United Kingdom - Passport & Nationality - British Overseas Citizen (BOC)

The BOC status is a legacy status from British colonial days, though the status is still valid today and BOC passports can still be issued. The British Overseas Citizenship (BOC) status can be upgraded to full British Nationality status, but this relies on a case-by-case analysis and is considered a Non-Standard claim to British nationality.

How do I find out if I can upgrade my BOC status?

We suggest following these three steps, designed to simplify the complex laws of British nationality and to avoid unnecessary and expensive application fees, to find your answer:

Step 1: Complete our free Nationality Assessment
Step 3: Order a free Status Trace
Step 4: Conduct a Citizenship Report

A British Overseas Citizen (BOC) is based on birth in a British Territory where nationality of that territory has not been granted. In most cases, this is caused by the Independence Day arrangements as to how nationality was granted to the residents of the newly-Independent country. 

The BOC status is one of the three forms of British protection offered to former British Subjects, the other two being British Protected Person (BPP) and British National Overseas (BNO). It is possible - in certain circumstances - to upgrade this status to full British Nationality.

The solutions that WhatPassport.com have discovered under this category are:

BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZEN (BOC) - TERRITORIES

• British Overseas Citizen (BOC) - General Provisions:  Information on rights of BOC status. General rule is applicant born in a British Territory before it's Independence and father or parents NOT born in that territory. 
• British Overseas Citizen (BOC) - Kenya: Applicant born in Kenya Colony. Neither parent born in Kenya Colony or Protectorate OR father or Paternal grandfather born in area that remained a British Colony, Protectorate or Protected State after Kenyan Independence.
• British Overseas Citizen (BOC) - Penang & Malacca: Applicant born in Penang & Malacca before 30.08.1957 OR father born in Penang & Malacca before 30.08.1957. 
• British Overseas Citizen (BOC) - Protectorate: Applicant born before 01.01.1949 in territory that remained a British Protectorate on 01.01.1949. Father born in British Crown Dominions.
• British Overseas Citizen (BOC) - Ceylon: Applicant born before Independence on 31.12.1948 and father not born in Ceylon.
• British Overseas Citizen (BOC) - Burma Independence: Candidate born in Burma before Independence on 04.01.1948 and father or paternal grandfather born outside of Burma. 
• British Overseas Citizen (BOC) - Burma Father: Candidate born in Burma before 01.01.1949 and father or paternal grandfather born outside of Burma.

UPGRADE OF EXISTING BOC STATUS

• British Overseas Citizen (BOC) - Upgrade (11(1)2.1.a.1971): Applicant born before 01.01.1983 and holds BOC status. At least one grandparent born in UK (or Ireland before 31.03.1922) .
• British Overseas Citizen (BOC) - Upgrade (11(1)2.1.c.1971): Applicant born before 01.01.1983 and holds BOC status.  Applicant spent at least 5 years in UK before 01.01.1983 OR held Permanent Residency status in UK before 01.01.1983.
• British Overseas Citizen (BOC) - Upgrade (11(1)2.2.1971): Woman holds BOC status and is/was married to man who had Right of Abode. Married before 01.01.1983.

UPGRADE OF BOC QUALIFIER

• British Overseas Citizen (BOC) - 51A 1948 PGGF: Applicant before 01.01.1983. Father born in British Protectorate. Father's Paternal Grandfather born in UK (or Ireland before 31.03.1922). 
• British Overseas Citizen (BOC) - Ceylon Upgrade : Applicant born before Independence on 31.12.1948 and father not born in Ceylon. A grandparent born in UK.
• British Overseas Citizen (BOC) - Protectorate by Descent: Applicant born before 01.01.1983. Father of applicant born before 01.01.1949 in territory that remained a British Protectorate on 01.01.1949. Paternal grandfather born in British Crown Dominions.