Registrataion At Discretion On Grounds Of Service

• Page Contents
• Overview
• Eligibility Requirements
• How Can We Help?
• How Much We Charge?

The British  overseas  territories  citizens (BOTC),  British Nationals  (Overseas) (BNO),  British  Overseas citizens (BOC) and British  subjects can apply to register as British Citizens if they meet the requirements of Section 4(5) of BNA 1981. Registration under s.4(5) gives  British  citizenship otherwise  than by descent. Applications under s.4(5) should normally be made on Form B(OTA).

Eligibility Requirements

A person, whether  an  adult  or  a  minor,  who  is  a  British  overseas territories  citizen,  British  National  (Overseas),  British  Overseas  citizen,  British subject under the 1981 Act or a British protected person may be registered  as  a  British  citizen  at  the  Home  Secretary's  discretion  under  s.4(5) of  the  British  Nationality  Act 1981.    The  Home  Secretary  needs to:

• be  satisfied  that  the  applicant  has  at  any  time  served  in  service  to which s.4(5)  applies; and
• think it fitting in the special circumstances of the applicant's case
• be   satisfied   that   they   are   of good   character   (this   applies   to applications  made  after  4  December  2006  on  behalf  of  a  person over the age of 10)      

Section 4(6)  explains that s.4(5)  applies to:  

• Crown service under the government of a British overseas territory
• other paid or unpaid service as a member of a body established by law in a  British  overseas  territory,  members  of  which  are  appointed  by or on behalf of the Crown.

How Can We Help?

Our expert team of nationality law solicitors in London, Manchester and Birmingham can represent you in your application for registration as a British Citizen and carry out all the work on your British Citizenship application until a decision on your application is recieved from the Home Office UKVI. As part of our professional legal services in relation to your application for registration as a British Citizen, our specialist team of immigration solicitors will carry out the following immigration casework:

• We will assess your eligibility for registration as a British Citizen by considering all the relevant information including your past immigration history;
• We will advise  you on the chances of success in your application for registration as a British Citizen and would draw your attention to any weaknesses in your application;
• We will advise you on the list of documents to be submitted in support of your application for registration as a British Citizen;
• We will assess all the supporting documents to ensure that the documents you provide duly satisfy the Home Office UKVI requirements for registration as a British Citizen;
• We will complete the relevant application form online for your registration as a British citizen, submit the same online, help you pay the Home Office UKVI fee for the application and schedule your appointment with the application centre for enrolment of your biometrics;
• We will prepare a detailed cover letter in support of the application explaining in detail your eligibility for registration as a British Citizen by referring to all the relevant information, documents, laws and requirements;
• We will upload all the supporting documents online to be considered in support of the application including our cover letter prepared to suppport your application;
• We will carry out all the work on your application for registration as a British Citizen until a decision is received from the Home Office UKVI on your application.

How Much We Charge?

Unless your application is very complicated, our fees for an application for registration as a British Citizen are given in the fee table below: 

The agreed fixed fee will depend on the complexity of your registration application and the volume of casework involved in the application. In addition to our fixed fee for registration application, the applicant will also have to pay the Home office UKVI fees for the registration application.