New law allows for South Africans to claim British citizenship through UK-born parents - here’s what you need to know

Recent UK nationality law changes have now made it easier for some South Africans to claim British citizenship through UK-born grandparents.

New law allows for South Africans to claim British citizenship through UK-born parents - here’s what you need to know -0
Source: Harlem world

(www.iol.co.za) According to immigration specialists, Sable International, an amendment to the British Nationality Act of 1981, known as “Section 4L”, which came into effect in 2022, means that many who previously would not have qualified for UK citizenship through a grandparent, can now apply.

Sable International’s director, John Dunn, said the section states that you can apply to be registered for British citizenship if you can show you would have become a British citizen had it not been for historical legislative unfairness, an act or omission of a public authority, or exceptional circumstances relating to your case.

“Historical legislative unfairness includes cases where you would have received or maintained British Subject status, CUKC (Citizen of the UK and Colonies) status, or British citizenship if the law had treated males and females equally, treated children of unmarried couples in the same way as children of married couples, or treated children of couples where the mother was married to someone other than the child’s biological father the same as children of couples where the mother was married to the natural father.

“Generally, British citizenship can only be passed down one generation through descent. That means that if your grandparent was born in the UK and then left and had a child outside of the UK (your parent), your parent could possibly claim British citizenship, but you would be unable to (although you might be able to apply for an Ancestry visa). In 2018, as a direct result of a Supreme Court judgment, a new route to British citizenship became available for those born in a foreign country to a UK-born maternal grandfather,” said Dunn.

Dunn also said that the UK added a set of limiting new provisions for certain classes of illegitimate children to be able to register as British citizens in 2016. However, he believes that these new provisions only benefited clients who would have been British citizens if their parents were married before their respective births, and not those who would be British citizens if their grandparents were married before the relevant parent’s birth.

“We believe Section 4L will address this unfairness. It is important to note that anyone who qualifies to register as a British citizen under the new law change, can register their children afterwards. Not only will the children be eligible to apply, but once they do, the children’s children will qualify. So with the new law amendment, it will technically go down two generations, which is not usually the case for British Citizenship,” said Dunn.

He also cautioned that an application for citizenship using Section 4L was complex as it required that you set out the precise legislation and section that you believe was discriminatory.

Parliaments

California nurses applaud new law that provides transparency, improves equity in nursing education
Parliaments

California nurses applaud new law that provides transparency, improves equity in nursing education

California Nurses Association, the largest union of registered nurses in the state, applauds the signing of Senate Bill 1015 by Governor Gavin Newsom. Nurses say the new law, which was authored by Senator Dave Cortese and sponsored by CNA, is an essential step towards ensuring clinical placement opportunities for California’s future nurses, particularly for students attending public institutions like community colleges and state universities.

Seychelles' parliament adopts motion to make sign language official language
Parliaments

Seychelles' parliament adopts motion to make sign language official language

The National Assembly unanimously adopted a motion to designate Seychelles Deaf Language as an official national language, marking a significant milestone for the islands' hearing-impaired populationin. The motion was brought forward by Regina Esparon, the Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS) elected member for Glacis, on behalf of the Women's Parliamentary Caucus, coinciding with the Deaf Week 2024.

Ireland: New law to ban disposable vapes and restrict flavours
Parliaments

Ireland: New law to ban disposable vapes and restrict flavours

Disposable vapes will be banned and vape flavours and colours restricted under new legislation proposed by the government. The Department of Health yesterday published the general scheme of the proposed Nicotine Inhaling Products Bill, which will introduce further restrictions on nicotine inhaling products or vapes.

Brazil calls EU to suspend anti-deforestation law
Parliaments

Brazil calls EU to suspend anti-deforestation law

Brasília urges the European Commission to reconsider its anti-deforestation rules, which could potentially impact Brazil’s exports by almost US$15 billion. The European legislation passed in 2022 includes a ban on the import of products from areas deforested from 2022 onwards, even if deforestation is legal in those areas. 

UK parliament recognizes Bitcoin and digital assets as personal property
Parliaments

UK parliament recognizes Bitcoin and digital assets as personal property

The UK Parliament has introduced the Property (Digital Assets etc.) Bill today to officially and legally recognize Bitcoin $57,732.86, cryptocurrencies, and other digital assets as personal property. This new law will, for the first time, formally protect digital assets such as Bitcoin, cryptocurrency, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and carbon credits under English law, News.Az reports citing Cointurk news.