Legal Update: In a Nutshell - British citizenship for children

Which UK-born children are automatically British?

Since 1 July 2006, a child born in the UK is automatically British if at the time of the child's birth, one or both of the child's parents hold British citizenship or settled status (i.e. no time restriction on their stay, for example holding permanent residence or indefinite leave to remain).

A child born in the UK before 1 July 2006 is automatically British if they were born to a British or "settled" mother. A child born in the UK before 1 July 2006 to a British or settled father is only automatically British if the child's parents were married at the time of the birth, or later marry. However, a change has recently been made to the law on children born before 1 July 2006 to unmarried parents, which came into force in April. Now, a child born before 1 July 2006 to a British or settled father who was not married to the mother can apply to register as British by entitlement without paying a fee.