🇬🇧 Citizenship

What changed

UK Visas and Immigration has updated its guide for registering a child under 18 as a British citizen. This guide is called 'Form MN1: guidance'. From 20 August 2026, the section on 'Citizenship-related queries' is updated. The guide now confirms that the priority service for these applications is available. A new section has been added, called 'when will the child become British?', which took effect from 7 July 2026. Also, the section about returning Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) is updated and renamed 'destroy your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)'. These updates apply to people who want to register a child under 18 as a British citizen under different qualifying rules.

What changed

Effective 20 August 2026, the United Kingdom's HM Passport Office has updated its guidance for staff concerning the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) and its impact on passport applications. The update clarifies the conditions under which examiners can search for a parent's EUSS record using UK Visa and Immigration's Atlas system. This guidance specifically applies to children born in the UK or Crown Dependencies on or after 28 August 2018 to parents who are nationals of the EU, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein and hold status under the EUSS.

What changed

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has changed its guidance for 'Registration as a British Overseas Territories citizen (BOTC(F))'. This change became active on 20 August 2026. The update specifically changes what to do with a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) — a permit that proves your immigration status. This guidance affects people born before July 2006 whose fathers were unmarried and had a connection to a British overseas territory. It also affects people born on or after 1 July 2006 who did not become a British Overseas Territories citizen because their mother was married to someone other than their natural father. This change is about administrative steps for documents after someone becomes a citizen.

What changed

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has published guidance. This guidance shows how some people born before 1983 can apply for British nationality. The guidance is called 'Registration as British if your mother had connection to a British Overseas Territory Guidance'. It helps people who did not get British nationality when they were born. This happened because old rules did not let their mothers pass on their status. Applicants can now use form BOTC(M) to fix this past problem. They can register as a British Overseas Territories Citizen (BOTC) and/or a British citizen. UKVI first published this guidance on 28 June 2022.

What changed

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) updated the 'Form S: guidance' document on 17 August 2026. This update changed how people contact them for nationality questions. Before, an email address was given for these questions. Now, people must use a link to the 'contact UKVI webform'. This guidance applies to people without a country they can call home — legally called stateless persons. It applies when they want to register to become a British citizen, a British overseas territories citizen, or a British overseas citizen. This is true whether they were born before, on, or after 1 January 1983. It also applies no matter where they were born, inside or outside the UK or UK overseas territories.

What changed

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) released new guidance for 'Form RS1' on 17 August 2026. This form is for people who want to become British citizens again after giving up their citizenship. The new guidance changes how to contact UKVI for nationality questions. It replaced the old email address with a link to a web form. It also updated information about how long applications take to process, how to return your Biometric Residence Permit (a card that shows your immigration status), and rules for travel after you become a British citizen. Other sections that changed are 'Good character', immigration advice, how to give your biometric information (like fingerprints and photos), proof of identity, travel after you apply, and citizenship ceremonies. The guidance now includes a new section about digital status. It no longer has the section called 'citizenship ban'.

What changed

UK Visas and Immigration has updated its 'Form B(OTA): guidance' document. This change took effect on 17 August 2026. The update replaces the email address for nationality questions on 'Guide B1: registration as a British citizen – a guide for British Overseas Territories citizens'. Instead, it now gives a direct link to the contact UKVI webform. This change affects British Overseas Territories citizens who use Guide B1 to apply for British citizenship.

What changed

UK Visas and Immigration has updated its guide called 'Form UKF: guidance'. This guide explains how to register as a British citizen if your father was British and your parents were not married. A major update on 7 October 2024, changed the summary. It now confirms that you can use Form UKF if you were born before or after 1 July 2006. Other updates on 10 August 2026, improved sections about applying and questions about citizenship. On 20 July 2026, changes were made to how long applications take to process and how to return your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). A Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) is a document that proves your right to live or remain in the UK. The guide also made clearer points about citizenship, proof of fatherhood, and going to a citizenship ceremony on 21 July 2025. Links to pay fees were updated on 23 July 2024.

What changed

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has updated the contact details in the guidance for Form MN3. People use Form MN3 to register a child under 18 years old as a British Overseas citizen. This change started on 7 August 2026. The old guidance had old contact information. The new guidance has the current contact details. This update helps people who look at the guidance for contact information about their application.

What changed

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has updated its instructions for staff who deal with requests from British citizens who want to give up their British nationality. These new instructions start on 7 August 2026. The update matches how these requests are handled today.