British citizenship for children adopted outside the UK

Get In Touch

British citizenship for children adopted outside the UK

Nationality law relating to children adopted overseas is quite complex and it is always a good idea to consult with an expert as early as possible.

Children adopted in the UK by order of a UK court become British citizens at the time of adoption if one of the parents is a British citizen. Children adopted by British citizens overseas may, in some limited circumstances, also acquire British citizenship automatically. Others may be registered as British citizens at the discretion of the Secretary of State.

This is a brief guide on the subject which does not substitute legal advice.

The discretion of the Secretary of State in applications for registration of children is not totally random. A government policy underlies the exercise of discretion and certain considerations have to be given weight. There is more discretion in relation to children under the age of 18. Young adults fall out of the policy except where adoption started in the UK when they were minor but was completed after their 18th birthday.

If your child is turning 18 soon you have to act fast. Speak to our British Citizenship Lawyers for help.

Hague convention adoptions- automatic acquisition of British citizenship

A child who is adopted abroad becomes a British citizen automatically in the following circumstances:

Under section 1(5) of the British Nationality Act 1981:

at least one adoptive parent is a British citizen and habitually resident in the UK;
the purpose of the adoption is to raise the child in the UK;
the adoption is made in a country-signatory to the Hague Convention and in accordance with the terms of the Convention – that is the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption.

Children who acquire British citizenship automatically do not need to be registered. They can apply for a British passport.

It is important to note that the Hague Convention only applies to inter-country adoptions made for the purpose of bringing a child to the UK. If both the child and the adoptive parent(s) are habitually resident outside the UK, an adoption cannot be made under the terms of the Hague Convention.

If the child did not acquire British citizenship with the adoption, you may consider registering the child as a British citizen at the discretion of the Home Office.

Overseas adoptions by British citizens resident outside the UK

If a British citizen resident outside the UK adopts a child in this country, the child will not automatically become a British citizen even if the adoption is formally recognised. This is certainly discriminatory against adopted children – children born to the same parents overseas would be British by descent by birth.

This discriminatory treatment of adopted children may have an additional safeguard in mind, so as to avoid abuse. This does not mean that the children cannot be registered as British citizens at the discretion of the Home Office.

We are specialists in this type of applications and have helped many adopted children based overseas to become British and get a British passport.

Registration

The statute gives the Secretary of State very wide discretionary powers to register any child under the age of 18 wherever they deem appropriate.

These powers are exercised restrictively but there are certain factors that are relevant in the context of inter-country adoptions and cannot be waived or ignored. The relevant considerations include whether the adoption is recognised in the UK and whether it was authorised by a competent authority in accordance with the procedures set out in the Hague convention, whether the adoption is a genuine facto adoption, whether the child has strong family ties with the UK, whether the child would be seriously prejudiced if discretion is not exercised in his or her favour.

Foreign adoptions recognised in UK law

The following types of adoptions are recognised:

Adoptions under the terms of the Hague Convention 1993. This means that although the adoption was not for the purpose of bringing the child to the UK (for example, the parents lived in the country where they adopted the child), nevertheless all the protective mechanisms of the Convention were in place and the required checks and certifications were carried out by the competent authorities to ensure that the adoption was in the best interests of the child.
Adoptions which took place after 4 January 2014 in countries listed in the Adoption (Recognition of Overseas Adoptions) Order 2013;
Adoptions which took place before 4 January 2014 in countries listed in the Adoption (Designation of Overseas Adoptions) Order 1973

The 1973 Order is based mainly on the Commonwealth. The 2013 Order is more in line with the internationally recognised standards for child protection and consists mainly of the Hague Convention countries.

The Designated Overseas Adoption lists are not an automatic pathway to registration. For the purpose of registering the child as a British citizen, the parent would have to demonstrate that the main procedural safeguards of the Hague convention were respected.

If the adoption is recognised in UK law, it doesn’t mean that the child automatically becomes a British citizen or is entitled to registration. However, registration can be requested at the discretion of the Home Office.

Procedural safeguards required in applications for British citizenship for adopted children

The Hague Convention Guide to Good Practice requires that “the adoption of a child is authorised only by competent authorities who determine, in accordance with applicable law and procedures and on the basis of all pertinent and reliable information, that the adoption is permissible in view of the child’s status concerning parents, relatives and legal guardians and that, if required, the persons concerned have given their informed consent to the adoption on the basis of such counselling as may be necessary”.

The countries – signatories to the Hague convention would have these procedures in place for a formal authorisation of an adoption. In applications for British citizenship these procedures are not taken for granted and the applicant has to demonstrate once again that the adoption was in line with the Hague Convention principles.

However, the countries on the 1973 list did not necessarily have similar or comparable procedures. The adoptions made prior to 2014 and recognised under the 1973 Adoption Order may fall short of the standard criteria for registration of adopted children. If this is the case, the adoptive parent may consider bringing the child to the UK on a valid visa prior to making an application for registration of the child as a British citizen.

Foreign adoptions not formally recognised in UK law

Children adopted in the countries not found on the relevant Adoption Order lists may also have a claim to registration but this would be at the discretion of the Secretary of State outside the general guidance for registration of adopted children.

The decision-maker would have to take into account all the circumstances of the case, the competence of the authorities involved, the procedures adhered to, and the role of the British parent in the upbringing of the child.

De facto adoptions normally do not count as a basis for registration. However, bringing a de facto adopted child to the UK may be the first step prior to registration.

In any event, the chances of success of any application will depend largely on the specific circumstances of the case. Clear, concise and pointed submissions in support of the case will also be a factor.

If you would like to book a consultation regarding your adopted child’s claim to British nationality, one of our consultants will be happy to speak with you.