might not have become a British citizen if the parents were not married.

Children born to unmarried British or settled fathers can apply for registration as a British citizen under . They will normally qualify if they would have become British citizens automatically under that Act had their parents been married.

In addition a person who would have qualified for registration as a British citizen had their parents been married can apply for registration under

A child can also register under these provisions if they were born on or after 1 July 2006, but did not become a British citizen because their mother was married to someone else.

When considering an application you must consider whether the applicant has an entitlement to registration under another provision -

This is because registration under and some registrations under will give British citizenship by descent.

Oath and pledge

An applicant who is over the age of 18 on the date of decision must attend a citizenship ceremony and make an oath of allegiance and pledge.

Fees

Applicants under or only need to pay the ceremony fee. Applicants under must pay a fee.

Nationality policy: general information all types of British nationality

Children of British mothers

This page tells you how to consider applications for British citizenship from people who were born before 1983 to women who were British subjects or citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies.

The Law

A person will qualify for registration under if:

• they were born before 1 January 1983
• they would either:
  • have become a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKC) under聽 , if those sections had provided for women to pass on citizenship in the same way as men
  • have become a CUKC under , if those sections had provided for women to pass on citizenship in the same way as men, and women had been able to pass on British subject status in the same way as men before 1949
• they would have had the right of abode in the United Kingdom by virtue of if they had they become a CUKC as set out in the previous bullets

For the purposes of registration under , a woman is regarded as having been a CUKC by descent if she acquired that status by virtue of:

• section 1(1)(a) or (c) of the British Nationality (No. 2) Act 1964

Registration under gives British citizenship by descent.

An application must normally be made on Form UKM.

People born to British 鈥渂y descent鈥� mothers

Persons born between 1 January 1949 鈥� 1 January 1983

Where a person was born outside the UK between 1 January 1949 and 31 December 1982 (inclusive) to a British by descent mother you must disregard the requirement that their birth must have been registered with a UK consulate in the 12 month period after their birth.

Persons born before 1 January 1949

Where you are considering registering a person born outside the UK to a British by descent mother before 1 January 1949, you must be satisfied that their birth was registered with a UK consulate in the 12 month period after their birth.

Evidence to be supplied

You must take into account any evidence already on the file. If documents have been seen and noted in the past you do not need to ask to see them again. If the parents鈥� marriage or a parent and child relationship has been accepted as valid by an Entry Clearance Officer, Immigration Officer, Home Office official, or any tribunal or court in the United Kingdom, you do not need to ask for further evidence unless you have reasons to doubt the previously accepted position.

You must see the evidence below.

Evidence of birth

Evidence of the applicant鈥檚 date of birth, such as a birth certificate.

Evidence of the mother鈥檚 status

Evidence of the mother鈥檚 British subject status or CUKC at the time of the applicant鈥檚 birth such as:

• a birth certificate showing the mother鈥檚 birth in the United Kingdom and Colonies
• a passport describing the mother as a CUKC at that time
• a certificate confirming the mother鈥檚 earlier naturalisation or registration as a CUKC
• an adoption certificate showing the mother鈥檚 legal adoption in the United Kingdom or Islands, together with evidence to establish that she became a CUKC as a result (see adoption guidance for an explanation of the nationality effects of adoption orders prior to 1983)
• a passport or certificate of naturalisation showing that the mother was a British subject before 1949, together with relevant evidence to show that she became a CUKC at commencement of the British Nationality Act 1948

Evidence that the applicant would have had a claim to CUKC under sections 5(1)(a), 5(1)(c) or 5(1)(d) of the British Nationality Act 1948

To evidence a claim to CUKC under sections 5(1)(a), (c) or(d) an individual would need to provide:

• evidence of the applicant鈥檚 or his mother鈥檚 place of birth -
• evidence of his mother鈥檚 Crown service -

Evidence that the applicant would have had the right of abode

Evidence of the claim to the right of abode in the United Kingdom which the applicant would have had, immediately before 1 January 1983, had they been a CUKC at that time:

• where the claim would have been based on the applicant鈥檚 mother鈥檚 birth, legal adoption, naturalisation or registration in the United Kingdom or Islands:
  • the applicant鈥檚 birth certificate showing parents鈥� details or adoption certificate
  • the mother鈥檚 birth certificate showing her parents鈥� details, adoption certificate, or naturalisation or registration certificate
• where the claim would have been based on the applicant鈥檚 grandparent鈥檚 birth, legal adoption, naturalisation or registration in the United Kingdom or Islands:
  • the applicant鈥檚 birth certificate or adoption certificate showing their parents鈥� details, the relevant parent鈥檚 birth certificate or adoption certificate showing their parents鈥� details
  • the relevant grandparent鈥檚 birth certificate or adoption certificate showing their parents鈥� details, naturalisation or registration certificate
  • if the claim would have been through the father or a grandfather the appropriate marriage certificate(s)
• where the claim would have been based on the applicant鈥檚 residence and settlement in the United Kingdom:
  • evidence of the applicant鈥檚 ordinary residence or settled status, such as passports, P60s, details of National Insurance contributions, benefit claims and employers鈥� letters
• where, in the case of a female applicant, the claim would have been based on the applicant鈥檚 marriage before 1983 to a man with the right of abode:
  • the marriage certificate
  • evidence of the husband鈥檚 right of abode, such as a British citizen passport or United Kingdom birth certificate

British citizenship: automatic acquisitions

Children of British or settled fathers

This page tells you how to consider applications made by children of unmarried British or settled fathers under .

These sections apply to people who would have automatically become British citizens, or would be entitled to register under other provisions of the 1981 Act, had their parents been married at the time of their birth.

These provisions apply to:

• those who could qualify for registration under , had their parents been married at the time of their birth ()
• those born after 1 January 1983 who would have become a British citizen automatically had their parents been married at the time of their birth ()
• those born before 1 January 1983 who were citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKC) immediately before that date and would have become British citizens had their parents been married at the time of their birth ()
• those born before 1 January 1983 who would have acquired British subject or CUKC status and would have gone on to become a British citizen had their parents been married at the time of their birth ()

These provisions do not apply to those who:

• could have become a British citizen had their parents registered their birth or registered them as a British subject or CUKC, but did not do so
• would have become British citizens but for the fact that their grandparents were not married
• acquired British citizenship in another way and have since renounced or been deprived of that status

These provisions apply to a person whose natural father was not married to the person鈥檚 mother at the time of their birth. This includes people whose mother:

• was not married at the time of their birth
• was married to someone else who was not their natural father at the time of the birth (the person鈥檚 鈥渘atural father鈥� is a person who can meet the proof of paternity conditions at section read with the )

Proof of paternity

(the 鈥�2006 regulations鈥�) came into effect on 1 July 2006 and were amended on 10 September 2015. These regulations set out the requirements to be met to prove paternity in cases where:

• the mother was not married at the time of the child鈥檚 birth
• no provision is made by section 28 of the , or sections 35, 36, 42 and 43 of the as to the identity of the father, see the Surrogacy guidance (internal) or the Surrogacy guidance (external)

In such cases the 鈥榝ather鈥� will be any person who is shown to be such by either:

• being named before 10 September 2015 as the child鈥檚 father on the birth certificate issued within 12 months of the birth
• in all other cases any evidence such as DNA test reports, court orders or birth certificates considered by the Secretary of State to establish paternity

You must not mandate DNA evidence as this is not a requirement. Customers can choose to volunteer DNA evidence, either proactively or in response to an invitation to submit further evidence. Where a family choose not to volunteer DNA evidence, no negative inferences can be drawn from this. See DNA policy guidance for full instructions on the use and consideration of DNA evidence to prove a biological relationship.

Birth certificate issued before 10 September 2015

Where a person is named as the child鈥檚 father on a birth certificate issued within 12 months of the birth before 10 September 2015, he must be recognised as the father, unless there is conclusive evidence that the paternity claim was made fraudulently.

Birth certificate issued on or after 10 September 2015

Where the child鈥檚 birth was registered on or after 10 September 2015 you must take into account the fact that a man is named as the father on a birth certificate along with any other evidence that is available. In most circumstances the fact that a father is named on the birth certificate will be sufficient evidence of paternity, unless there is any information to suggest that the details on the birth certificate are not true. This might be where the parents were not in the same country at the time of conception, or another man claims to be the father, or there is DNA evidence to suggest that the child is not related as claimed to the man named on the birth certificate. In such cases, the birth certificate can be discounted if there is evidence, on the balance of probabilities, to show that another man is in fact the child鈥檚 natural father.

Caseworkers may carry out additional checks to determine who is the natural father of an applicant, which could include requesting further information or evidence, or conducting interviews with either or both the mother and father.

The standard of proof is the balance of probabilities (see the section on Automatic Claims). Documents must be from a reliable source.

Type of British citizenship

Following registration under , a person will be a British citizen 鈥榖y descent鈥� if they would automatically have become a British citizen by descent had their parents been married at the time of their birth

A person registering under whose only route to registration as a British citizen (had their parents been married) would have been under will be a British citizen by descent.

Parents who married after the child was born

If a person鈥檚 parents were not married at the time of the birth, but later married, the person may have been 鈥渓egitimated鈥� in accordance with section 47 of the British Nationality Act 1981 or 鈥� see Nationality policy children of unmarried parents.

Registration under section 4F

The Law

A person qualifies for registration under if:

• their mother was not married to the natural father at the time of their birth
• they have never been a British citizen
• their parents had married, they would qualify for registration under:
• they would have qualified under 聽- the consent of the natural father and mother must normally be provided (this can be waived in exceptional circumstances, subject to SCW approval, general guidance on consent can be found in the guidance on registration 聽as British citizens: children)
• they would have qualified under section 1(3), 3(2) or 3(5) and they are of good character if over the age of 10

They must meet the requirements for registration on the date of application apart from the requirements relating to a 鈥榝ather鈥� or 鈥榩arent鈥�. This means, for example, that a person seeking to rely on an entitlement to registration under section would need to be under 18 on the date of application. This provision does not apply to those who could have registered in the past but no longer qualify.

Evidence to be supplied

You must see the following evidence:

• documents to establish a registration entitlement 鈥� see the guidance on registration as British citizen: children
• parental consent if you are considering the application against the requirements for )

Related content

Registration as British citizen: other British nationals

Registration as British citizen: stateless persons

Registration as British citizen: children

British citizenship: automatic acquisition

Registration under section 4G

The Law

A person qualifies for registration under section 4G if:

• they were born after 1 January 1983
• their mother was not married to the natural father
• they have never been a British citizen
• they would have become a British citizen automatically if their parents had been married at the time of their birth, for example:
  • under 鈥� born in the UK to a father who was a British citizen or settled in the UK
  • under 鈥� born outside the UK to a British citizen father
  • under the
• they are under 18, their mother and natural father have consented to the registration, unless:
  • one of the parents has died
  • there are special grounds to waive consent in the exceptional circumstances of a particular case (for more information see the section on parental consent in registration as British citizen: children)

Evidence to be supplied

You must see the following evidence:

• documents to establish that the child would have had an automatic claim had their parents been married, such as their birth certificate and father鈥檚 birth certificate, passport or evidence of settled status
• proof of paternity
• parental consent if the person is under 18

Related content

Registration as British citizen: other British nationals

Registration as British citizen: stateless persons

Registration as British citizen: children

British citizenship: automatic acquisition

Registration under 4H

The Law

A person qualifies for registration under if:

• they were born before 1 January 1983
• their mother was not married to the natural father at the time of their birth
• they have never been a British citizen
• they were a citizen of the UK and Colonies (CUKC) on 31 December 1982
• they would have become a British citizen automatically had their parents been married at the time of their birth

Evidence to be supplied

You must see the following evidence:

• documents to establish a claim British citizenship had their parents been married, for example:
  • evidence that the person was a CUKC on 31 December 1982, such as a CUKC passport or birth certificate (if the person claims to be a CUKC through birth in a former colony, you will need to be satisfied that they did not lose that status on independence)
  • evidence to show that they would have become a British citizen had the parents been married, such as the father鈥檚 birth certificate or British citizen passport - (if the person was born overseas you must be satisfied that the father could pass on citizenship)
• proof of paternity

You must be aware that a person who was a CUKC on 31 December 1982 may have acquired British citizenship automatically if they lived in the UK for a period of 5 years before that date, and so obtained a right of abode in the UK.

Related content

Registration as British citizen: other British nationals

Registration as British citizen: stateless persons

Registration as British citizen: children

British citizenship: automatic acquisition

Registration under section 4I

The Law

A person will qualify for registration under of the British Nationality Act 1981 if:

• they were born before 1 January 1983
• their mother was not married to the natural father
• they have never been a British citizen
• they would have become a British citizen on 1 January 1983 had their parents been married at the time of their birth because either:
  • they were a British subject before 1 January 1949, and would have become a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKC) on that date if the parents had been married at the time of their birth (such as under )
  • they became a CUKC on or after 1 January 1949 and lost that status on the independence of a Commonwealth country, but would not have done so had their parents been married at the time of their birth
  • they never acquired British subject or CUKC status, but would have done so had their parents been married at the time of their birth (such as under )

You must be satisfied that the person would have met each of the relevant criteria to become a British citizen had their parents been married at the time of their birth.

This means that they:

• would have become a CUKC before 1 January 1983
• would have retained that status on the independence of any Commonwealth country that they had a connection with
• would have acquired the right of abode under the as in force immediately before commencement of the

Persons born between 1 January 1949 鈥� 1 January 1983

Where a person was born outside the UK between 1 January 1949 and 31 December 1982 (inclusive) to a British father you must disregard the requirement that their birth must have been registered with a UK consulate in the 12 month period after their birth.

Evidence to be supplied:

You must see the following evidence:

• documents to establish a claim British citizenship had their parents been married, for example:
  • evidence that they would have become a British subject or CUKC had their parents been married, such as the father鈥檚 birth certificate or UK passport, and the applicant鈥檚 birth certificate - if the person was born overseas you will need to be satisfied that the father could pass on citizenship
• proof of paternity