History of British Nationality Law Reform

English law and Scottish law always distinguish between subjects of the monarch and foreigners. Before 19 14, most British nationality laws were unwritten. The British Nationality and the Status of Foreigners Act 19 14 compiled the common law and other statutory laws related to nationality at that time, and made several minor amendments.

Stepping into the 20th century, with the development of the Commonwealth, member countries have become independent, and the single British identity used by the British Empire is no longer enough. 1948, the heads of government of the Commonwealth countries unanimously agreed that each member country should formulate its own nationality, but all citizens of the Commonwealth will still retain British nationality.

1948 The British Nationality Act established the citizenship of citizens of Britain and its colonies (CUKC for short) as the citizenship of Britain and its surviving colonies when the 1949+0 bill came into effect. However, until the 1960s, British law did not distinguish too much between the rights of Britain and colonial citizens and other British subjects, and they could all enter and settle in Britain at any time.

During the period from 1962 to 197 1, the number of Commonwealth citizens from Asia and Africa who immigrated to Britain increased, causing panic, and Britain began to gradually tighten its control over British immigration to Britain. 197 1 Immigration Law introduces the concept of "paternal line", which stipulates that only people who have close ties with British islands (including Britain, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) have the right of abode, that is, the right to settle and work in Britain.

Although the 197 1 bill has been amended many times since then, the main body of British nationality law today is 198 1 British nationality law. At present, it has established various types of British citizenship, including British citizens, British citizens from overseas territories, British overseas citizens, British nationals (overseas), British nationals and British protected persons. Only British citizens have the right of abode in Britain.

198 1 Bill no longer regards Commonwealth citizens as British subjects. There are only two kinds of British nationals left: one who obtained British citizenship because of his connection with the former British India, and the other who announced his retention of British citizenship because of his connection with Ireland before 1949. British nationals related to former British India will lose their British citizenship if they acquire foreign nationality.