Pakistan

We cover three scenarios:

• You are not a Pakistani Citizen, and a parent or grandparent was born in British India before 1948, at a time when Pakistan formed part of India and the British Empire

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

• You are a Pakistani Citizen.

As a Pakistani 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. Read more aboutBritish 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. Read more about 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. Read more about British Nationality by Descent.

• You are UNDER 18. 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 Pakistani 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 PAKISTAN

• Before the date of Indian independence on 15.08.1947, Pakistan (or West and East Pakistan) was  part of India.
• As of 15.08.1947 and up to 31.12.1948 fell part of the Crown’s Dominions.
• As from 01.01.1949 and up until the present day, Pakistan was an independent Commonwealth country.
• East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) gained independence from West Pakistan on the 16.12.1971.

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 and up to the present day, India was an independent Commonwealth country.

Bangladesh (previously East Pakistan and part of India)

• Before the date of Indian independence on 15.08.1947, Bangladesh formed part of India. Between the date of Pakistani independence from India (15.08.1947) and 03.02.1972, Bangladesh was known as East Pakistan and formed part of that country. As from 04.02.1972 until the present day, Bangladesh was an independent Commonwealth country.

Pakistan claim sovereignty over Kashmir, and this is disputed by India. Gwadur is now part of Pakistan.