Automatic British Passport?

[naija99]

Good morning forum
Could anyone advise for a friend
Her son was born in Africa in 2006 and has spent all his life in Africa.
His mother is African but his father was born British in the UK.
Her son is now ten years old and still lives with her in Africa but visits his father on a yearly basis.
Is he son automatically entitled to a British Passport through his father's british nationality?

[alterhase58]

It sounds like your friend's son is "British by Descent" (because born outside the UK and at least one parent British) - this means he could apply for a passport straightaway - though he cannot pass on his BC to his children.

This might be of help: https://www.gov.uk/check-british-citizen

Suggest friend registers on this forum as there are likely to be requests for details from the experts here.

[vinny]

What was the child's date of birth?
Was the child's mother married to the child's father?

[naija99]

The child's DOB is 14.02.06
Parents never married

[LilyLalilu]

Then he's not automatically British but can register as a British Citizen using form UKF.

[naija99]

please could you explain the reason why hes not automatically british?

[secret.simon]

British citizen fathers could not pass on their citizenship to their children born abroad before 1st July 2006 if they were not married to the child's mother.

The law changed on 1st July 2006 to allow British citizen fathers to pass on their citizenship to children born to mothers they were not married to. There is now a mechanism where children born to such fathers in the past could register as British citizens, but it has to be applied for and is not automatic.

Read up on the requirements of Form UKF.

[naija99]

Thank you secret.simon
Is there a fee payable? £936? or just £80 for over 18s?

[CR001]

just £80 for over 18s