Some of the existing stock of United Kingdom passports will continue to be issued after 1 January 1983 but only to categories other than British citizen. The right of abode endorsement will be deleted in these passports.
8.
Passports issued by British dependent territories (see annex) bear the name of the territory on the cover. Such passports issued to citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies, British subjects or British protected persons before 1 January 1983 do not necessarily bear an observation on the holder's United Kingdom immigration status. Only passports in this category bearing the endorsement that the 'Holder has the right of abode in the United Kingdom' or 'Holder is entitled to readmission to the United Kingdom' confer the appropriate status under the United Kingdom Immigration Act 1971. The holders of all other passports issued by dependent territories before 1 January 1983 without any observation should be regarded as subject to United Kingdom immigration control. After 1 January 1983, all passports issued by dependent territories to British citizens will automatically confer the right of abode in the United Kingdom and will not bear an observation to this effect. Dependent territory passports issued to other categories of citizen will normally be endorsed to show the appropriate United Kingdom immigration status. If no observation appears the holder will be subject to United Kingdom immigration control.
9.
It may be helpful to conclude with some notes summarising the new arrangements for United Kingdom passports.
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
Holders of valid passports issued to citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies before 1 January 1983
If the printed right of abode endorsement has not been deleted and there is no endorsement to the contrary, the holder has the right of abode in the United Kingdom. Holders of such passports will have become British citizens on 1 January 1983. In cases where the right of abode endorsement has been cancelled the holder will have become a British Dependent Territories citizen or a British Overseas citizen on that date.
Passports issued after 1 January 1983 in which the holder is described as a British citizen
The holder will have an automatic right of abode in the United Kingdom but the passport will contain no reference to that right.
Passports issued after 1 January 1983 in which the holder is described as a British Dependent Territories citizen or a British Overseas citizen
These will bear one of the following two endorsements 'Holder is subject to control under the Immigration Act 1971'; or 'Holder is entitled to re-admission to the United Kingdom'. Some of the present stock of passports will be issued to such citizens initially with the printed right of abode endorsement deleted but with one of the above endorsements inserted in its place.
Passports issued to British subjects and British protected persons
Passports issued after 1 January 1983 will in most cases, as at present, bear one of the endorsements as at (iii) above. A limited number of British subjects will have the right of abode in the United Kingdom however and their passports will bear an endorsement to that effect.
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