I have a friend who is Burmese and living in Thailand. He was born in Middlesex, UK in 1963. His father was working in the Burmese army, in the UK at the time. He has a copy of his birth cert (i think its long type?). Now his mother and father are dead, or whereabouts unknown... He was asking me about the possibility of getting Brittish citizenship or a passport?

I just spent 30 mins looking through british consulate pages and got quite confused... Thats why im asking here...

http://ukinhongkong.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/passports/what-passport/first-time-apps/steps-first-timers

From this page it looks like just copy if ID and original birth cert.. is that right?

Thanks

Looks like he may be eligible for citizenship if he had the 'right of abode' in the UK:

"How to tell if you are a British citizen

If you were born before 1 January 1983

On 1 January 1983, you became a British citizen if both of these applied:

• you were a citizen of the UK and Colonies on 31 December 1982
  
• you had the 'right of abode' in the UK
  

'Right of abode' means you:

• are entirely free from UK Immigration Control and don’t need to get permission from an Immigration Officer to enter the UK
  
• can live and work in the UK without restriction
  

This includes people who:

• were born in the UK
  
• were born in a British colony and had the right of abode in the UK
  
• have been naturalised in the UK
  
• had registered as a citizen of the UK and Colonies
  
• could prove legitimate descent from a father to whom one of these applies
  

People who had the right to live in the UK but not the 'right of abode' did not become British citizens."

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Passports/WhoiseligibleforaBritishpassport/DG_174145

Yes I read this page also. Im not sure how long he lived in the UK but I am certain he was not there in 1983. I do not know if he had the "right to abode" as im sure he does not know! This seems to conflict to another page saying:

"

If you were born in the UK before 1 January 1983, you are almost certainly a British citizen. The only exception is if you were born to certain diplomatic staff of foreign missions who had diplomatic immunity."

http://www.ukba.home...fyingterritory/

Edited January 10, 201214 yr by 7by7
Font size of quote increased

Edit - he would probably need to prove his father's status to stake a claim.

Edited January 10, 201214 yr by Eff1n2ret

I suspect that he is a British national. As per this link:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/britishcitizenship/othernationality/Britishcitizenship/borninukorqualifyingterritory/

"If you were born in the UK before 1 January 1983, you are almost certainly a British citizen. The only exception is if you were born to certain diplomatic staff of foreign missions who had diplomatic immunity."

The key being his father's status in the UK at the time of his birth.

If his father was "certain diplomatic staff of foreign missions who had diplomatic immunity." then he wont be British.

His father was in the Burmese army stationed in the UK; why? Guard at what was at the time the Burmese embassy? If so, he may fall under the above exception.

All I can suggest is either submitting a passport application to see what happens, but he'll lose the fee if rejected, or contacting the nationality contact centre to see if they can advise him.