A guide to the british overseas territories telegraph. These territories are not officially a part of the uk, as most are selfgoverning but they do remain under its jurisdiction. It says there that all citizens of the british overseas territories, except those residing at britains sovereign bases in cyprus, were granted full british citizenship by the british overseas territories act 2002, and are consequently citizens of the european union. This blog post does not take a position on the merits of this proposal. British overseas territories citizens, british nationals overseas, british overseas citizens, british subjects under the 1981 act or british protected persons are entitled to registration as british citizens under. The uk has no intention of imposing independence against the will of the people concerned. This is a political forum that is nonbiasednonpartisan and treats every persons position on topics equally. British overseas territories act 2002 and the regulations made under them. The british antarctic territory is a section of the antarctic under the jurisdiction of the uk. List of law enforcement agencies in the united kingdom, crown.
Britains scattered overseas colonial remnants are under the sovereignty of the united kingdom but are not part of it. The peculiarities of gibraltar and other british overseas. The case of the cayman islands and hurricane ivan raised question marks. Full british citizenship has been granted to most belongers of overseas territories mainly since the british overseas territories act 2002. The special territories of the european union are 22 territories of eu member states which, for historical, geographical, or political reasons, enjoy special status within or outside the european union. The british passport is the travel document issued by the united kingdom to individuals holding any form of british nationality. An act to make provision about the name british overseas territories and british citizenship so far as relating to the british overseas territories. Why british law doesnt necessarily apply in overseas. There are a number of agencies that participate in law enforcement in the united kingdom which can be grouped into three general types. At the current time any known changes or effects made by subsequent legislation have been applied to the text of the legislation you are viewing by the. Ancient greece, the citizens in the citystate were the free men who were the only ones. British overseas territories citizen wikimili, the free. In addition, each british overseas territory has the capacity to legislate.
Since the passage of the british overseas territories act of 2002 their inhabitants have enjoyed full british citizenship, but they are not under. The name british overseas territory was introduced by the british overseas territories act 2002, and replaced the name british dependent territory. The british overseas territories are also referred to as overseas territories of the united kingdom, uk overseas territories, or when the context is clear. Gbr do you think british nationals overseas should have the right of abode in uk. Recognition of samesex unions in the british overseas. A british overseas territories citizen holds british nationality by virtue of a connection with a british overseas territory british overseas territories citizens botcs enjoy visa free entry to a number of countries and territories. United kingdoms 14 overseas territories have been entwined in our national history and how they come to remain linked to britain in the 21st century. The persistence of colonial constitutionalism in british. Since the return of full british citizenship 45 to most belongers of overseas territories mainly since the british overseas territories act 2002, the citizens of those territories hold concurrent european union citizenship, giving them rights of free movement across all eu member states.
It makes legal provision for the renaming of the british dependent territories as british overseas territories, and the renaming of associated citizenship. British overseas territories academic dictionaries and. The constitutions of 12 british overseas territories are made under powers granted by acts of the uk parliament. Today, there are officially fourteen uk overseas territories, scattered across the seven major oceans and seas. The uks mainland consists of the island of great britain england, scotland, and wales and northern ireland. See generally d kochenov ed, eu law of the overseas. The government published this white paper on the overseas territories on the 28 june 2012. The information below applies to individuals who only possess a british overseas territory citizen botc passport and. A british overseas territory is one of fourteen territories which the united kingdom considers to be under its sovereignty, but not as part of the united kingdom itself before 1981 the territories were known as colonies or crown colonies.
British national overseas wikimili, the free encyclopedia. All british overseas territories citizens other than those solely connected with akrotiri and dhekelia became british citizens on 21 may 2002, and children born on qualified overseas territories to british citizens since that date are both botcs and british citizens otherwise than by descent. Botc by the british overseas territories act 2002 see below and. Apr 25, 2017 the british antarctic territory is a section of the antarctic under the jurisdiction of the uk. Bat was formed on march 3, 1962, although the uk claimed it both in 1908 and 1917. Those with passports issued at a british high commission in an independent commonwealth country or british consulate remained free from immigration control.
The british governments relationship with its overseas territories is a modern one based on partnership, shared values and the right of each territory to determine whether it wishes to stay linked to the uk or not. Archived pdf from the original on 27 february 2020. British overseas territories law bloomsbury professional. Changes to legislation revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Indeed, the former was key to the british invasion of iraq in 2003 and the recent military strikes in syria in 2015 and 2018. Outermost regions, associated overseas countries and territories, territories sui generis wolters kluwer 2011. British overseas territories legal definition of british. Extended statehood in the caribbean the uk caribbean. Visiting the uk as british overseas territory citizen. The 1962 west indies act created new constitutional arrangements for each uk. There are currently no known outstanding effects for the british overseas territories act 2002. Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date.
Most british overseas territories do not wish to become independent, or have no civilian population. Legislationline free ofcharge online legislation service. Reflecting this modern partnership, 2002 also saw the creation of british overseas. The british overseas territory act 2002 changed the status of the colony to that of overseas territory and granted british. A british overseas territories citizen botc, formerly called british dependent territories. In december 2017 the legislature passed the domestic partnerships act 2018, replacing samesex marriage with domestic partnerships. Visiting the uk as british overseas territory citizen note. British nationality act bna of 1981 modified by the. If a person was a british overseas territories citizen except by virtue of a connection only with the sovereign base. Nov 21, 2012 the government published this white paper on the overseas territories on the 28 june 2012. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. It describes the legal attachment or bond for persons who may be said to belong to the british overseas territories.
Cia the world factbook archived 1 february 2010 at webcite. Territories and dependencies are distinct from the commonwealth of. In the wake of the mossack fonseca affair, there have been calls for london to impose direct rule on some of the british overseas territories which are used for offshore financial purposes. The territories of jersey, guernsey and the isle of man, though also under the sovereignty of the british crown, have a slightly different constitutional relationship with the united kingdom, and are consequently classed as crown dependencies rather than overseas territories. But today most of the people in the territories are british and our continuing connections bring beneits to the uk and to the territories. Mar 19, 2018 great britain used to control a quarter of the world, but today, they control a single autonomous region and 14 overseas territories.
British overseas territories citizen wikipedia republished. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. This page was last edited on 30 december 2019, at 11. I am a uk citizen, can i move to british overseas territories. As of 21 may 2002 most people who currently hold a british dependant territories citizen bdtc passport will automatically become british citizens as a result of the british overseas territories act 2002 see british overseas territories act 2002. In 2002 the british overseas territories act granted full british citizenship to bermudians, which would not automatically accrue to citizens of an independent bermuda. Territorial police forces, who carry out the majority of policing. In the uk, they have limited powers over civilians, though they do not have the primary powers this remains with the civil police. The name british overseas territory was introduced by the british overseas territories act 2002, and replaced the name british dependent territory which was introduced by the british nationality act 1981. List of commonwealth countries, british overseas territories. Before that, the territories were known as colonies or crown colonies.
Special member state territories and the european union. Territories british overseas territories act 2002, this provides a whole new. In fact, since the british overseas territories act 2002 granted british citizenship to all the overseas territories except the cyprus sovereign base areas, most british overseas territories citizens also hold british citizenship. British overseas territories simple english wikipedia, the. Individuals with this nationality are british nationals and commonwealth citizens, but not british citizens. In british forces germany, under the status of forces act, military police have jurisdiction over british forces personnel, their families, mod contractors, and naafi staff.
The 14 british overseas territories are under the jurisdiction of the united kingdom, though they do not form part of it. Select this option if you hold a british overseas territories citizen botcs passport or a british dependant territories citizen bdtc passport and wish to apply for a british citizen passport. See end of document for details b has ceased to be a british citizen as a result of a declaration of renunciation. The value of citizenship in a british overseas territory diva portal. Feb 04, 2011 some bot citizens had british citizenship prior to the 2002 act, e. This article concerns the history of british nationality law early. Visa requirements for british overseas territories citizens.
Global britain and the british overseas territories parliament. Although the territories now forming the british antarctic territory were acquired. The name british overseas territory was introduced by the british overseas territories act 2002, and replaced the name british dependent territory, which was introduced by the british. In addition, there are 14 overseas territories of britain that are remnants of former british colonies. The financial investigation agency act, 2003 came into force on 1st april 2004. British overseas territories simple english wikipedia. This video will break down the 14 territories, allowing you to. A new legal framework under the eu treaties tmc asser press 2012. Jan 19, 2010 by utilising distinctive feature of the british remote places territories act 2002, maximum british remote places territory electorate are also british electorate in the adventure that they held botc citizenship on 21 might want to 2002 the in reality exceptions are human beings linked with the sovereign base aspects on cyprus, and characteristic the right of residing residing house. The breetish owerseas territories is fowerteen stewartries that the unitit kinrick haes unner its sovereignty, buts no pairt o the unitit kinrick itsel the name british overseas territory wis brocht in bi the british overseas territories act 2002, an replaced the name british dependent territory that wis brocht in bi the british nationality act 1981. Section a must be free from any restriction under the immigration laws on the date of application and have been in.
Anguilla montserrat bermuda pitcairn island british antarctic territory st helena british indian ocean territory st helena dependencies ascension island, british virgin islands tristan da cunha. The act gives british citizenship in addition to, not in. British national overseas, abbreviated bno, is a class of british nationality that was granted by voluntary registration to british dependent territories citizens who were hong kong residents before the transfer of sovereignty to china on 1 july 1997. However, since 2002, almost all botcs are also british citizens and have uk right of abode. May 04, 2016 why british law doesnt necessarily apply in overseas territories. Article 14 of the subsequent nationality, immigration and asylum act 2002, stated specifically that a person may not be registered as a british overseas territories citizen by virtue of a connection with hong kong. British overseas territories act united kingdom 2002. Any person who, immediately before the commencement of this section, is a british overseas territories citizen shall, on the commencement of this section, become a british citizen. A british overseas territories citizen botc, formerly called british dependent territories citizen bdtc, is a member of a class of british nationality granted to people connected with one or more of the british overseas territories. This is a list of law enforcement agencies in the united kingdom, crown dependencies and british overseas territories. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. Gbr do you think british nationals overseas should have.
British overseas territories citizenship is the class of british nationality associated with the british overseas territories. However, the british overseas territories act 2002 replaced dependent territory citizenship with british overseas territories citizenship, and restored full british citizenship to all botcs except those from the sovereign base areas of cyprus. Most countries do not recognise the sovereignty claims of any other country, including britains, to antarctica and its offshore islands. Crime and security studies, told us that the ots seemingly have a free rein to benefit. However, the british overseas territories act 2002 replaced british dependent territory citizenship with british overseas territories citizenship botc, and restored full british citizenship to all botcs except those from akrotiri and dhekelia.
The british overseas territories ots are a set of largely. The 2002 act changed the official name of the areas from british dependent territories to british overseas. It grants the bearer international passage in accordance with visa requirements and serves as proof of citizenship. The act established the british virgin islands financial investigation agency as an autonomous law enforcement agency, generally responsible for the investigation of white collar and other serious financial crimes taking place within or from within the territory, including money laundering offences. The law received royal assent on 7 february 2018 and went into effect on 1 june 2018.
Furthermore, the british overseas territories act of 2002 expanded the. Recognition of samesex unions in the british overseas territories. However, in some cases, foreign authorities only grant them a visa free entry if they present a passport with an endorsement stating their right of abode in. Additional provision for british overseas territories citizens if you are a british overseas territories citizen who has not become a british citizen under the british overseas territories act 2002, or otherwise, you may also be registered as a british citizen unless. Why british law doesnt necessarily apply in overseas territories. This restored to botcs the right to reside in the uk. You automatically became a british citizen on 21 may 2002 if your british overseas territories citizenship was gained by connection with a qualifying territory.
Some bot citizens had british citizenship prior to the 2002 act, e. France or the netherlands, the uk was unapologetic about resisting free. Feb 10, 2012 the name british overseas territory was introduced by the british overseas territories act 2002, and replaced the name british dependent territory, which was introduced by the british. The special territories divide themselves in three categories. It is possible to hold more than one of these citizenships simultaneously. The 2002 act changed the official name of the areas from. For the purposes of this act, the expression british possession means any part of her majesty s possessions out of the united kingdom, and the expression british settlement. Instead, it seeks to highlight two constitutional points which. It is geographically the largest of the 14 british overseas territories with an area of 660,000 square miles. Gibraltars position as a british overseas territory makes it a geopolitical anomaly.
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