British nationality

Question 1

An individual will automatically be a British protected person (BPP) where:

Answer 1

• they were a citizen or national of Brunei
• immediately prior to 1 January 1983, they were a BPP by virtue of The British Protectorates, Protected States and Protected Persons Order in council 1978
• they would otherwise be born stateless, on or after 1 January 1983, in the UK or a dependent territory and at the time of their birth either or both of their parents is a BPP

Question 2

BPP status can be obtained where an individual meets the following requirements:

Answer 2

• either or both of their parents were a BPP when the individual was born
• they were born in the UK or an overseas territory
• they are stateless and always have been
• they have not previously renounced BPP status

Question 3

BPP status was lost:

Answer 3

• on independence
• if the individual become a citizen or national of another country- from 1 January 1983, this includes where they become a British citizen, a British overseas territories citizen or a British overseas citizen

Independence legislation for places under protection normally provided for the automatic loss of the status of BPP. BPP status lost automatically was not regained if subsequent legislation in the country concerned had the effect of retrospectively withdrawing a person’s new
citizenship from the date of independence.

Question 4

Former protected states in 1949 that granted statutory BPP status include:

Answer 4

Brunei, the Canton and Enderbury Islands, nine Malay states (Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Selangor, Terengganu), the Maldives, New Hebrides, the Trucial States, and Tonga.

Question 5

Former protectorates in 1949 include:

Answer 5

Aden, Bechuanaland, Gambia, the Gold Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, Northern Rhodesia, Nyasaland, Sierra Leone, the Solomon Islands, Somaliland, Swaziland, Uganda, and Zanzibar.

Question 6

Former trust territories in 1949 include:

Answer 6

Cameroons, Tanganyika, and Togoland.