gb_cbd
British Citizenship by Descent
UK · Northern Europe
Program facts from the CitizensOS Mobility Asset Database. Unknown facts are shown as Unknown, never as zero.
- Publication state
- Mobility Asset Database
- Lifecycle status
- Unknown
- Facts checked through
- Sep 21, 2026
- Source snapshots
- Database edition
Identity and current status
The route identity and current status.
- Year establishedPublished
- 1981
- Governing lawPublished
- British Nationality Act 1981
- Responsible authorityPublished
- Home Office
What the program provides
What the program gives the holder.
- What the program providesPublished
- Reconnect with your British heritage for global opportunities and access to the Commonwealth
Best suited for
Who the program tends to suit. Research only, never a personal recommendation.
No governed customer claim is present for this section.
Eligibility
Personal qualifications an applicant must establish.
- Minimum agePublished
- 18 years
- Clean criminal record requiredPublished
- Yes
- Local health insurance requiredPublished
- No
- Nationality restrictionsPublished
- No
- Basic eligibilityPublished
- Descendants of British nationals up to grandparents
- Type of remote employmentPublished
- Not applicable
- Generational limitPublished
- 2
- Ancestral connectionPublished
- 2nd Generation Limit: | Parent: Automatic citizenship if a parent was born in UK | Grandparent citizenship can be claimed if at least one grandparent was born in the UK and either: The applicant's parent (child of the UK-born grandparent) was a British citizen "otherwise than by descent" (generally, born, adopted, registered or naturalized in the UK) at the time of the applicant's birth; or, The applicant's parent served in the UK armed forces at the time of the applicant's birth
- Unbroken chain of citizenshipPublished
- British ancestor must not have lost their British citizenship before the birth of the next generation in lineage.
Household inclusion
How spouses and children are treated.
- Family sponsorshipPublished
- Yes
- Spouse includedPublished
- No
- Children includedPublished
- Yes
- Child age limitPublished
- 18 years
Documents
Evidence categories and filing documents.
No governed customer claim is present for this section.
Process and timeline
How you apply and how long it takes.
- Processing timePublished
- 25.7–52.1 weeks
- Can apply without travelingPublished
- Yes
- How you applyPublished
- Nomad Watch lists: online; can apply from abroad
- What the processing time measuresPublished
- 180-365 days (Nomad Watch)
- Official application routePublished
- https://www.gov.uk/apply-citizenship-british
Costs and investment
Fees, income and savings thresholds, and investment amounts.
- Minimum investmentPublished
- None required
- Minimum passive investment (July 2026)Published
- None required
- Minimum active investment (July 2026)Published
- None required
- Processing feePublished
- $1,550
- Application feePublished
- $1,330
- Total cost to applyPublished
- $2,880
- Monthly income requiredPublished
- None required
- Monthly pension income requiredPublished
- None required
- Monthly rental income requiredPublished
- None required
- Savings requiredPublished
- None required
- Proof of sufficient fundsPublished
- No
- Local bank deposit requiredPublished
- No
- Minimum local bank depositPublished
- None required
- Fees paidPublished
- Before approval
Presence and maintenance
Stay, renewal, and how long the status lasts.
- Stay required to keep statusPublished
- None
- Physical presence requiredPublished
- No
- In-country visit requiredPublished
- Yes
- Move-in windowPublished
- 3 months
- Length of residencyUnknown
- Unknown
- Residency is lifetimePublished
- Yes
- RenewablePublished
- No
- Maximum durationUnknown
- Unknown
- Maximum duration is lifetimePublished
- Yes
- Stay rule (Sept 2026)Published
- Citizenship: no presence required to keep it
- Tax residency rulePublished
- Residents staying more than 183 days per year will be considered tax residents
- Personal income taxPublished
- range between 20%-45%
Rights and onward pathways
Work, healthcare and other rights, and the path to permanent residence and citizenship.
- Time to permanent residencyUnknown
- Unknown
- Time to citizenshipPublished
- Immediate
- Work for a local employerPublished
- Yes
- Start a businessPublished
- Yes
- Remote or freelance workPublished
- Yes
- Local healthcare accessPublished
- Yes
- University accessPublished
- Yes
- Can buy landPublished
- Yes
- Local bankingPublished
- Yes
- Permanent residence timeline basisPublished
- Not applicable
- Citizenship timeline basisPublished
- Immediate upon approval
Risks, limitations, and uncertainty
Notes on changes, conflicts, and limits.
No governed customer claim is present for this section.
Sources, freshness, and conflict disclosure
Where the CitizensOS Mobility Asset Database took these facts from.
- Official program websitePublished
- https://www.gov.uk/british-citizenship
- Plan B sources (Sept 2026)Published
- https://nomad.watch/visas/citizenship/uk-citizenship-by-descent
Every fact on this page comes from the CitizensOS Mobility Asset Database (Sep 21, 2026 edition). A blank is shown as Unknown.
This anonymous dossier is read-only research. It does not establish personal fit, eligibility, legal or tax advice, filing, approval, residence, citizenship, or a held Right.