Right of abode
The right of abode means that you are completely free from United Kingdom Immigration Control. In other words, you do not require getting permission from an Immigration Officer to enter the UK and you can live and work in the UK without limitation.
Certificate of entitlement
A certificate of entitlement is a label put into your passport to display that you have the right of abode in the United Kingdom.
Supporting documents
You should include all the documents you can to show that you qualify for right of abode. If you do not we may reject your application.
As a guide, you should include:
- Your full birth certificate
- Your marriage certificate
- Your parents’ marriage certificate
- Evidence that you are a British citizen, and
- Evidence that one of your parents is a British citizen other than by descent (for example, by naturalization, registration or birth in the UK) such as a passport, birth certificate or certificate of registration.
How do apply
You can apply in a number of methods, e.g. by post, by courier, in person and online. The visa section will tell you about the ways in which you can apply. You will not be issued with a certificate of entitlement if you already have:
- a UK passport describing you as a British citizen
- a UK passport describing you as a British subject with the right of abode in the UK
- an ID card issued under the Identity Cards Act 2006 describing you as a British citizen, or
- an ID card issued under the Identity Cards Act 2006 describing you as a British subject with the right of abode in the UK.
If you have any of the documents listed above and you also have a certificate of entitlement, that certificate may be cancelled.
If you cannot apply online you will need to fill in a visa application form VAF7 – Right of Abode. You can download the form from this website, or get one free of charge from your nearest visa application centre.