If you are a British citizen, regardless of how you acquired your citizenship, your children will automatically gain British citizenship if they are born in the UK.
If your children are born outside the UK, whether they can automatically acquire British citizenship will depend on how you obtained your citizenship.
The British Nationality (Hong Kong) Selection Scheme
In the early 1990s, the UK government launched The British Nationality (Hong Kong) Selection Scheme, through which approximately 50,000 Hong Kong people registered as British citizens. They are considered the first generation of Right of Abode holders, while their children are regarded as the second generation.
Automatic Acquisition of Citizenship
If you are a second-generation of The British Nationality (Hong Kong) Selection Scheme, your children will automatically acquire British citizenship if they are born in the UK.
Registration as a British Citizen (Application from outside the UK)
If you are a second-generation of The British Nationality (Hong Kong) Selection Scheme and your children are born outside the UK, whether they can automatically acquire British citizenship primarily depends on the following three factors:
- Whether one of your parents held British citizenship at the time of your birth
- Whether you held British citizenship at the time of your children’s birth
- Whether you had lived in the UK for three years prior to your children’s birth, without being absent for more than 270 days during that period, and can provide relevant proof of residence
If you meet the above three requirements, your children born outside the UK can apply directly to register as British citizens.
Registration as a British Citizen (Application from inside the UK)
If you do not meet the three requirements above—specifically, if your parents did not hold British citizenship at the time of your birth, or if you have not lived in the UK for three years before your children’s birth—then your children can only apply for registration as British citizens after your family (you, your spouse, and your children) has lived in the UK for three years. During this period, no family member should be absent from the UK for over 270 days in total.
Our team has extensive experience in handling various nationality issues. Whether you’re seeking British citizenship for yourself or your child, or if your citizenship application has recently been denied, we’re here to navigate the complexities of British nationality law with you.
As a British citizen since the 1990s, I believed my daughter’s citizenship application would be simple. Unfortunately, my first attempt was denied because I didn’t fully understand the necessary procedures and forms. I was really stressed out until I found Renes’s team. Renes provided incredible support and guidance for the reapplication process, my daughter received her British citizenship certificate in only two months!
Mr Lam
As a British citizen since the 1990s, I believed my daughter’s citizenship application would be simple. Unfortunately, my first attempt was denied because I didn’t fully understand the necessary procedures and forms. I was really stressed out until I found Renes’s team. Renes provided incredible support and guidance for the reapplication process, my daughter received her British citizenship certificate in only two months!
Mr Lam
I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Janine and Shirley for their assistance with my children’s British citizenship application! My family has been living in the UK for three years, and we initially thought the MN1 application process would be straightforward. Unfortunately, after a long wait, the Home Office mistakenly refused our applications.
With Shirley’s guidance, we were able to promptly resubmit a new application, which was approved in just three months. Thank you for your incredible support!
Natalie Wong
I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Janine and Shirley for their assistance with my children’s British citizenship application! My family has been living in the UK for three years, and we initially thought the MN1 application process would be straightforward. Unfortunately, after a long wait, the Home Office mistakenly refused our applications.
With Shirley’s guidance, we were able to promptly resubmit a new application, which was approved in just three months. Thank you for your incredible support!
Natalie Wong
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