Why british law doesnt necessarily apply in overseas territories may 4, 2016 9. The breetish owerseas territories is fowerteen stewartries that the unitit kinrick haes unner its sovereignty, buts no pairt o the unitit kinrick itsel the name british overseas territory wis brocht in bi the british overseas territories act 2002, an replaced the name british dependent territory that wis brocht in bi the british nationality act 1981. A person born or after 21 may 2002 outside of a british overseas territory will be a british citizen by descent if born to a british citizen able to transmit their british citizenship. The british overseas territories act of 2002 offered a new name, and with this, the uk overseas territories sometimes known by the acronym ukots were officially born.
Page 2 of published for home office staff on 14 july 2017. A british overseas territory is one of fourteen territories which the united kingdom considers to be under its sovereignty, but not as part of the united kingdom itself before 1981 the territories were known as colonies or crown colonies. British overseas territories can benefit from transparency. Full british citizenship has been granted to most belongers of overseas territories mainly since the british overseas territories act 2002. Extended statehood in the caribbean the uk caribbean. Nov 21, 2012 the government published this white paper on the overseas territories on the 28 june 2012. However, it is possible for a person to be a british overseas territories citizen by naturalisation, or if a child by registration sections 18 and. Why british law doesnt necessarily apply in overseas. British overseas territories citizenship is a category of citizenship that was created by the british nationality act 1981, which came into force on 1 january 1983.
The name british overseas territory was introduced by the british overseas territories act 2002, and replaced the name british dependent territory which was introduced. Some bot citizens had british citizenship prior to the 2002 act, e. However, the british overseas territories act 2002 replaced dependent territory citizenship with british overseas territories citizenship, and restored full british citizenship to all botcs except those from the sovereign base areas of cyprus. The british nationality act of 1981 established british citizenship in the statute book. There would be a new structured dialogue between the overseas territories and the government. Archived pdf from the original on 27 february 2020. It is geographically the largest of the 14 british overseas territories with an area of 660,000 square miles. The british overseas territories are also referred to as overseas territories of the united kingdom, uk overseas territories, or when the context is clear. Page 6 of 32 published for home office staff on 02 april 2019.
The peculiarities of gibraltar and other british overseas. Since the passage of the british overseas territories act of 2002 their inhabitants have enjoyed full british citizenship, but they are not under. Before that, the territories were known as colonies or crown colonies. Although the territory is not part of the european union and not directly subject to eu law, its citizens are deemed to be citizens of the eu as well.
This reclassified the uks dependent territories as overseas territories and, with the exception of those people solely connected with the sovereign base areas of cyprus, restored full. This restored to botcs the right to reside in the uk. I am a uk citizen, can i move to british overseas territories. In 2002, the uk parliament passed the british overseas territories act 2002. An act to make provision about the name british overseas territories and british citizenship so far as. The government published this white paper on the overseas territories on the 28 june 2012. Deprivation of citizenship 1 in this section a reference to a persons citizenship status is a reference to his status as a a british citizen b a british overseas territories citizen, c a british overseas citizen. Although the territories now forming the british antarctic territory were acquired. Most british overseas territories do not wish to become independent, or have no civilian population. Before the independence of many new nations, they included a larger number of islands in the region, together with two mainland colonies, all forming part of the british empire. The united kingdom refers only to british citizens who have the unrestricted right of permanent abode in the united kingdom england, scotland, wales, northern ireland, the channel islands and the isle of man. A british overseas territories citizen botc, formerly called british dependent territories. British overseas territories act united kingdom 2002.
The uk has no intention of imposing independence against the will of the people concerned. The nationality, immigration and asylum act of 2002. The name british overseas territory was introduced by the british overseas territories act 2002, and replaced the name british dependent territory which was introduced by the british nationality act 1981. Rights of a british overseas citizen british overseas citizens are subject to uk immigration control, but are eligible for. The case of the cayman islands and hurricane ivan raised question marks. Britains scattered overseas colonial remnants are under the sovereignty of the united kingdom but are not part of it. British overseas territories act 2002 legislationline. Name the territories would in future be known as united kingdom overseas territories for short, overseas territories. Article 14 of the subsequent nationality, immigration and asylum act 2002, stated specifically that a person may not be registered as a british overseas territories citizen by virtue of a connection with hong kong. The british overseas territory act 2002 changed the status of the colony to that of overseas territory and granted british. British overseas territories simple english wikipedia, the.
Holders of this nationality are british nationals and commonwealth citizens, but not british citizens. Today, there are officially fourteen uk overseas territories, scattered across the seven major oceans and seas. In 2002 the falklands became a british overseas territory with the british overseas territories act 2002. Deprivation of british citizenship and withdrawal of.
The act confers british citizenship on those citizens in the territories who qualify and who wish to have it, and allows the right of abode in the uk. Greenwood, international law and the united states air operation against libya. It makes legal provision for the renaming of the british dependent territories as british overseas territories, and the renaming of associated citizenship. You became a british overseas territories citizen on 1 january 1983 if both of these applied. The british west indies, sometimes abbreviated to bwi, are now the british overseas territories in the caribbean, anguilla, bermuda, the cayman islands, and montserrat. Legislationline freeofcharge online legislation service. Any person who, immediately before the commencement of this section, is a british overseas territories citizen shall, on the commencement of this section, become a british citizen. British overseas territories act 2002 rob984 talk 16. British virgin islanders are classed as british overseas territories citizens and since 2002 have had an entitlement to take up full uk citizenship.
British national overseas wikipedia republished wiki 2. Individuals with this nationality are british nationals and commonwealth citizens, but not british citizens. Changes to legislation revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. It was agreed on by the uk government and the falkland islands. Extended statehood in the caribbean the uk caribbean overseas territories. In anticipation of the 2002 act, it had been the practice, since 17 march 1999, to refer to the dependent. The overseas territories do not form part of the uk and are not also part of the european union. There are currently no known outstanding effects for the british overseas territories act 2002. If a person was a british overseas territories citizen except by virtue of a connection only with the sovereign base.
See end of document for details b has ceased to be a british citizen as a result of a declaration of renunciation. Apr 25, 2017 the overseas territories do not form part of the uk and are not also part of the european union. Overseas territories act 2002 converted most of those who were british dependent. On 1 january 2009 the current constitution came into force with the falkland islands constitution order 2008. As a result of nationality law reform in 2002, almost all botcs are also british citizens. Feb 04, 2011 some bot citizens had british citizenship prior to the 2002 act, e. Most countries do not recognise the sovereignty claims of any other country, including britains, to antarctica and its offshore islands. In anticipation of the 2002 act, it had been the practice, since 17 march 1999, to refer to the dependent territories as british overseas territories in official correspondence. Jan 19, 2010 by utilising distinctive feature of the british remote places territories act 2002, maximum british remote places territory electorate are also british electorate in the adventure that they held botc citizenship on 21 might want to 2002 the in reality exceptions are human beings linked with the sovereign base aspects on cyprus, and characteristic the right of residing residing house. Why british law doesnt necessarily apply in overseas territories.
In 2002 the british overseas territories act granted full british citizenship to bermudians, which would not automatically accrue to citizens of an independent bermuda. Feb 10, 2012 the name british overseas territory was introduced by the british overseas territories act 2002, and replaced the name british dependent territory, which was introduced by the british. A guide to the british overseas territories telegraph. The british antarctic territory is a section of the antarctic under the jurisdiction of the uk. Dec, 2006 the name british overseas territory was introduced by the british overseas territories act 2002, and replaced the name british dependent territory which was introduced by the british nationality act 1981. The name british overseas territory was introduced by the british overseas territories act 2002, and replaced the name british dependent territory, which was introduced by the british. British national overseas, commonly known as bno, is one of the major classes of british nationality under british nationality law. Why havent the british overseas territories gained their. Watch the threepart britains treasure islands documentary series on bbc four, starting tue 12 apr 2016 21. An act to make provision about the name british overseas territories and british citizenship so far as relating to the british overseas territories. This version of this act contains provisions that are prospective. British overseas territories simple english wikipedia. The persistence of colonial constitutionalism in british.
The british governments relationship with its overseas territories is a modern one based on partnership, shared values and the right of each territory to determine whether it wishes to stay linked to the uk or not. The 14 british overseas territories are under the jurisdiction of the united kingdom, though they do not form part of it. Citizenship the sense of injustice felt in many overseas territories from not enjoying british citizenship was understood. The nationality itself does not grant right of abode anywhere in the world, including united kingdom or hong kong, but most bnos possess either right of. British overseas territories can benefit from transparency send to email address open help options for email address.
All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. Thats a reasonable general statement, however gibraltar is different to other. Perhaps the defining characteristic of british citizenship law historically has been its. Effect of the british overseas territories act 2002. Indeed, the former was key to the british invasion of iraq in 2003 and the recent military strikes in syria in 2015 and 2018. Falkland islands simple english wikipedia, the free. The name british overseas territory was introduced by the british overseas territories act 2002, and replaced the name british dependent territory.
This page was last edited on 30 december 2019, at 11. Any changes that have already been made by the team appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. The 2002 act changed the official name of the areas from. There are currently no known outstanding effects for the british overseas territories act 2002, section 6. See end of document for details british overseas territories act 2002 2002 chapter 8 an act to make provision about the name british overseas territories and british citizenship so far as relating to the british overseas territories. The 2002 act changed the official name of the areas from british dependent territories to british overseas. A british overseas territory is one of 14 as of 2006 territories which are under the sovereignty of the united kingdom, but not considered part of the united kingdom itself. There are outstanding changes not yet made by the legislation. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. Apr 02, 2010 in 2002, the uk parliament passed the british overseas territories act 2002. It says there that all citizens of the british overseas territories, except those residing at britains sovereign bases in cyprus, were granted full british citizenship by the british overseas territories act 2002, and are consequently citizens of the european union. British overseas territories law bloomsbury professional. This reclassified the uks dependent territories as overseas territories and, with the exception of those people solely connected with the sovereign base areas of cyprus, restored full british citizenship to their inhabitants. In 2002, the british parliament passed the british overseas territories act 2002.
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