# Obtaining British Citizenship For a Non-Citizen Dependant **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 13, 2005, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-british-citizenship-for-a-non-citizen-dependant/321459 "2005-09-13T18:10:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![deevee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@deevee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deevee)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-british-citizenship-for-a-non-citizen-dependant/321459/1 "2005-09-13T18:10:37Z")
I am a Canadian citizen and my ex-wife (Glasgow born) holds dual Canadian/British citizenship although she has been a Canadian resident for 35 years. Is our 14 year old son entitled to British citizenship by virtue of his mother’s citizenship? It certainly would expand his opportunities in the job market when he becomes an adult and could also make for some interesting summer job experiences. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-british-citizenship-for-a-non-citizen-dependant/321459/2 "2005-09-13T18:19:35Z")
In a word, yes: > [@](#): > > A child who was born in the United Kingdom on or after 1 January 1983 will be a British citizen if either the father (see Note 3) or the mother is a British citizen. [http://www.workingintheuk.gov.uk/ind/en/home/applying/british\_nationality/advice\_about\_nationality/bn9\_-\_citizenship.html](http://www.workingintheuk.gov.uk/ind/en/home/applying/british_nationality/advice_about_nationality/bn9_-_citizenship.html)? Some countries can cause problems when somebody tries to take dual citizenship - but I highly doubt Canada is one of them! ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-british-citizenship-for-a-non-citizen-dependant/321459/3 "2005-09-13T18:35:23Z")
**GorillaMan** ’s quote is not relevant, as the child was born outside the UK. However, as the child was born after 7 February 1961, it is a UK citizen by descent. I think it needs to be registered with the UK High Commission, however. (I have similar circumstances: a UK-born UK-citizen mother, and born outside the UK. However, since I was born before 1961, I’m not entitled to UK citizenship). ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-british-citizenship-for-a-non-citizen-dependant/321459/4 "2005-09-13T18:42:35Z")
Sorry, was misreading the OP! ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Doris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@Sir\_Doris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Doris)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-british-citizenship-for-a-non-citizen-dependant/321459/5 "2005-09-13T21:01:58Z")
Also a commonwealth citizen with a British grandparent can get an ancestry visa, which enables them to work without the bother of a work permit (they have to be able to support themselves). I believe this visa speeds up the required period to qualify for residency, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Cerowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-british-citizenship-for-a-non-citizen-dependant/321459/6 "2005-09-13T23:46:55Z")
I am a Canadian, born in the UK. My sons are also British citizens, by virtue of my British citizenship. (Happily, they are also American citizens because their mother was born in the US, but that’s not relevant to the OP.) ---
**Author:** ![deevee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@deevee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deevee)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2005, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-british-citizenship-for-a-non-citizen-dependant/321459/7 "2005-09-14T16:05:09Z")
Thanks for the responses. I’m going to get right on the paperwork. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2005, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-british-citizenship-for-a-non-citizen-dependant/321459/8 "2005-09-14T18:28:19Z")
When my nephew was born (in Brunei) his parents were advised of a possible problem: if you are yourself born outside the U.K., then your offspring might not be entitled to U.K. citizenship, depending upon where exactly you were born and why you were born there. ---
**Author:** ![fortytwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f9ae1b/32.png) [@fortytwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fortytwo)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2005, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-british-citizenship-for-a-non-citizen-dependant/321459/9 "2005-09-14T19:09:22Z")
A couple of days ago, Duncan Fletcher who is the England cricket coach was granted British citizenship after 14 years of trying. Both his parents and all four of his grand-parents were born in Britain but he himself was born in Zimbabwe. His application was finally rushed through by the Home Secretary after England won back the Ashes. 🙂 So if all else fails…