Registration as a British Citizen for Persons Born Before 1983 to British Mothers

Last reviewed: February 2026 

This guide explains how to register as a British citizen using Form UKM. This route applies to people born before 1 January 1983 who would have become citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies if women had been able to pass on citizenship in the same way as men at the time of their birth.

Registration under this route is normally an entitlement. If you meet the legal requirements, the Home Office must usually register you as a British citizen.

While it is not legal advice—it is advisable to discuss your individual circumstances with a specialist lawyer to assess eligibility for British citizenship and the applicable evidential requirements before making an application.

You may book an online or office consultation with us for expert legal advice and representation tailored to your circumstances which will help increase your prospects for success.

Contents

1. Introduction
2. Before applying
3. Who qualifies for Form UKM
4. The legal requirements
5. Citizenship you will acquire
6. Referees
7. Biometric enrolment
8. Documents you must provide
9. After submitting your application
10. Citizenship ceremony
11. After becoming British
12. Common refusal risks

Introduction

Form UKM is used to register as a British citizen under provisions of the British Nationality Act 1981. It allows certain people born before 1983 to British mothers to correct historical gender discrimination in nationality law.

Becoming a British citizen allows you to apply for a British passport and participate fully in life in the United Kingdom. 

Before applying

You should check whether your current country of nationality allows dual citizenship. Some countries do not allow dual nationality and you may lose your existing citizenship if you become British.

If you are living in the UK, you must continue to hold valid immigration permission while your application is being considered. A nationality application does not grant immigration status.

Who qualifies for Form UKM

• You were born before 1 January 1983
• You would have become a citizen of the UK and Colonies if women had been able to pass on citizenship at the time of your birth
• You would have had the right of abode in the UK

This route exists to ensure that people who would have automatically become British citizens if the law had treated mothers and fathers equally now have the opportunity to register.

The legal requirements

You must show that, had women been able to pass on citizenship before 1983, you would have become a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies by descent and would have had the right of abode in the UK.

• Your mother was a citizen of the UK and Colonies by birth, adoption, naturalisation or registration
• Or one of your mother’s parents was such a citizen
• Or you were resident in the UK for a continuous 5-year period before 1983 and became settled
• Or (for women) you were married before 1983 to a man with the right of abode

Citizenship you will acquire

Successful applicants become British citizens by descent. This normally means you cannot automatically pass on British citizenship to children born outside the UK.

If you are living in the UK, you may later apply for naturalisation to become British otherwise than by descent.

Referees

• You must provide two referees
• One referee must be a professional person
• The other must normally be a British citizen and either a professional or over 25
• Referees must not be related to you or employed by the Home Office

Biometric enrolment

All applicants must enrol biometric details for identity verification. Applications may be rejected if biometrics are not provided when requested.{index=10}

Documents you must provide

• Your passport
• Your full birth certificate
• Your mother’s birth certificate
• Evidence of your mother’s citizenship of the UK and Colonies
• Marriage certificates where names differ
• Evidence of residence or right of abode (if required)

After submitting your application

The Home Office aims to decide citizenship applications within 6 months. You may travel while your application is pending, provided you hold valid immigration status if required.

Citizenship ceremony

If approved, you must attend a citizenship ceremony, take the oath of allegiance, and receive your certificate of British citizenship. 

After becoming British

• Apply for a British passport
• Return any BRP within 5 working days
• Your certificate becomes proof of nationality
• You cannot use immigration status to enter the UK once British

Common refusal risks

• Failure to show you would have become CUKC by descent
• Insufficient documentary evidence
• Incorrect or inconsistent family lineage evidence
• Providing false or misleading information