Renunciation and Restoration of British Nationality
All types of British nationality can be renounced by submitting a declaration to the Home Secretary. Individuals concerned will no longer be considered British nationals from the date the Home Secretary registers the renunciation declaration. If the declaration is made in anticipation of acquiring a new nationality, but the new nationality is not obtained within six months, the declaration will not take effect, and the declarant will be regarded as having restored British nationality.
Declarations of renunciation of British nationality made to entities other than the UK government are also invalid; for example, declarations made during the ceremony of swearing in as a citizen of the United States will not be recognized by the UK government.
Under special provisions, British citizens and British Overseas Territories citizens who renounce their nationality due to acquiring a new nationality may have their nationality restored, but such restoration is only permitted once. If multiple restorations of British nationality are required, they must be handled at the discretion of the UK government.
Once renounced, the nationality of British citizens, British Overseas citizens, and British nationals (overseas) cannot be restored under any circumstances.
Automatic Loss of British Nationality
British citizens (except those connected to the Republic of Ireland) and persons under British protection automatically lose their original nationality upon acquiring any nationality, whether British, Commonwealth, or foreign.
· These provisions do not apply to British citizens.
· British Overseas Territories citizens who acquire foreign nationality will not lose their British Overseas Territories citizenship. However, according to the immigration laws of the territory, they may lose their status as a local person. These individuals should consult the governor of the territory in which they reside.
· British Overseas citizens who acquire foreign nationality will not lose their British Overseas citizenship. However, all rights to be registered as British citizens due to not having any other nationality will cease to exist.
Deprivation of British Nationality
According to the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006, British nationals may be deprived of their citizenship if the Secretary of State believes that "deprivation is conducive to the public good." This provision has been in effect since June 16, 2006, following the Immigration, Nationality and Asylum Act 2006 (Commencement No 1) Order 2006. This special provision applies only to dual nationals and does not apply in cases where deprivation would render the individual stateless.
Prior to this, in 2003, under the amendments to the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, British nationals could be deprived of British nationality if the Secretary of State believed they were involved in actions that caused serious harm to the interests of the UK or any overseas territory.
If the nationality or citizenship of a naturalized or registered British national was obtained through fraud or concealment of facts, their nationality certificate may be revoked, resulting in the loss of British nationality.
