Aden Colony-Port of Aden (now part of Yemen)

We cover three scenarios:

• You are NOT a Yemeni Citizen, and a parent or grandparent was born in The Aden Colony before Independence

• A parent of grandparent was born in the Aden colony, and you have family links to East Africa (Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania)

• You are a Yemeni Citizen.

As a Yemeni Citizen, you could be eligible for BRITISH NATIONALITY in the following circumstances:

• You are LIVING IN THE UK on a valid visa and intend to Naturalise as a British Citizen in due course. Click here to read more about claiming British Citizenship through Residency.

• You were BORN IN THE UK* (or Northern Ireland) before 1983. You will have been classified as British Otherwise than by Descent, can hold a British Passport, and can pass British Nationality to your children, irrespective of where these children are born. Click here to read more about claiming British Nationality by Birth.

• You have a PARENT* (a father or mother) who was born in the UK (or Northern Ireland) before 1983. Your parent will have been classified as British Otherwise than by Descent, hold a British Passport, and they can pass British Nationality to their children, irrespective of where these children are born. Click here to read more about claiming British Nationality by Descent.

• You are UNDER 18. Click here to read more about the British Nationality rights of children under the age of 18.

* It gets more complicated if:

Your parents weren’t married at the time of your birth; or
You (or a parent) were adopted.

As a Yemeni Citizen, you are eligible for the UK Work Permit if you have a job offer in the UK or specific skills that are in demand in the UK.

How Can I Find Out if I Can Claim British nationality?

We suggest following our 4 STEP PROCESS, designed to simplify the complex laws of British nationality and to avoid unnecessary and expensive application fees, to find your answer:

Step 1: Determine whether you have a Standard Route (birth in the UK before 1983, or a parent born in the UK before 1983)
Step 2: If not, complete our free Nationality Assessment
Step 3: Order a free Status Trace
Step 4: Conduct a Citizenship Report

The Independence Day arrangements on 30.11.1967 also give rise to many Aden residents gaining one of the various forms of British Nationality. As a general rule, those born in the Aden Protectorates (Eastern or Western) would have held British Protected Person (BPP) status. This status would have been lost if the new Yemen constitution granted nationality. If not, then this BPP status would have been maintained and, in some cases, this can be upgraded to full British Nationality.

Those born in the Aden Colony would have held Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKC) status. This status would have been lost if the new Yemen constitution granted nationality. If not, then British Overseas Citizen (BOC) status would have been achieved and, in some cases, this can be upgraded to full British Nationality.

For these and other forms of British Nationality available to Aden residents, those born in Aden or Yemeni nationals, click on British Citizenship.

STATUS OF THE YEMEN (previously Aden)

Aden Colony (including Kuria Muria and Perim Islands)

From 1839 until 31.12.1948, the Aden Colony formed part of the British Crown Dominions. The Kuria Muria Islands and Perim Islands joined in 1854 and 1957 respectively.

Between 01.01.1949 and 17.01.1963, the colony formed part of the UK and Colonies.

From 18.01.1963 to 29.11.1967, it fell within the UK and Colonies as the Federation (but excluded the Kuria Muria and Perim Islands).

Click here for more information on the status of Citizen of the United Kingdom & Colonies (CUKC), a status achieved by birth in the Colony.

Yemen

Yemen was created by the merge of the Aden Colony, the Aden Protectorates and Kamaran on 30.11.1967.

It remained a foreign country since that date. It excludes the Kuria Muria Islands.