alishinto

Hi, I'm a British citizen by descent (born outside UK, father was British citizen otherwise than by descent). My daughter was born in UK in 2002, her mother is Japanese and we never married so my child took Japanese citizenship. Does she automatically get British citizenship or do I have to register her as a British citizen?
Also, on the Guide UKF form, it says for her to register she has to show documentary evidence that I was a British citizen at the time she was born. However, I no longer have my passport from that time. Does anyone how I can solve that problem? Thanks in advance!

BritInParis

What was the mother’s immigration status at the time of your daughter’s birth? Has your daughter turned 18 yet?

alishinto

Her mother was on a student visa in UK at the time, and yes my daughter has turned 18

BritInParis

In that case she’ll need to register using Form UKF. As you were born outside the UK you’ll need to provide both your birth certificate and your father’s birth certificate. If you don’t have your father’s birth certificate and he was born in England or Wales then you can order a new certified copy online from the General Register Office for £11.

alishinto

Thanks for the information, it's much appreciated. So if I give them my and my father's birth certificates, then I won't need to provide my passport from 2002?

BritInParis

That’s correct.

alishinto

Thanks again. Just wanted to clarify one further point if you have any knowledge of this. I think the guide for UKF says I need my child's, and my 'full' birth certificate. Is this in any way different to the one you normally get when you register a child's birth, which I think is called an extract of a birth certificate? Would this be acceptable to submit for an application?

BritInParis

All three birth certificates will need to be ‘full’ or ‘long’ birth certificates, that is, they need to list the parents’ details. If not you can order the long version from the GRO.

alishinto

Thank you!

alishinto

By the way, would you happen to know if the procedure is the same for a child born outside the UK? This one hasn't reached 18 yet...

BritInParis

It would be a different procedure. Does this child have a different mother? If so were you married at the time of the child’s birth? What year were they born? Had you spent three consecutive years in the UK before their birth?

alishinto

It's the same mother, and we were not married at the time of her birth. She was born in June 2004, and I lived in UK for well over 3 consecutive years before she was born.

BritInParis

In that case you’ll need to register her using Form MN1.

alishinto

Hi BritinParis, thanks once again for your clear and concise information. I'm a complete idiot when it comes to matters of bureaucracy like this. Would I be correct in thinking that if she does not urgently need to get citizenship, then it would be better to wait until she turned 18 so she can just do it with UKF, like my older daughter? Or does the fact that she was born outside UK mean that is not possible?

BritInParis

If you wait until she turns 18 then you’ll lose the right to register her as she was born outside the UK.