Hello,

I have read a bunch of posts on this site as well as on he UK Border Agency website and haven't found a concrete answer to my question so I am hoping someone can help. I know that this is the USA forum but I assume that the process and answers are the same whether you are applying from the US or Canada. I am looking in to obtaining british citizenship (i am currently a canadian citizen) but am unsure if i can and if so how i would go about doing it. Background info is:

- my father was born in England to British parents but moved to Canada when he was a child (10-12 i think)
- he let is British passport expire some years back and never renewed it but has never denounced his British citizenship or anything
- he currently holds a Canadian passport

- i was born in Canada to 2 Canadian citizens (my mother is canadian and my dad did not have a british passport at the time) that were married when they had me
- i was born in 1982 and I am male

I guess my question is can I get a british passport? does my father have to renew his passport for me to apply for one? does he have to contact the british government and inform them about me before i can apply? or can i simply apply for a passport under my current circumstances. any help would be apprecitated.

You could use the *search* on this forum or take a look at this :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_nationality_law Good Luck

hiya, if your father is still a UK citizen which by all accounts you say he is then yep you should be OK to go ahead and apply for one in your own name...passport info details for Canada on the right of this link....

http://ukinusa.fco.gov.uk/en/passports/how-to-apply/

Take my opinion for what it's worth, considering I'm not a UK citizen. I would have thought that the Brit father would have had to register the OP's birth in Canada, and obtain a 'certificiate of birth abroad' (or whatever it's called) which registers the birth of UK cit overseas. This, then, would make it relatively painless for him to apply for a PP.

Otherwise, doesn't he now to have provide not only his CA birth cert, but his father's long form birth cert, and possibly other medical records, to prove he's a UK cit by descent? Not to mention, since this is his first UK PP, doesn't he also have to have a few affidavits from professional people that will attest to his identity?

Or am I way off base, and he can go ahead and apply for one?

you could well be right....best thing to do imo is call or email the embassy and ask direct.

Let me ask you: If your Canadian passport expires, does that mean you are no longer a Canadian Citizen?

DUH! Of course, not.

The same with your father. Because his British passport has expired does not mean he is no longer a British citizen. To the British Consulate website and see what you need to do to claim citizenship.

http://ukinusa.fco.gov.uk/en/passports/how-to-apply/

pretty much on the head there....part of the reason why it's handy to register the birth...but if the father still has his expired passport, that and the OP's birth certificate I think should be enough proof, still would need the photo's certified though.

Would getting a photo certified be a huge problem? Does this person who certifies the photos have to be British or something? I thought getting the photos certified to attest that the picture is actually him would be the least of the worries. Cant he get a Canadian notary to do it?

technically a Brit, that's not family, that's known you for at least two years...reality is, depends on the consulate, over here, they'll accept a professional person such as a teacher, doctor, lawyer etc to certify that you are the person that the photo is of, no idea if the Canadian consulate would accept this or not though.

He can go ahead and apply for one.

Consular birth registration is done by the British Embassy in the USA, but is not available in Canada.

By the way, the question has been asked in three different places which is often a bad idea as it causes confusion when people say different things without having the chance to read earlier answers.

Hmmm. I am sure that the Canadian consulate would have a system in place for someone in the OP's position. Good luck to him.

well the rules are the rules, some consulates are willing to be more flexible which was my point, and I wouldn't know how flexible the consulate in Canada would be.

Most British missions will accept a countersignature from a person who is a local citizen.

- my father was born in England to British parents but moved to Canada when he was a child (10-12 i think)

I guess my question is can I get a british passport?

You are a British Citizen by decent. Your father IS a British Citizen regardless of his Canadian Citizenship. There is No need to register births with the British consulate or anything like that. You can do this but it is not required in order to apply for a passport for someone like yourself who is applying. You have to show proof of your fathers status as British. his full birth cert will be fine.

I did this for my USC son who was born here in US. I am UKC and his father is USC also.