What changed, and what it means

What changed

UK Visas and Immigration has updated its 'Form MN1: guidance' document, used for registering a child under 18 as a British citizen. Effective 20 August 2026, the 'Citizenship-related queries' section has been updated. Additionally, the guidance now confirms that the priority service for these applications is live, a new section titled 'when will the child become British?' has been added (effective 7 July 2026), and the section on returning Biometric Residence Permits has been updated and renamed 'destroy your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)'. These updates apply to individuals seeking to register a child under 18 as a British citizen through various qualifying circumstances.

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 updated its guidance for the 'Registration as a British Overseas Territories citizen (BOTC(F))', effective 20 August 2026. This update specifically concerns the process for destroying a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). The guidance is relevant for individuals born before July 2006 to unmarried fathers connected to a British overseas territory, as well as those born on or after 1 July 2006, who did not become a BOTC due to their mother being married to someone other than their natural father. This change reflects an alteration in administrative procedures related to post-citizenship documents.

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.

What changed

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) updated its 'Form T: guidance' document. This document tells people how to register as a British citizen. It is for people born in the UK on or after 1 January 1983. These people must have lived in the UK until they were 10 years old. The update happened on 7 August 2026. This change updated the section called 'Citizenship-related queries'. Other updates happened before this. On 8 July 2026, UKVI added information about how long priority service takes. On 28 July 2025, UKVI added a section called 'after you have submitted your application'. On 28 April 2025, UKVI changed rules in the 'good character' section. This guidance helps specific people born in the UK who want to register for British citizenship.

What changed

The United States policy on birthright citizenship has been updated. This update is in the Presidential Order called 'Continuing to Protect the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship.' New 'General Provisions' were added to Section 5(a). The earlier version of the order ended suddenly. It said, 'Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or '. The updated policy now fully explains this part. It states the order does not limit the power given by law to executive departments or agencies. It also does not limit the work of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. The policy also makes clear that the order does not create any rights or benefits that people can legally enforce. It says the Department of Justice must pay for publishing the order. This order started on 6 August 2026. It mainly applies to United States executive departments and agencies.

What changed

A U.S. District Court in Maryland stopped a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) policy from August 2025. This policy had limited voter registration help at naturalisation ceremonies to only state and local election officials. Because of this decision, the USCIS Policy Manual from 28 June 2017, is back in effect. This manual allows Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to give this help.

What changed

Switzerland has approved changes to rules. These changes will make the ordinary naturalisation process digital. Starting 1 August 2026, cantonal authorities and the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) will exchange applications and messages using a digital system. This system is part of the Central Migration Information System (ZEMIS). This change means cantonal naturalisation authorities and SEM will send applications to SEM digitally. They will also receive federal naturalisation permit decisions digitally. The system needs new data fields in ZEMIS. Cantonal authorities also need new online access rights.