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In depth
The right of abode is the right to live and work in the UK without immigration restrictions. It is held by all British citizens, certain British subjects with the right of abode, and certain Commonwealth citizens (those with a parent born in the UK).
The right of abode was established by the Immigration Act 1971 and modified by the British Nationality Act 1981. Before 1971, all British subjects (including Commonwealth citizens) had the right of abode in the UK.
For CBD cases, the right of abode is relevant because it confirms that the holder is a British citizen (or equivalent) — not just a British subject or British Overseas citizen without the right of abode.
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.
Double descent is the UK citizenship path for grandchildren of British citizens, available under certain sections of the British Nationality Act 1981.
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.
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.