Barbados Nationality Law - Barbados and British Nationality

Barbados and British Nationality

Prior to 1966 persons connected with Barbados held British nationality. Barbadians were mainly classified as Citizens of the UK and Colonies (CUKCs). Upon Barbados achieving independence from the United Kingdom, it became a member of the Commonwealth with HM Queen Elizabeth II remaining the head of state in her new capacity as Queen of Barbados. The Savings Clause of the Constitution also allowed all existing law of the United Kingdom to remain in force in Barbados until changed by the Barbados Parliament. As such, Barbados would have thereby inherited the Statute of Westminster as part of its local law from the United Kingdom.

Persons connected with Barbados at independence may have retained citizenship of the UK and Colonies if:

• they did not acquire Barbados citizenship; or
• they had specified ties to the UK itself, or a place which remained a colony.

Such persons would have become British citizens on 1 January 1983 if they had acquired a Right-of-Abode in the UK before that date. Otherwise they would be British Overseas citizens.

Acts by the British Government which previously governed nationality laws in Barbados includes:

• History of British nationality law
  • The 1905 Aliens Act
  • The Aliens Restriction Act, 1914
  • The British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act, 1914
  • The Aliens Order, 1920
  • The British Nationality Act, 1948 -- Established nationality called Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKCs)
  • The Commonwealth Immigrants Act, 1962