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In depth
Double descent is the UK citizenship path for grandchildren of British citizens, available under certain sections of the British Nationality Act 1981. Unlike most CBD regimes (which focus on parent-to-child transmission), the UK has specific provisions for grandparent-to-grandchild transmission.
Double descent paths include: (1) Section 4L (registration where the parent would have been British but for historical legislative unfairness), (2) Section 3(2) (registration of minors born abroad to British parents by descent, where the parent lived in the UK for 3 years), and (3) Section 3(1) (discretionary registration of minors).
Double descent cases are complex and require careful analysis of the family's migration history. Ancestra's UK counsel specializes in mapping the specific BNA section that applies to each case.
Related terms
The British Nationality Act 1981 is the principal UK citizenship law, which created the current categories of British nationality and governs citizenship by descent.
Crown service is UK government service (military, diplomatic, colonial) that can confer British citizenship by descent on children born abroad to Crown servants.
British subject is a historic UK nationality status that predates the 1948 and 1981 British Nationality Acts, still held by a small number of people.
British Overseas citizen (BOC) is a UK nationality category for people who were citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKC) but did not acquire British citizen or other citizenship in 1983.
The right of abode is the right to live and work in the UK without immigration restrictions, held by British citizens and certain Commonwealth citizens.
Consular registration is the process by which a British citizen born abroad is registered at a UK consulate, which can affect citizenship transmission to the next generation.