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Will my baby become a U.K. citizen automatically if he is born on the Cayman Islands?

My wife and I just became permanent residents of the Cayman Islands through its residency-by-investment program. My wife is now pregnant. If she gives birth to our baby on the Cayman Islands, will the baby become a citizen of the Cayman Islands automatically? Since the Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory, would the baby also become a U.K. citizen?


Answers
  • Bedell Cristin
    May 13, 2019

    Congratulations! Once your child has been born, you will need to submit an application to vary your certificate of permanent residence in order to add your child as your approved dependent. As part of that variation application, you will need to provide a one-time fee of CI$1,000.00 (US$1,219.51) and various supporting documents such as a notarized/certified copy of your child's birth certificate and proof of his/her enrolment in your health insurance policy. In terms of yours and your family's progression to citizenship, please note that once you have each legally and ordinarily become a resident in the Cayman Islands for five years (and provided certain other criteria are met), you will be eligible to apply for naturalization as a British Overseas Territories citizen (your child will be applying for registration as a British Overseas Territories citizen due to being under the age of 18). Once granted, you would each be able to apply for a British Overseas Territories (Cayman Islands) passport and once obtained, you would be eligible to apply for registration as a full British citizen (with all the privileges that entails, including obtaining a British passport) pursuant to the British Nationality Act. Bespoke advice will likely be required throughout and in relation to your child's future immigration journey.