India

We cover three scenarios:

• You are NOT an Indian Citizen, and a parent or grandparent was born in British India before 1948, at a time when India was part of the British Empire

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

• You are an Indian Citizen.

As an Indian 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 Naturalised in the UK before your birth, or 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 an Indian 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?

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

Status of INDIA

• Up until 14.08.1947, the territory now known as India fell within the Crown’s Dominions as British India.
• The 560 Princely States (which occupied two thirds of British India) were until various dates between 1947 and 1949 British Protected States.
• From 15.08.1947 to 31.12.1948, British India (but excluding British Baluchistan, East Bengal, North-West Province, Sind and West Punjab and Burma) came with the Crown’s Dominions as the Dominion of India.
• On 01.01.1949 (at which time Pakistan and what is now Bangladesh became independent) and up to the present day, India was an independent Commonwealth country.