Right of Abode
UK | Right of Abode
1. What does Right of Abode means?
The right of abode means that you are entirely free from United Kingdom immigration control; you do not need to obtain the permission of an immigration officer to enter the United Kingdom and you may live and work without restriction.
2. Who has Right of Abode?
All British citizens automatically have right of abode in the UK. ? Some Commonwealth citizens may also have right of abode.
3. How do I prove that I have Right of Abode?
You must produce either:
• A United Kingdom Passport describing you as a British citizen
• A Certificate of Entitlement certifying that you have the right of abode.
4. Which Common Wealth Citizens having Right of Abode?
You may have right of abode in the UK either because of your parents or because you are or were married to someone with right of abode.
Parents
You have right of abode if all the following apply:
One of your parents was born in the UK and a citizen of the United Kingdom and colonies when you were born or adopted
You were a Commonwealth citizen on 31 December 1982
You didn’t stop being a Commonwealth citizen (even temporarily) at any point after 31 December 1982
Marriage
You can only get right to abode through marriage if you’re a female Commonwealth citizen.
You must have:
1. been married to someone with right of abode before 1 January 1983
2. not stopped being a Commonwealth citizen (even temporarily) at any point after 31 December 1982
You usually won’t have right of abode if the person you were married to has another living wife or widow who:
1. is in the UK, or has been in the UK at any time since her marriage (unless they entered the country illegally, came as a visitor or only have temporary permission to stay)
2. has a certificate of entitlement to right of abode or permission to enter the UK because of her marriage
However, you may still have right of abode if:
1. you entered the UK while married and before 1 August 1988, even if your husband has other wives in the UK
2. you have been in the UK since your marriage and at that time were your husband’s only wife to have legally entered the UK or been given permission to do so