Pomster

I think the legitimacy thing kicks in if your parents subsequently marry. Thought about encouraging them to tie the knot belatedly?

JAJ

As someone else has noted, if they are still together perhaps it would be a good idea for them to get married? In a lot of cases, that then makes you legitimate and British law normally gives citizenship at that point. They should never do so solely for this reason, but perhaps it's the right thing to do anyway? Although it seems you may be able to claim British citizenship through your mother.

I don't think you need to show that your mother had a passport. You need the following evidence:

- her Maltese birth certificate;
- your grandfather's U.K. birth certificate; and
- your grandparent's marriage certificate; and
- details showing that your grandfather was in the British military when your mother was born.

The passport service often struggle with less-than-simple nationality claims so usually a better option is to send form NS to the Home Office That gives you a Home Office certificate showing you're British, which then can be shown to the passport service. As always, be sure to have copies of all paperwork as files have been lost during processing.

The following gives an unofficial overview of Maltese law.
http://www.law.ed.ac.uk/citmodes/files/malta.pdf

Malta had some strict laws against dual citizenship but made a lot of retroactive amendments in 2000. As you were born before 1989 with a Maltese mother, you may be eligible to apply for registration as a Maltese citizen.

I would recommend claiming both British and Maltese citizenship, if eligible. And if by some chance one of your British grandparents was born in Ireland or Northern Ireland, that gives you the right to apply for Irish citizenship.


Any reason your mother hasn't applied for Australian citizenship after so many years?