British National (Overseas) - Main Characteristics

Main Characteristics

The main characteristics of British National (Overseas) nationality are:

• It could only be acquired by registration, not automatically.
• It could only be acquired before the end of the registration period in 1997.
• It can be held with another nationality or citizenship, including another form of British nationality (e.g. British citizenship).
• It cannot be transmitted (children of British Nationals (Overseas) cannot gain such status).
• Once renounced, it cannot be resumed.
• It cannot be lost automatically, but it can be lost by deprivation.
• British Nationals (Overseas) can enter the UK for up to six months as a visitor, but must obtain a visa to reside in the UK for more than six months or to study or work there.
• British Nationals (Overseas) are legally entitled to hold a passport in that status - there is no discretion to refuse to issue a passport.
• British Nationals (Overseas) who held no other citizenship on 19 March 2009 are entitled to register as full British citizens.