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HIIT 340/1
Home Office
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3 NOW 1981 Telephone 01-213 3030/4050/5050
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4.3.1
213-3000 (Night Line)
October 30, 1981
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BRITISH NATIONALITY ACT 1981
The British Nationality Act 1981 received Royal Assent on October 30. Its main provisions are not, however, to be brought into force immediately. They will come into effect on a day to be appointed by the Home Secretary. No decision has yet been taken on the day to be appointed but it will not be for some months yet, because of the administrative preparations which have to be made. The only provision which comes into effect at once is section 49, under which administrative procedures relating to the taking of oaths of allegiance under the existing law are to be simplified. The main provisions of the Act are set out below.
The Act replaces the present citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies by 3 separate citizenships:-
British citizenship for people closely connected with the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man;
British Dependent Territories citizenship for people connected with the dependencies; and
British Overseas citizenship for those citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies who do not acquire either of the other citizenships at commencement.
The Act provides for the acquisition and renunciation of these citizenships, and makes amendments to the Immigration Act 1971 so as to cast the right of abode in terms of the new British citizenship.
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