UK Passport question

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Hi everyone, Just found mums (deceased) UK passport after going through some old stuff.

Mum was Aussie born and bred. Father, my grandad, was born in Cornwall UK, migrated to Australia at age 3.

Mum travelled to the UK and Ireland in the mid 90's, mum obtained a UK passport on the back of her father's UK birth. Mums UK passport classified her as "British Citizen". She also held an Australian passport.

Question for the brains trust is for me: I'm her son, Mum had a UK passport, British Citizen, Grandfather was from the UK.

Could I get a UK passport? Of course i'll enquire through the appropriate authorities, I am just curious of opinions from the seasoned travellers here.

Thanks in advance

 

[Archipelago]

You can apply for a UK Ancestry visa if you:

• are a Commonwealth citizen.
• are applying from outside the UK.
• are able to prove that one of your grandparents was born in the UK.
• are able and planning to work in the UK.
• meet the other eligibility requirements.

UK Ancestry visa

Apply for a UK Ancestry visa if you're a Commonwealth citizen and can prove that one of your grandparents was born in the UK - eligibility, fees, documents, how to apply, how long it takes and how to settle

www.gov.uk

 

[nickykim]

No, you can’t get a British passport unless either you were born in the UK or one of your parents was born in the UK. You can get an ancestry visa though (as outlined above).

 

[Archipelago]

Yup ^ this
And is it still paternal parent only? (I got my UK passport as my father was born in the UK)

 

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Thank you both for your replies... cheers

 

[Archipelago]

Check if you're a British citizen

Check if you're automatically a British citizen - it depends on where and when you were born and your parents' immigration status.

www.gov.uk

Apologies, this was the link I should have posted first
And yes either parent....

 

[Pushka]

I just asked this question in the Chit Chat thread. I’m looking at the five year Ancestry Visa through my Fathers Father (and Mother) who were born in the UK and migrated here to Oz in their twenties where my Dad was born. Today I received the last of the certificates required to lodge. So have obtained my Grandfathers Birth Certificate from UK, Grandfather and Grandmothers Marriage certificate (Australia); Fathers birth certificate (Australia); my Father and mother’s marriage certificate (Australia); my birth certificate (Australia) and my marriage certificate (Australia). I think I’ve covered all bases?

 

[Archphoto]

Currently undertaking this as my mother is British citizen - will see how it goes: got a 6-month wait to see if I'm successful. Hoping Brexit won't change anything; at one stage, British mother wasn't acceptable and I had to make do with a ROA visa.

 

[Pushka]

Currently undertaking this as my mother is British citizen - will see how it goes: got a 6-month wait to see if I'm successful. Hoping Brexit won't change anything; at one stage, British mother wasn't acceptable and I had to make do with a ROA visa.

I thought that when a parent was a citizen it was clear cut for you?

 

[Quickstatus]

What benefits are conferred by an ancestry visa ?

 

[Pushka]

What benefits are conferred by an ancestry visa ?

You can stay in the UK for five years and then apply for permanent visa or even citizenship if granted. It’s only because our two boys - one of whom has married a UK lass and the other is in a relationship with a UK lass (getting me Scottish brogue happening) that it seems it might be worthwhile for us to look at. I can grant my ‘other half’ the same visa.

 

[Archphoto]

I thought that when a parent was a citizen it was clear cut for you?

It is currently, but mothers were treated differently in the early 00s. Then EU laws that came in regarding gender equality, which meant Britain had to follow suit, as they were part of the EU. Now that they are leaving, those laws could be revoked if they want (no longer bound by EU rules) and could revert to fathers only and only ROA visas for those who have British mums. If my dad was British born though, it would have been a no-brainer from day one.

I'm sure it's highly unlikely, but you never know - the RoA visa is fine, but having to pay every time you get a new passport is a right PITA.

Funnily enough, I could vote, but couldn't get a passport. Go figure.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I thought that when a parent was a citizen it was clear cut for you?

Depends if citizenship is by birth, or by descent. By descent (parents born in the UK but you were born outside the UK) generally means you can't pass it on. There are a multitude of - sometimes complex - exceptions to the 'born outside the UK'. An easy example would be if your parents were on active duty or a civil service posting. Much more complex are some rules where certain people born to British parents anywhere but the UK or a Commonwealth country, and between certain years, may still be eligible for UK citizenship!

 

[Pushka]

It is currently, but mothers were treated differently in the early 00s. Then EU laws that came in regarding gender equality, which meant Britain had to follow suit, as they were part of the EU. Now that they are leaving, those laws could be revoked if they want (no longer bound by EU rules) and could revert to fathers only and only ROA visas for those who have British mums. If my dad was British born though, it would have been a no-brainer from day one.

I'm sure it's highly unlikely, but you never know - the RoA visa is fine, but having to pay every time you get a new passport is a right PITA.

Funnily enough, I could vote, but couldn't get a passport. Go figure.

That makes sense. I decided to go the Male route because I kind of got the idea in reading the info from the UK site that they were still very much male oriented. My grandmother was also born in the UK.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

You can stay in the UK for five years and then apply for permanent visa or even citizenship if granted. It’s only because our two boys - one of whom has married a UK lass and the other is in a relationship with a UK lass (getting me Scottish brogue happening) that it seems it might be worthwhile for us to look at. I can grant my ‘other half’ the same visa.

indeed. The traditional path is 5 years (no recourse to public funds) --> Indefinite Leave to Remain (1 year) --> citizenship.

Ancestory visa doesn't care which grandparent, male or female.

 

[Pushka]

Depends if citizenship is by birth, or by descent. By descent (parents born in the UK but you were born outside the UK) generally means you can't pass it on. There are a multitude of - sometimes complex - exceptions to the 'born outside the UK'. An easy example would be if your parents were on active duty or a civil service posting. Much more complex are some rules where certain people born to British parents anywhere but the UK or a Commonwealth country, and between certain years, may still be eligible for UK citizenship!

Yes. I saw all those date options. And I think it would have been easier if my parents had married before 1950 I read somewhere, but of course, they married a few months later than that.

 

[Archphoto]

That makes sense. I decided to go the Male route because I kind of got the idea in reading the info from the UK site that they were still very much male oriented. My grandmother was also born in the UK.

Both grandparents on my mum's side were too, so I'm fairly confident it will all go well - 1 month down, 5 to go.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yes. I saw all those date options. And I think it would have been easier if my parents had married before 1950 I read somewhere, but of course, they married a few months later than that.

The Ancestry Visa cuts through a lot of the complexities of UK immigration law. As long as one of your grandparents was born in the UK you qualify. Marriage and all that sort of stuff doesn't really matter (you just have to prove your family tree).

 

[Pushka]

The Ancestry Visa cuts through a lot of the complexities of UK immigration law. As long as one of your grandparents was born in the UK you qualify. Marriage and all that sort of stuff doesn't really matter (you just have to prove your family tree).

Perfect. Done and dusted then!

 

[get me outta here]

I'd also appreciate knowing the main advantage to having the ancestry visa - work visa options presumably?

What benefits are conferred by an ancestry visa ?