BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZENSHIP
This citizenship is essentially transitional in its nature. It will be acquired at commencement by any citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies who does not become either a British citizen or a British Dependent Territories' citizen. British Overseas citizenship cannot normally be transmitted automatically to children born after commencement. There are provisions for a minor child to be registered at discretion as a British Overseas citizen. The wife of a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies who becomes a British Overseas citizen will have her entitlement to acquire her husband's citizenship preserved for 5 years provided the marriage has not ceased. In that event her registration is at the discretion of the Secretary of State. There is provision for British Overseas citizens to renounce this status.
BRITISH SUBJECTS AND BRITISH PROTECTED PERSONS
The use of the term 'British subject' as a common description of all Commonwealth citizens will cease and the term 'Commonwealth citizen' alone will be used in future. But the present scope of the meaning of the term 'British subject' as used in legislation passed before commencement (for example, that dealing with the right to vote) is preserved. British subjects without citizen- ship, and British subjects who had that status by reason of a connection with the Republic of Ireland before 1949 and who have since claimed their right to remain British subjects under section of the British Nationality Act 1948, will continue to be known as British subjects. Those citizens of the Irish Republic who were British subjects before 1949 will continue to be able to make a claim that they have remained British subjects. The Home Secretary will have discretion to register any minor child as a British subject, and the foreign wife of a British subject will continue to be entitled to registration as a British subject for 5 years after commencement provided her marriage subsists. There is provision for renunciation of British subject status, and a former British subject without citizenship will automatically lose that status on acquiring any other citizenship or nationality.
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