The new British Nationality & Borders Bill will be good news for people who can qualify for British Citizenship under the new rules.

Many people are very surprised when they hear that they might have a claim to British citizenship. The British Nationality laws frequently change, resulting in more people qualifying to register as British citizens. So, even though you might not have qualified in the past, you could be eligible now!

British citizenship via the double descent route was a much talked about topic the past few months. However, there is still a lot of confusion about who can qualify.

Recently, the fact that South Africans can lose their South African citizenship if they do not retain their SA citizenship before taking on any other nationality through naturalization made the headlines again.

Many of our clients who recently received British citizenship, often wonder whether there are any other hoops they need to jump through.

Are you eligible?

The new British citizenship solution – known as the British Citizenship by Double Descent (UKM CBR pre1983) – is giving South Africans wanting to live in the UK renewed hope of obtaining British nationality through their parents and grandparents.

Persons often get confused on the different terminology used and the different criteria for ILR and British Citizenship.

Many South Africans have family ties to the UK thanks to the shared history between the two countries. Most South African citizens with a UK-born grandparent qualify for an Ancestry visa, but we’re here to tell you that you could be eligible for more than just a visa; you may have an immediate claim to full British citizenship.

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) made a ruling that will bring peace of mind to many EU citizens, as they do not need to forfeit their EU freedom of movement.

The Life in the UK test is required for all persons who want to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain or British Citizenship.

Many South Africans have, or know someone who has, claimed British citizenship through their parents or through naturalisation. What many South Africans aren’t aware of is that there are over 100 ways to claim British citizenship. Thousands of citizens in former British territories are eligible and they don’t even know it.

In order to be successful in your British citizenship application, the Home Office must be satisfied that you are of good character.

Becoming a British citizen is a significant life event. It allows you to apply for a British citizen passport and gives you the opportunity to participate more fully in the life of your local community.

Many South Africans are concerned about how Brexit can affect their UK immigration status directly or indirectly. Here is the latest update and advice from Breytenbachs Immigration Consultants on the issue. Latest developments on Brexit The UK Government released a policy paper on the position of EU citizens in the UK at the end of […]

Recently, there have been some significant policy changes for those who have a grandfather born in the UK and a parent born in (what was then called) Southern Rhodesia. You may be able to claim British citizenship through these newly added routes.

One of the terms that one often encounters in the UK immigration rules is the so-called ‘right of abode.’ But, what is this so-called ‘right of abode’?

Clients who receive their first UK Visa, often think of the British Citizenship application as something that needs to be handled somewhere in the distant future. The truth is however that one needs to prepare for the British Citizenship application from the first day you set foot in the United Kingdom!

Many persons are often surprised to find out that they can qualify for permanent residence in the UK, despite the fact that most of their time spent in the UK is not on visas leading to permanent residence.

South Africans who obtained British Citizenship are often unsure what the case will be with their children born in the UK. Will the child automatically receive British Citizenship, and what will the case be regarding South African citizenship?

You have finally reached your goal of obtaining British citizenship. But still, you have some niggling questions at the back of your mind. What now? Are there still things left to do?

The UK Home Office confirmed that from 1 August 2016 naturalisation applications (British Citizenship applications), made on the basis of being an EEA national or a family member of an EEA national, which are submitted without the required Permanent Residence documentation will no longer be sifted and rejected, but will be accepted and considered in full.

When a person applies for his or her British Citizenship, one of the checks undertaken by the UK Home Office is to the good character of a person. If a person does not fulfil this criterion, the application may be denied. It is thus important that a future British citizenship applicant, keep this in mind, in preparation for the future application.

All Applicants applying for Settlement in the UK (Indefinite Leave to Remain), or British Citizenship via naturalisation are required to fulfil the so-called KoLL requirement or Knowledge of Language and Life in the UK.

Breytenbachs Immigration Consultants receives a wide range of questions from clients on a daily basis. Below we have compiled a selection of these for your information. If you have any questions that you would like us to answer, please feel free to send them to info@bic-immigration.com