Gambia Protectorate (now part of Gambia)

Gambia Protectorate (now part of the Gambia)

The Gambia Protectorate was a British Protectorate up to Independence on 17.02.1965. You could be eligible for British citizenship if you were:

• Born in the Gambia Protectorate after 31.12.1948 and before independence on 17.02.1965, and you have a grandparent born in the UK.
• Born between 31.12.1948 and 31.12.1982, a parent was born in the Gambia Protectorate before 17.02.1965 and that parent had a parent born in the UK.
• Born after 01.01.1983, a parent was born in the Gambia Protectorate before 1949 and that parent had a parent born in the UK.

There are hundreds of other ways to qualify. As a general rule, if you were born in a country that is different to either parent or any of your grandparents, or you have a connection back to the UK, Ireland or a former British Territory, then you might have a claim.

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 uneccessary and expensive application fees, to find your answer:

Step 1: Dertermine 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

Complete our nationality assessment

To find out whether you or your children might have a claim, take a couple of moments to complete our FREE online passport assessment.

British Nationality could be obtained through your birth, or through the birth of any one of your parents or grandparents, in the Gambia Protectorate. This arises because of Britain's relationship with Gambia and its Colonial history. As a general rule, any person born in the Protectorate became a British Protected Person (BPP).

To determine what form of British Nationality you might have, an analysis of your family's history must be done, and then applying it to the Nationality laws of Gambia that were passed over the years.

STATUS OF GAMBIA

Prior to Independence, the Gambia was made up of two territories. From Independence on 18.02.1965 until the present day, the Gambia is an independent Commonwealth country.

Gambia Colony

From 1783 to 31.12.1948, the Gambia Colony fell within the Crown's Dominions. Between 01.01.1949 and 17.02.1965, it fell within the UK and Colonies.

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

Gambia Protectorate

From 1880 to 17.02.1965, it was a British Protectorate.

Click here for more information on the status of a British Protected Person (based on birth in a British Protectorate).