United Kingdom - Passport & Nationality - British Citizenship (Chagos)

Chagossians were the former residents of the British Indian Ocean Territory (often referred to as Chagos). From 1968, many were forcibly relocated from the Chagos Archipelago. The removal of Chagossians from BIOT has meant that British nationality could not be passed on to the second and subsequent generations of Chagossians born outside the UK and territories. We know that those subsequent generation become British nationality they could ‘upgrade’ to full British citizenship on the 21 May 2002, because of the British Overseas Territories Act 2002. This lost opportunity was recently deemed unfair and this resulted in the introduction of the new Nationality and Borders Act 2022. From the 23/11/2022, it is not possible to apply for British citizenship on the basis that you are a direct descendant of a person born or connected to the British Indian Ocean Territory (Diego Garcia and two other Chagos atolls, Peros Banhos and Salomon Islands and other smaller islands). 

So, as you are a person who is a direct descended from someone who was born on the islands that now make up the British Indian Ocean Territory, we can apply to for your British nationality. For an application to succeed you will need to show that you satisfy the requirements that are set out in British nationality law. 

Please note that you must act quickly as this new provision for those who were over the age of 18 when it came into force will not be available from the 23/11/2027. This is different if you under 18 on the 23/11/2022 or you are born before the 23/11/2022. In this case, you have until your 23rd birthday to make this application.