Circular '0' 198/82
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1H 9NL
24 September 1982
BRITISH NATIONALITY ACT 1981: ENDORSEMENTS IN PASSPORTS
1. It is now confirmed that United Kingdom passports issued after 1 January 1983 will not bear the printed endorsement 'Holder has the right of abode in the United Kingdom' (Circular '0' 98/82 of 30 April refers). Since the right of abode will be inherent in the new status of 'British citizen' any reference to it in the passport of a British citizen would be superfluous and could even be misleading.
2.
Foreign and Commonwealth immigration officers have become used to seeing the right of abode endorsement in British passports and its absence in the future could cause difficulties initially for British citizens. It is essential therefore that posts should brief local authorities fully on the new situation with a request that the information should be disseminated as widely as possible. The text of the attached memorandum, where necessary in translation, should be conveyed to the Government to which you are accredited. As the subject is rather an abstruse one, there may be advantage in a personal call by a consular officer on the official concerned. You may also wish to consider briefing local immigration authorities independently. A memorandum on the main provisions of the new Act is being sent to all foreign and Commonwealth missions in London.
NATIONALITY AND TREATY DEPARTMENT
DISTRIBUTION:
All Posts (excluding Dependent Territories)
Also copieci to DT's.
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