Sierra Leone Protectorate (now part of Sierra Leone)

Can you claim British Nationality?

Getting a British passport might be easier than you think. Thanks to the UK's historical laws and agreements with former territories, you may qualify for British nationality depending on where you, your parents and grandparents were born.

Sierra Leone

You could be eligible for British citizenship if you were:

• Born to a parent (a father or mother) who was born in the UK before 1983.
• Born before 1983 to a parent who was born after 1949 – as long as that parent a) was a British Citizen, or b) had a parent born in the UK.
• Born after 1948, and your parents were married before 1949 and your paternal grandfather (your dad’s dad) was 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.

Expert UK immigration and nationality advice

We are the world’s leading experts in UK immigration and nationality. For over 22 years, we have been helping thousands of people navigate the complex path to British citizenship.

Some claims to British nationality are relatively straightforward and can be completed quickly if you meet the above requirements. Other claims can be extremely complex and can only be determined by researching old nationality laws.

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 Sierra Leone. This arises because of Britain's relationship with Sierra Leone and Britain's Colonial history.

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 Sierra Leone that were passed over the years.

STATUS OF SIERRA LEONE

Prior to Independence, Sierra Leone was made up of two territories.

From Independence on 27.04.1961 until the present day, Sierra Leone is an independent Commonwealth country.

Sierra Leone Colony

From 1860 to 31.12.1948, the Sierra Leone Colony fell within the Crown's Dominions.

Between 01.01.1949 and 26.04.1961, 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.

Sierra Leone Protectorate

From 1896 to 26.04.1961, 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).