United Kingdom - Info - British Citizenship and the Bahamas
Residents and those born in the Bahamas have several ways in which to claim British Nationality. These are:
- A British or UK-born mother or father
- Not having gained nationality of the Bahamas on Independence
- A grandparent born in the UK
- A parent or grandparent born outside of the Bahamas
- A parent or grandparent holding a nationality other than the Bahamas
The Independence Day arrangements on 10.07.1973 gave rise to many residents gaining one of the various forms of British Nationality. Those born in the Bahamas would have held Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKC) status. This status would have been lost if the new Bahamas constitution granted nationality. If not, then British Overseas Citizen (BOC) status would have been achieved and, in some cases, this can be upgraded to full British Nationality.
For these and other forms of British Nationality available to Bahamas residents, those born there or nationals, click on British Citizenship.
STATUS OF THE BAHAMAS
- Between 1717 and 31.12.1948 (except for the period 1776 till 1782), the Bahamas fell within the British Crown Dominions.
- From 01.01.1949 until 09.07.1973, it was within the UK and Colonies as the Colony of the Bahama Islands.
- Click here for more information on the status of Citizen of the United Kingdom & Colonies (CUKC), a status achieved by birth in the Colony.
- From 10.07.1973 until the present day, it was an independent Commonwealth country. Click here for more information about the consequences of being born in a Commonwealth country.