Citizenship of British Overseas Territories

None of these overseas territories have their own national identity, and citizens of all overseas territories are regarded as British overseas territory citizens. It is true that they can gain legal independence through immigration, and having British overseas territory citizenship does not automatically give a person the right of residence in any overseas territory-it depends on the immigration laws of each overseas territory. Overseas territories can give people who are closely related to them the status of belonging, make them citizens of British overseas territories, and then live there. Residents of overseas territories who are not British Overseas Territories citizens can live in overseas territories by acquiring local status, or they can choose to be naturalized as British Overseas Territories citizens if they wish.

Historically, most former British Empire residents held British citizenship and lost it after gaining independence. After 1949, British subjects of the United Kingdom and its royal colonies became citizens of the United Kingdom and its colonies. However, with the change of the British Immigration and Nationality Act from 1962 to 1983, a new single British dependent territory citizen came into effect from 1983+0. Citizens of most overseas territories are deprived of full British citizenship. This is mainly to prevent a large number of Hong Kong citizens from leaving Hong Kong before 1997 returns to China. With the exception of the Falkland Islands, it was occupied by Argentina. At the same time, due to the friction with Spain, the people of Gibraltar quickly resumed their full British citizenship.

With the British Overseas Territories Act of 2002 replacing British Dependent Territories citizenship, the United Kingdom re-granted full British citizenship to all British Overseas Territories citizens (except British base areas). At the same time, this measure gives citizens of British overseas territories the right to live in Britain again.

However, British citizens will not automatically acquire the right to live in any overseas territory. Some overseas territories prohibit immigration, and any tourist must obtain permission from the local government before living in overseas territories. As Ascension Island and british indian ocean territory are mainly used as military bases, tourists are not allowed to visit them except for official business.