Registration as a British Overseas Territories citizen (BOTC(F))
Guidance for people born before July 2006 to unmarried fathers connected to a British overseas territory.
- From:
- UK Visas and Immigration
- Published
- 28 June 2022
- Last updated
-
238JulyApril20242025 — See all updates
Documents
BOTC (F) Registration as a British Overseas Territories citizen and/or a British citizen
PDF, 320316 KB, 25 pages
Details
You will generally be able to register under these provisions if you were born:
- outside of an overseas territory before 1 July 2006 and your unmarried father was born, naturalised or registered in a British overseas territory before you were born
- inside an overseas territory between 1 January 1983 and 30 June 2006 inclusive, and your unmarried father was born, naturalised or registered in a British overseas territory before you were born; or was settled in an overseas territory before you were born
- before 1st July 2006, and your unmarried father became a BOTC or settled after you were born, but existing registration provisions cannot be used because your parents weren’t married
- on or after 1st July 2006, but you did not become a BOTC because your mother was married to someone other than your natural father
Updates to this page
Published 28 June 2022
Last updated 238 JulyApril 2024
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Update history
2026-03-09 15:10
The guidance has been updated to reflect that a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode is now digital and can no longer be placed in a passport.
2025-04-17 10:53
Updated the guidance on evidence of identity, returning BRPs, citizenship-related queries and digital status.
2025-04-08 10:06
Updated information on the use and return of biometric residence permits and updated information about contacting UKVI.
2024-07-23 16:22
Updates to fees links and travel advice after becoming British.
2023-10-04 00:01
Document format and style updated. Outdated information removed or updated accordingly. References and links to fees updated.
2022-06-28 09:00
First published.
Details
You will generally be able to register under these provisions if you were born:
- outside of an overseas territory before 1 July 2006 and your unmarried father was born, naturalised or registered in a British overseas territory before you were born
- inside an overseas territory between 1 January 1983 and 30 June 2006 inclusive, and your unmarried father was born, naturalised or registered in a British overseas territory before you were born; or was settled in an overseas territory before you were born
- before 1st July 2006, and your unmarried father became a BOTC or settled after you were born, but existing registration provisions cannot be used because your parents weren’t married
- on or after 1st July 2006, but you did not become a BOTC because your mother was married to someone other than your natural father
Updates to this page
Sign up for emails or print this page
Update history
2026-03-09 15:10
The guidance has been updated to reflect that a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode is now digital and can no longer be placed in a passport.
2025-04-17 10:53
Updated the guidance on evidence of identity, returning BRPs, citizenship-related queries and digital status.
2025-04-08 10:06
Updated information on the use and return of biometric residence permits and updated information about contacting UKVI.
2024-07-23 16:22
Updates to fees links and travel advice after becoming British.
2023-10-04 00:01
Document format and style updated. Outdated information removed or updated accordingly. References and links to fees updated.
2022-06-28 09:00
First published.