What are the requirements for BN(O)s to register under section 4B of the British Nationality Act 1981?
Section 4B British Nationality Act 1981
Changes to registration under section 4B of the British Nationality Act 1981
The Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill, which received Royal Assent on 21 July, will introduce certain changes to British nationality law.
One of the changes in the Act will allow British Nationals (Overseas) to be registered under section 4B of the British Nationality Act 1981 if they do not hold any other citizenship or nationality.
This change will come into force following a commencement order on 13 January 2010.
What are the requirements for BN(O)s to register under section 4B of the British Nationality Act 1981?
1.You must not hold any other citizenship or nationality.
2.You must not have:
• renounced any citizenship or nationality; or
• voluntarily given up any citizenship or nationality; or
• lost through action or inaction any citizenship or nationality since 19 March 2009.
3.BN(O)s of Chinese ethnic origin are entitled to Chinese nationality and do not qualify.
How do I apply?
Applications should be made on form B(OS) which can be downloaded from the UK Border Agency (UKBA) website.
Further information on how to complete the form, and the requirements for registration can be found in Guide B(OS), which is also on the UKBA website.
If you meet the requirements and wish to submit an application, please call 2901 3135 to book an appointment. We will send a letter to confirm the appointment date. The appointment letter will include an application form, a guide to the legislation and a list of documents needed to support the application. The appointment letter will also be needed when making the application.
Any applicant who does not have an appointment will not be able to submit an application.
What information do I need to provide with the application?
1. Evidence that you are a British National (Overseas). This should be:
Your BN(O) passport
2. Documentary evidence that you have no other citizenship or nationality:
a letter from the country in which you were born saying whether you have ever held that country’s citizenship or nationality; and
if either of your parents holds another (non-British) citizenship or nationality: a letter from the authorities of the country concerned saying whether you have ever held that country’s citizenship or nationality; and
if you have lived for a period of five years or more in any other country: a letter from the authorities of the country of residence saying whether you have ever held that country’s citizenship or nationality.
If your parents hold different non-British citizenships or nationalities, or if either of them holds more than one citizenship or nationality, you will need to get letters of confirmation from all of the countries concerned. Similarly, if you have lived for 5 years or more in more than one country, you will need to get letters of confirmation from all of the countries concerned.
You should make sure that you have all the above information before attending your appointment. If you do not supply all the necessary information, you will be told what further information is required and asked to make another appointment once you have enough information to establish that you meet the requirements for registration under section 4B.
You should provide original documents - photocopies are not acceptable. Please also provide translations of documents that are not in English.
Holders of Nepalese Certificate of citizenship
If you meet all the criteria above but hold a Nepalese Certificate of Citizenship, you will be assumed to be a citizen of Nepal and will not qualify. However, if you consider that your Nepalese Certificate of Citizenship was issued to you in error and feel that you do qualify to be registered as a British citizen, you should first obtain written evidence from the Nepalese authorities confirming that your certificate was issued in error and you were never considered to be a Nepalese citizen.
The Consular Section can help you obtain this information from the Nepalese authorities by providing you with a letter explaining your former British nationality status up to its expiry on 1 July 1997. This is so that the Nepalese authorities can decide the legal effect (if any) of your Nepalese citizenship certificate. However, this letter is not obligatory and there is a charge for it.
For all 4B applications
From 13 January 2010, all 4B applications are by appointment only. Any applicant who does not have an appointment will not be able to submit an application.
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UK in Hong Kong - the official website for the British Consulate-General in Hong Kong and Macao
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