Citizenship (Armed Forces) Act 2014

Applications for citizenship by members or former members of armed forces

1

• (1) Schedule 1 to the British Nationality Act 1981 (requirements for naturalisation as a British citizen under section 6(1) of that Act) is amended in accordance with subsections (2) and (3).

• (2) Paragraph 2 becomes sub-paragraph (1) of that paragraph.

• (3) After that sub-paragraph insert—

(2) Sub-paragraph (3) applies in a case where, on the date of the application, the applicant is or has been a member of the armed forces. (3) If in the special circumstances of the particular case the Secretary of State thinks fit, he may for the purposes of paragraph 1 treat the applicant as fulfilling the requirement specified in paragraph 1(2)(a) although the applicant was not in the United Kingdom at the beginning of the period there mentioned.

• (4) In section 39 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 (which contains further amendments of paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 to the British Nationality Act 1981)—

• (a) in subsection (4) for the words from the beginning to “paragraph)” substitute “In sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 2 of that Schedule”;

• (b) in subsection (9) for the words “After that sub-paragraph insert” substitute “For sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) of paragraph 2 substitute”.

Citation, commencement and extent

2

• (1) This Act may be cited as the Citizenship (Armed Forces) Act 2014.

• (2) This Act comes into force at the end of the period of two months beginning with the day on which it is passed.

• (3) This Act extends to—

• (a) England and Wales,

• (b) Scotland,

• (c) Northern Ireland,

• (d) the Channel Islands,

• (e) the Isle of Man, and

• (f) the British overseas territories.