Barbados nationality law

British & Commonwealth citizenship
Commonwealth nationality laws
British (history) Australian Barbadian Canadian (history) Indian Malaysian Maltese New Zealand Samoan Singaporean South African Tongan Irish citizens in the UK
Classes of citizens and subjects
British citizen British subject British Overseas Territories citizen British Overseas citizen British National (Overseas) British protected person Commonwealth citizen
Rights and visas
Right of abode Indefinite leave to remain Permanent resident (Australia) Permanent resident (Canada) New Zealand permanent residency Belonger status UK Ancestry Entry Clearance
Acts
Ireland Act 1949 British Nationality Act 1981 Falkland Islands (1983) Overseas Territories Act 2002 Canadian Citizenship Act 1946

Barbados achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1966 as a commonwealth with HM the Queen Elizabeth II remaining the head of state. However, the entire role and responsibility of the Queen is vested in the Governor-General of Barbados.^[1]

The Constitution of Barbados defined citizens of Barbados as those born on the island before 1966 who were Citizens of the UK and Colonies (CUKCs) at the time of independence, or those born overseas as children of fathers who were or would have been citizens of Barbados but for their death. The constitution also allows for acquisition of citizenship through registration for Commonwealth citizens after seven years ordinary and lawful residence. Citizenship can also be acquired through marriage. According to the constitution, there is no requirement of residency or duration of marriage, rather the woman must take an oath of allegiance. The Constitution did not foresee Barbadian women marrying non-citizen men.

Barbadians enjoy certain privileges as citizens of a member state of CARICOM. As with many of the other countries of CARICOM, Barbados issues their version of passports bear the emblem of the CARICOM organisation.

The Government of Barbados allows their citizens to hold dual citizenship and encourages Barbadians living abroad to remain open to the benefits of holding such status.^[2]

Barbados and British nationality

Prior to independence, persons connected with Barbados held British nationality.

Persons connected with Barbados at independence may have retained citizenship of the UK and Colonies if:

• they did not acquire Barbados citizenship; or
• they had specified ties to the UK itself, or a place which remained a colony.

Such persons would have become British citizens on 1 January 1983 if they had acquired a Right-of-Abode in the UK before that date. Otherwise they would be British Overseas citizens.

Acts by the British Government which previously governed nationality laws in Barbados includes:

• History of British nationality law
  • The 1905 Aliens Act
  • The Aliens Restriction Act, 1914
  • The British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act, 1914
  • The Aliens Order, 1920
  • The British Nationality Act, 1948 -- Established nationality called Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKCs)
  • The Commonwealth Immigrants Act, 1962

See also

• Barbados
• Barbados National Pledge
• British nationality law
• CARICOM
• Citizenship
• Commonwealth of Nations
• Nationality law
• Passport

References

External links

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados
• Government of Barbados, Constitution, Chapter 2
• Barbados Law: CHAPTER 190 IMMIGRATION