Change of https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/right-of-abode-nationality-policy-guidance

Change description : 2026-02-24 17:37:00: The guidance has been updated. [Guidance and regulation]

Showing diff : 2025-06-20 11:24:10.267900656 +00:00..2026-02-24 17:38:01.173318257 +00:00

Guidance

Right of abode: caseworker guidance

Immigration staff guidance for assessing applications where the individual is claiming right of abode in the UK.

From:
UK Visas and Immigration
Published
27 July 2017
Last updated
2024 JuneFebruary 20252026 — See all updates

Documents

Right of abode (accessible)

HTML

Right of abode

PDF, 297295 KB, 1922 pages

Right of abode: flow chart (accessible)

HTML

Right of abode: flow chart

PDF, 129 KB, 2 pages

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Details

UK Visas and Immigration guidance for staff on what to consider when processing right of abode applications in the UK.

It includes information on:

  • the law on the right of abode

  • who qualifies and proving the right of abode

  • the procedure for obtaining and granting a certificate of entitlement

  • how to process a right of abode application

  • refusals and appeals

The flow chart document is used to assess whether a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies had the right of abode on 31 December 1982.

Updates to this page

Published 27 July 2017
Last updated 2024 JuneFebruary 20252026 + show all updates

  2. Section ‘Granting a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode’ amended.

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Update history

2026-02-24 17:37
The guidance has been updated.

2025-06-20 12:23
Section ‘Granting a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode’ amended.

2025-01-27 10:58
Updated the right of abode guidance. Changes have been made to update guidance following a review, and in particular to incorporate information from the Entry Clearance Officer guidance.

2023-06-23 16:28
Accessible versions of the documents added.

2023-05-10 00:15
Updated the ‘Deprivation of right of abode’ section, in line with changes to the ‘Deprivation of British citizenship’ guidance.

2023-01-18 12:40
‘Right of abode’: section ‘Persons with right of abode on and after 1 January 1983’updated to reference the Gambia and the Republic of Maldives re-joining theCommonwealth.Added accessible version of ‘Right of abode’.