British Nationality Act 1981
The British Nationality Act 1981 came into force on 1 January 1983, and divided Citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKCs) into three categories:
- British citizens
- CUKCs with the right of abode in the United Kingdom and Islands (i.e. the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) by virtue of a close connection therewith, e.g. by birth or descent from a person born in the United Kingdom & Islands, became British citizens.
- British Dependent Territories citizens
- CUKCs with a close connection with one of the United Kingdom's Dependent Territories became British Dependent Territories citizens (BDTCs). It was possible for a person to acquire British citizenship and BDTC at the same time. For example, a person born in Bermuda before 1983 with a parent born in the United Kingdom would have acquired both nationalities.
- British Overseas citizens
- All other CUKCs became British Overseas citizens.
There are categories of British national other than these three, but these consist of persons who were not CUKCs before 1983.
See also History of British nationality law
Read more about this topic: British Overseas Territories Citizen
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