Why british law doesnt necessarily apply in overseas territories may 4, 2016 9. By virtue of the british overseas territories act 2002, most british overseas territory citizens are also british citizens if they held botc citizenship on 21 may 2002 the only exceptions are people connected with the sovereign base areas on cyprus, and have the right of abode in the uk. According to a recent discussion in the uk parliament, there were some 2, students from the british overseas territories studying in the uk in 201819. Most british overseas territories are selfgoverning but rely on the uk in crucial matters of foreign policy etc. Presented at a conference on the overseas territories at the institute for commonwealth studies, london, 2829 june 2004. If a person was a british overseas territories citizen except by virtue of a connection only with the sovereign base. Why cant uk citizens go and live in british overseas. A british overseas territory is one of fourteen territories which the united kingdom considers to be under its sovereignty, but not as part of the united kingdom itself before 1981 the territories were known as colonies or crown colonies. However, the british overseas territories act 2002 replaced dependent territory citizenship with british overseas territories citizenship, and restored full british citizenship to all botcs except those from the sovereign base areas of cyprus. A british overseas territories citizen botc, formerly called british dependent territories. See the minutes of the meeting of the committee on market access held on 23 september. This was accomplished on a nonreciprocal basis as far as the right of abode was concerned.
On 26 february 2002, british dependent territories citizenship bdtc was renamed to british overseas territories citizenship botc. These territories are not officially a part of the uk, as most are selfgoverning but they do remain under its jurisdiction. Consequently the perception of impartiality which governors enjoyed in overseas territories is now somewhat compromised. However, since 2002, almost all botcs are also british citizens and have uk right of abode. National contact points run by research councils and other organisations under contract to bis will advise the overseas territories should they wish to submit a proposal to this fund or its successors. At the current time any known changes or effects made by subsequent legislation have been applied to the text of the legislation you are viewing by the editorial team. The value of citizenship in a british overseas territory. Until citizenshipand so the right of abode was extended to all the territories under the british overseas territory act 2002 the ukots held reduced privileges, giving them a. Born on, or after 1 january 1983 outside of the uk and qualifying territories 11. It makes legal provision for the renaming of the british dependent territories as british overseas territories, and the renaming of associated citizenship. This category has the following subcategories, out of total. What are the uks commitments to overseas territories. British overseas territories law bloomsbury professional. Legislationline freeofcharge online legislation service.
Bat was formed on march 3, 1962, although the uk claimed it both in 1908 and 1917. Apr 25, 2017 the british antarctic territory is a section of the antarctic under the jurisdiction of the uk. See end of document for details b has ceased to be a british citizen as a result of a declaration of renunciation. The british overseas territories and direct rule in the wake of the mossack fonseca affair, there have been calls for london to impose direct rule on some of the british overseas territories which are used for offshore financial purposes. This reclassified the uks dependent territories as overseas territories and, with the exception of those people solely connected with the sovereign base areas of cyprus, restored full british citizenship to their inhabitants. British overseas territories and the role of the ministry of justice 3 key challenges and current and proposed activities 5 professional criminal prosecutors 5 sentencing powers 5 prison facilities and rehabilitation services 6 court administration 7 prison inspections 7 establishing a virtual network of experts 8. These territories are under the sovereignty and formal control of the uk but are not an actual part of the uk.
British overseas territories citizens in the united. I am a british overseas territory citizen, how can i move. May 04, 2016 why british law doesnt necessarily apply in overseas territories may 4, 2016 9. Since they are separate jurisdictions, there is no british overseas territories representation in the british parliament. The government published a white paper on the overseas territories on the 28 june 2012, setting out its overall approach. British overseas territories citizenship is a category of citizenship that was created by the british nationality act 1981, which came into force on 1 january 1983. The british antarctic territory is a section of the antarctic under the jurisdiction of the uk. The overseas territories do not form part of the uk and are not also part of the european union. May 25, 2011 the definitions can be rather wide and complicated, but as the authors state that all british overseas territories fall within the definition of british possession in the interpretation act 1978.
The uks mainland consists of the island of great britain england, scotland, and wales and northern ireland. The information below applies to individuals who only possess a british overseas territory citizen botc passport and do not have a valid british citizen passport. In 2002, the uk parliament passed the british overseas territories act 2002. The territories of jersey, guernsey and the isle of man, though also under the sovereignty of the british crown, have a slightly different constitutional relationship with the united kingdom, and are consequently classed as crown dependencies rather than overseas territories.
Oct 12, 2008 by virtue of the british overseas territories act 2002, most british overseas territory citizens are also british citizens if they held botc citizenship on 21 may 2002 the only exceptions are people connected with the sovereign base areas on cyprus, and have the right of abode in the uk. Why british law doesnt necessarily apply in overseas territories. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. National contact points run by research councils and other organisations under contract to bis will advise the overseas territories should they wish to. Archived pdf from the original on 27 february 2020. The constitutions of 12 british overseas territories are made under powers granted by acts of the uk parliament. The government published this white paper on the overseas territories on the 28 june 2012, setting out its overall approach.
Apr 02, 2010 in 2002, the uk parliament passed the british overseas territories act 2002. The british overseas territories bill hl bill 40 0f 2001. The overseas territories are eligible to participate in the 7th eu research framework programme fp7. Feb 10, 2012 the name british overseas territory was introduced by the british overseas territories act 2002, and replaced the name british dependent territory, which was introduced by the british. The british overseas territories bot or alternatively, united kingdom overseas territories ukots, are 14 territories under the jurisdiction and sovereignty of the. Until citizenshipand so the right of abode was extended to all the territories under the british overseas territory act 2002 the ukots held reduced privileges, giving them a secondclass form of. I am a british overseas territory citizen, how can i move to. British overseas territories citizens in the united kingdom is a term referring to individuals who have migrated to the united kingdom from a british overseas territory.
British overseas territories citizenship is a citizenship covering all the overseas territories. Visiting the uk as british overseas territory citizen. Visiting the uk as british overseas territory citizen note. Britains scattered overseas colonial remnants are under the sovereignty of the united kingdom but are not part of it. British overseas territories act 2002 legislationline. Why british law doesnt necessarily apply in overseas. The british overseas territory act 2002 changed the status of the colony to. The size of the prison systems also poses additional problems for the ots, namely the lack of services and provision for the rehabilitation of offenders. The 14 british overseas territories are under the jurisdiction of the united kingdom, though they do not form part of it. British overseas territories citizenship is the class of british nationality associated with the british overseas territories. British settlements acts 1887 and 1945 these acts 5 are the statutory legal basis for the constitutions of the following.
Aug 10, 2019 the uks mainland consists of the island of great britain england, scotland, and wales and northern ireland. The peculiarities of gibraltar and other british overseas. The british overseas territories act of 2002 offered a new name, and with this, the uk overseas territories sometimes known by the acronym ukots were officially born. British overseas territories simple english wikipedia. British overseas territories simple english wikipedia, the. In 2002, the british parliament passed the british overseas territories act 2002. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. Why havent the british overseas territories gained their.
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. The article considers the rule of public international law regarding the territorial application of treaties, the impact of territorial limitations in wto goods and services schedules and the treaty actions of individual states responsible for. The british overseas territories bot or alternatively, united kingdom overseas territories ukots, are 14 territories under the jurisdiction and sovereignty of the british overseas territories bot or alternatively, united kingdom overseas territories ukots, are 14 territories under the jurisdiction and sovereignty of the. An act to make provision about the name british overseas territories and british citizenship so far as relating to the british overseas territories. Just curious as to where i can move in the world as a uk citizen. Cia the world factbook archived 1 february 2010 at webcite. Only former residents of hong kong who hold a british dependent territories, british nationals overseas or british. Visiting the uk as british overseas territory citizen bda. The british overseas territories are also referred to as overseas territories of the united kingdom, uk overseas territories, or when the context is clear. British overseas territory has the same meaning as in the british nationality act 1981. A number of territory representatives had asked for the name change believing that it better reflected the nature of a postcolonial partnership at the. Immigration is a local issue under the control of the local government, and most overseas territory want to maintain extremely tight immigration co.
British overseas territories act united kingdom 2002. Overseas territories white paper june 2012 biot government. This restored to botcs the right to reside in the uk. In 2002 the british overseas territories act granted full british citizenship to bermudians, which would not automatically accrue to citizens of an independent bermuda. The british overseas territory act 2002 changed the status of the colony to that of overseas territory and granted british. Jun 28, 2012 the total population of the territories is roughly a quarter of a million. Additionally, the act renamed the status british overseas territories citizenship. Extended statehood in the caribbean the uk caribbean. The name british overseas territory was introduced by the british overseas territories act 2002, and replaced the name british dependent territory which was introduced by the british nationality act 1981. The committee held an evidence session in december 2012 which focused on the governments overseas territories white paper, and a further, followup, session in december 20 following the second annual overseas territories joint ministerial council. Effect of the british overseas territories act 2002.
In addition, there are 14 overseas territories of britain that are remnants of former british colonies. British overseas territories citizens born on or after 1 january 1983. The uk government has been accused of failing to act as quickly as france and the netherlands. This reclassified the uks dependent territories as overseas territories and, with the exception of those people solely connected with the sovereign base areas of cyprus, restored full. Before that, the territories were known as colonies or crown colonies.
British overseas territories citizens in the united kingdom. British overseas territories citizenship botc nationality. List of commonwealth countries, british overseas territories. It is geographically the largest of the 14 british overseas territories with an area of 660,000 square miles. The government published this white paper on the overseas territories on the 28 june 2012, setting out its overall. A new approach to the british overseas territories. Article 14 of the subsequent nationality, immigration and asylum act 2002, stated specifically that a person may not be registered as a british overseas territories citizen by virtue of a connection with hong kong.
Changes to legislation revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Most british overseas territories do not wish to become independent, or have no civilian population. Provision for this was included in the british overseas territories act 2002 which gave british citizenship to almost all persons who held the status of british overseas territories citizen immediately before 21 may 2002. This page was last edited on 30 december 2019, at 11.
Today, there are officially fourteen uk overseas territories, scattered across the seven major oceans and seas. Because the territories are selfgoverning in which the uk handles only foreign policy and defense. This can be problematic on many levels, from the provision of basic services. In addition, each british overseas territory has the capacity to legislate. The name british overseas territory was introduced by the british overseas territories act 2002, and replaced the name british. The territories of jersey, guernsey and the isle of man, though also. Territories and dependencies are distinct from the commonwealth of. It describes the legal attachment or bond for persons who may be said to belong to the british overseas territories. The partnership arrangement was to cut both ways, and the overseas territories were expected to conform to international treaty obligations e. Bermuda, gibraltar, the british virgin islands, the cayman islands, the falkland islands, turks and caicos islands, anguilla, british indian ocean territory, south georgia and the south sandwich islands, british antarctic territory, st helena and its. List of commonwealth countries, british overseas territories, british crown dependencies and eu. On 28 june 2012, the fco published its overseas territories white paper entitled. Anguilla montserrat bermuda pitcairn island british antarctic territory st helena british indian ocean territory st helena dependencies ascension island, british virgin islands tristan da cunha.
Wikimedia commons has media related to british overseas territories. Apr 04, 2017 because the territories are selfgoverning in which the uk handles only foreign policy and defense. There are currently no known outstanding effects for the british overseas territories act 2002. These territories are the subject of the other statutes referred to below. The constitutions of 12 british overseas territories are made under powers granted. The full report and the pages from the annex giving the background information on biot are reproduced below under the open government licence ogl. The british overseas territories bill hl bill 40 of 2001 2002 the british overseas territories bill is intended to enact the governments commitment, announced in march 1999, to extend full british citizenship to all those who, on enactment, are british dependent territories citizens. It says there that all citizens of the british overseas territories, except those residing at britains sovereign bases in cyprus, were granted full british citizenship by the british overseas territories act 2002, and are consequently citizens of the european union. At the current time any known changes or effects made by subsequent legislation have been applied to the text of the legislation you are viewing by the. In 2002, the british overseas act conferred british citizenship to montserratians and other british overseas. Dec, 2006 the name british overseas territory was introduced by the british overseas territories act 2002, and replaced the name british dependent territory which was introduced by the british nationality act 1981. Gibraltars position as a british overseas territory makes it a geopolitical anomaly.
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