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<p>Between 1 January 1983 and 30 June 2006, a child could only obtain British citizenship
through their father if the parents were married. The law changed on 1 July 2006 to
allow a person to acquire citizenship through their father, irrespective of whether
the parents were married, subject to proof of paternity.</p><p>The 2006 change only
affects children born after 1 July 2006: the earlier law continues to apply in relation
to people born before that date. The change was not made retrospective, to avoid altering
a person’s status after their birth without allowing them to make an informed choice
about acquiring British citizenship.</p><p>A person born before 1 July 2006 can register
as a British citizen if they would have become a British citizen automatically had
their parents been married. Those applying under this route do not have to pay a registration
fee.</p>
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