British citizenship by descent: common questions

Yes. The UK allows dual citizenship, and so do the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Usually not automatically. Your parent would be British by descent, and that normally can’t be passed on to a child born abroad. Some children can be registered, mostly before 18. Separately, if you’re a Commonwealth citizen, for example Canadian, Australian or a New Zealander, a grandparent born in the UK may let you get a UK Ancestry visa. That’s a work visa, not citizenship, and it isn’t open to Americans.

No. People born in Scotland are British citizens, and there’s no separate Scottish citizenship or passport. A parent born in Scotland can make you British, and a grandparent born there may help Commonwealth citizens get a UK Ancestry visa. See Scottish citizenship by descent.

If you’re British by descent, children born outside the UK usually aren’t British automatically. They may be able to register, often depending on time you’ve lived in the UK. Children born in the UK to a British parent are British.

Not any more. Since Brexit, British citizens are visitors in the EU. It does let you live and work in Ireland, under the Common Travel Area.

UK tax depends on where you live, not on citizenship. US citizens still file US tax returns wherever they live.

Since July 1, 2006, a child can inherit British citizenship from an unmarried father. But if the mother was married to someone else at the birth, the child may not be British automatically through their father, and may need to register on form UKF. People born before July 1, 2006 can usually register on form UKF, paying only the £130 citizenship ceremony fee.