United Kingdom - Info - British Citizenship and Basutoland

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

Basutoland was a British Colony up until its independence on 4 October 1966. From that point, Lesotho (as it became known) was an independent Commonwealth country.

A birth in pre-independence Basutoland gave the status of Citizen of the UK & Colonies (or CUKC), as did descent from a father born in Basutoland. Upon independence, this CUKC status was either retained or lost depending on the circumstances of each person. The rules as to whether a person became a citizen of Lesotho or not were determined by the Independence Day arrangements and the new Constitution.

We have found several British nationality solutions that arise from a family birth in Basutoland:

British Citizenship by Double Descent (Pre 49 Birth Colony)

British Citizenship by Double Descent (Pre 83 Birth Colony)

British Citizenship by Double Descent (Post 82 Birth Colony)

British Citizenship by Double Descent (Colony Marriage)

British Citizenship by Double Descent (Colony with RoA)

British Citizenship by Double Descent (PGF Colony)

British Citizenship by Double Descent (Territory PGF Colony)

British Citizenship by Double Descent (UKM Colony CBR pre 83)

British Citizenship (Colony Mother - Post 82)

British Citizenship (Colony Parent and Residency)

We have found several British Overseas Citizen (or BOC) solutions that arise from a family birth in Basutoland:

British Overseas Citizen (BOC) - Colony birth

British Overseas Citizen (BOC) - Colony by Descent

British Overseas Citizen (BOC) - Colony (Father by Descent)

British Overseas Citizen (BOC) - Colony Marriage

British Overseas Citizen (BOC) - Colony PGF

The following solutions are particularly relevant to children:

British Citizenship by Double Descent (PG-1981 S3(2) 2010) Colony

British Citizenship by Double Descent (Post 82 Birth Colony)

Ask Philip Gamble whether you (or your children) have a claim to British nationality.

ASK PHILIP GAMBLE NOW!

Learn more about these routes to British Nationality:

WhatPassport.com is a specialist UK Nationality and British Citizenship site offering an online search and assessment. Claims to hold a British Passport can be complex and the site offers a quick, simple search to give you the answers. While many people qualify for the UK Ancestry Visa based on holding a Commonwealth passport with a UK born grandmother or grandfather, we have found that if you have a grandparent born in the UK, or if your mother is British or your father is British, then there are several scenarios where you can claim British Nationality and the right to hold a British Passport. This stems from Britain’s collection of British Colonies, British Protectorates and British Protected States in the middle of last century and the Nationality rules concerning what are now the countries of the Commonwealth.

WhatPassport.com is a subsidiary of Sable International.

Sable International offers a range of services relating to UK and Australian immigration. For over 20 years, we have been helping people with their UK and Australian visa applications. We assist with applications for Ancestry visas, spouse visas, work visas, Tier 1 visas, UK working holiday visas, UK dependant visas, Tier 4 visas, UK Visitor visas, sponsorship visas or UK permanent residency or indefinite leave to remain. We also specialise in UK visa extensions. If you’ve overstayed your visa, our Overstayer Status Trace service can assist to regularise your visa status.