Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe)

Listen to our BRITISH NATIONALITY WEBINAR where our two British nationality experts - Philip Gamble and Mishal Patel - discuss a family birth in Rhodesia and its implications for claims to British nationality in the modern day.

Zimbabweans are 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 about 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. 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 have a GRANDPARENT born in the UK (or Northern Ireland). Read more about British Nationality by Double Descent.

• You are UNDER 18, and you have a grandparent or great grandparent born in the UK (or Northern Ireland). 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 your parent) were adopted.

How do 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 ZIMBABWE (formerly Rhodesia)

• From 04.06.1891, Southern Rhodesia was a foreign country in which the Crown exercised extra-territorial jurisdiction.
• Between 12.09.1923 and 31.12.1948, the Colony of Southern Rhodesia was within the Crown Dominions.
• From 01.01.1949 until 28.02.1958, Southern Rhodesia was an independent Commonwealth country.
• Between 01.03.1958 and 31.12.1963, it was part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, an independent Commonwealth country.
• From 01.01.1964 until 17.04.1980, it was Southern Rhodesia, an independent Commonwealth country.
• From 18.04.1980 until the present day, it was known as Zimbabwe and was an independent Commonwealth country.