British Nationality for A child born abroad

Please I need advice regarding my Child.

My child was born in 2007 in Africa. The child has never lived in the UK. I became a British Citizen in 2014. I have recently moved to Africa for work and I will be living in Africa for a least 5 years. I would like to find out the best way to apply for British nationality for my child.

bobby80gh wrote:Please I need advice regarding my Child.

My child was born in 2007 in Africa. The child has never lived in the UK. I became a British Citizen in 2014. I have recently moved to Africa for work and I will be living in Africa for a least 5 years. I would like to find out the best way to apply for British nationality for my child.

Best way/only way ...

Bring child to live in UK with both parents; (assuming both parents have parental responsibility).

Once child & second parent have settled status in UK apply to register child & naturalise second parent;
(assuming all other requirements for registration/naturalisation can be/have been met by then)

Note: as child is born abroad such a registration of a minor is at discretion of Home Secretary.

Tip: start soon - it now takes at least 5 years to achieve settled status in UK.

Note: older teenagers would have to live in UK for approx 2 years to have reasonable chance of discretionary registration.
Cut-off age to register a minor: 18 years.

See forum FAQs on citizenship & Gov UK website for more information.

Thank you for your concise clarification. If I get the child into a boarding school school in the UK or get a student visa for the mother to study in the UK, can I circumvent the requirement of both parents living in the UK before the child can apply for nationality. Currently I have no plans of moving back to the UK within the next 5 years.

bobby80gh wrote:Thank you for your concise clarification. If I get the child into a boarding school school in the UK or get a student visa for the mother to study in the UK, can I circumvent the requirement of both parents living in the UK before the child can apply for nationality. Currently I have no plans of moving back to the UK within the next 5 years.

I assume you have read the FAQ & guidance on Gov UK website (re MN1).

You will need to dig into your question with reference to HO guidance:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... 150402.pdf

E.g. see section 9.17.3 on future intentions & location of parents;
& 9.17.9 on immigration status of parents;
& 9.17.15 (onwards) about residency.