elonii

Hi There,

I've tried searching for info but not 100% how to phrase it.

My girls (3&5) were born in Australia but weren't eligible for citizenship there. We are now approaching 3 years living in the UK which I believe would mean their children would qualify for UK citizenship if born overseas.

Is there something I can do now to formalise this for them? With my husband being a Kiwi and them having a lovely set of passports for foreign adventure it'd be likely they may have families overseas. Thinking ahead, I want to ensure they don't have any problems arising from this, particularly given how hard proof might be to obtain for them retrospectively.

Info very much appreciated folks.

HKG3

The link below is a good starting point -

https://www.gov.uk/register-british-...orn-outside-uk

BritInParis

Were you born in the UK? If so your children should already be British citizens.

elonii

Hi there, thanks for replies and link.

Sorry if I wasnt clear with the question - we live in the uk and my pair have entered on their British passports.

I'm just wondering about formalising things so their children would automatically be citizens regardless of where they are born.

We can do this for their NZ citizen status, but I wasn't sure if it can be done now for uk citizens by descent or if I need to keep some kind of file proving they lived here in the uk for three years plus?

I'll research further.

BritInParis

Ah, I see. No, there's nothing you can do now formally with the Home Office. What you should do however is keep a file of evidence that they have completed three consecutive years of residence in the UK. It can be any consecutive three year period but if you can put it together now then it will save time and hassle later.

Your grandchildren won't have an automatic entitlement to British citizenship if they are born outside the UK but they would be eligible for registration as British citizens providing your children can demonstrate to the Home Office they had spent the requisite three year period in the UK.

elonii

OK, that's great. My sincere thanks - at least I know the process now. Concern obviously is that we / they will lose the info with passage of time. If they have their children at the same time I did it could be 30 years till they realise it's an issue!

I shall compile a file, copy it and find a way to store it safely for each of them. Meanwhile we'll do their full New Zealand citizenship whilst the rules still allow it.