Children born in the UK: do they need a visa? Or do they become British Citizens?

By 1st 4Immigration - #1 UK Immigration Experts -
Our most popular post ever! 
A child born in the UK does NOT automatically become British (unlike America). Instead, it depends on child's parents status on the date of birth.

1) If child's parent (one or both) is British, then the child will be a British citizen too.


2) If child's parent (one or both) is not British but has permanent residency in the UK, ie holds Indefinite Leave to Remain or Permanent Residency under European law, then the child will be British also (even if both parents aren't British).

In case of European citizen parents, it doesn’t need to be a formal PR document on the child’s birth date, it is sufficient to have qualified for it and apply later.  

3) If the child's parents are both not permanent residents and hold visas, such as Tier 1, Tier 2 etc, then the child will NOT be British, even though it was born in the UK. In such a case a child can be given a dependent visa on his/her parents’. This can be done as a separate application, though it's not compulsory and can be done instead at the time of parents' next application, such as at the time of Tier 1 extension.

3.1) Once child's parent (one or both) secured ILR, the child can be registered as British straight away, even before parent(s) qualify for Citizenship themselves.

3.2) Does the child need to be included in the ILR application? Costing another expensive government fee? The answer is No. Once at least one parent has ILR, the child can be registered as British.

4) What is the difference between 'will be British' and 'not British but can be registered as British'?

In points 1) and 2) the child 'will be British' from birth meaning parents can just apply for his/her UK passport, ie for a passport book: https://www.gov.uk/get-a-child-passport

In point 3) the child will need to be registered as British first meaning submitting a Registration application to the authorities, to a visa application process, paying a fee, waiting for a decision. Once decision has been made - and decision is positive - parents can apply for the actual passport.

For individual advice or to make an application please contact us info@1st4immigration.com or visit http://www.1st4immigration.com/index.php  We respond emails on the same working day! 1st 4Immigration Ltd, authorised by the OISC, ref 200800152. we operate at the highest Level 3 of expertise. Office address: 68 King William Street, City of London, London, EC4M 7DZ.

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