VSandes

My paternal grandfather was born in the UK. He only moved to South Africa when he met my South African grandmother during the 2nd World War. He was a member of the British Army at the time. I was born in South Africa in 1978 - my mother & father were still married at the time.

Both my maternal grandparents held British passports because my grandfather, although born in SA, studied & lived in the UK, and eventually joined the RAF & also fought in WW2. My grandmother (born in SA) obtained her British citizenship by her marriage to my grandfather.

Neither my mother nor father ever applied for British citizenship so they both hold SA passports only.

Am I eligible to apply for British citizenship through my grandparents?

BritInParis

In which years were your parents born?

VSandes

Hi BritInParis. My mum was born in 1953 and my father in 1947.

Tate

Hi BIP, just curious as to the relevance of DOB of grandparent? Cheers, Tate

BritInParis

Were either of your grandfathers still serving in the military when either of your parents were born?

BritInParis

Not particularly relevant given we can assume all four would’ve been born prior to 1949.

VSandes

No, since the war was over by the time my parents were born.

BritInParis

Is it your intention to move to the UK or simply obtain a British passport for ease of travel?

VSandes

I don’t want to move to the UK now. But I want to be able to travel with more ease internationally - a South African passport is a nightmare with all the visas and paper work required to go ANYWHERE. It’s also costly applying for visas all the time! I travel quite a bit so it would be lovely to travel with more ease. I also would love to have the option to move to the UK with ease when I am eventually ready to go. My husband has a British passport (passed down from his father) and we have a lot of family in the UK and Europe.