Petition · Home Office

Allow British Citizens by Descent to upgrade their citizenship

Closed 3,106 signatures

What the petition asks

Allow Citizens by Descent to upgrade their citizenship after a period of UK residency, so they can pass on citizenship to their children born abroad without further requirements.
Remove the 3-year rolling residency requirement that limits them passing it on to ensure equality with all other British citizens.

Citizens by Descent can't pass British Citizenship to their children UNLESS their child is born in the UK, or they've lived in the UK for a continuous period of 3 years before the birth. Any prior residency outside this is disregarded and their children could be denied a British Passport.

The British Nationality (Irish Citizens) Act 2024, recent Canadian Court rulings and Naturalized British Citizens born overseas I see as highlighting this inequality.

Timeline

16 May 2025 Petition opened for signatures
16 Nov 2025 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 3,106
Status Closed
Department Home Office
Opened 16 May 2025
Closed 16 Nov 2025

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 30 Jul 2026.