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Hiya,

My wife was born on 23rd May 1965 in Rhodesia, her father was born in 1938 also in Rhodesia. My wife has indefinate stay in the UK but is there any way she is entitled to UK citizenship as she was born in a British colony?

Thanks in advance

Peter

Why can't you simply refer to your wife's country as ''Zimbabwe''. Many people dont even know of a country called Rhodesia. Named after ''Cecil John Rhodes'' Rhodesia was an unrecognised state and only existed between 1965 to 1979. For over 30 years its been known as ''Republic of Zimbabwe''

To your question, if your wife have ILR in the UK, She is able to naturalised as a British Citizen not depending on the fact that she was born in a former British Colony(which I dont think it's possible anyway, as my father and my grandfather were also born in a former British Colony).

If you are a British Citizen, your wife is also entitled to naturalised as a BC after three years of marriage.

Thanks for the reply but I put Rhodesia because that was where she was born and it wasn't recognised as zimbabwe then.

I asked the question as my wife wants her children to come and join her in the UK and we are looking at trying to go down this route.

Under British law, it was Southern Rhodesia between 1923 and 1980 (except for a few years when it was part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland).

The British nationality law surrounding Rhodesia is complex, but as a general principle, Southern Rhodesia was not a colony for nationality purposes after 1.1.49. Instead, it was allowed to have a local nationality on the same basis as the Dominions.

There are a number of special provisions including those dealing with the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (1957-63) and for some Southern Rhodesians following UDI in 1965. But as a rule, based on the facts submitted, I can't see any reason to believe the person concerned is a British citizen and she should apply for naturalisation as soon as possible if that is what she wants.

Thanks for your reply,

We are married and my wife has had indefinate stay for 11 years now, we are looking at options to get her kids who live with their father in South africa over to live with us in UK. My wife and both her parents were born in Rhodesia so we were looking to see if there was any way that we could use this to our advantage.

The red tape in the UK is terrible now and the only other option to have her 18+ year old kids to come live with us is student visa's so we were hoping we could go down the British colony route.

Any advice would be appreciated

Thanks

Peter

pscomp, clearly your wife is entitled to apply for Naturalisation as British, but even if that is granted, and why not, that would not assist her children who are currently living in South Africa.

I am pleased to see that JAJ has posted above. He has considerable detailed knowledge of Citizenship matters, and as far as I can see you either need to accept his words "I can't see any reason to believe the person concerned is a British citizen", or possibly pay a fee and get the matter checked out, but quite possibly get back the same answer as you have already got for free.

Have a look at this UKBA webpage, and download the forn NS and the Guide NS.