I Have British Citizenship Because My Father Was Born Here, But I Was Born In South Africa My Son,

I Have British Citizenship Because My Father Was Born Here, But I Was Born In South Africa My Son,

Posted on September 14, 2020

I have British citizenship because my father was born here, but I was born in South Africa. My son, also born in South Africa moved here with me in 2016 and was granted ILR immediately because he was 15 when we immigrated. He is now 20, has lived here for just over 4 years and is looking to commence his citizenship application. Does he need to have lived here for 5 years or can he apply now already? Thanks in advance.

I have British citizenship because my father was born here, but I was born in South Africa. My son, also born in South Africa moved here with me in 2016 and was granted ILR immediately because he was 15 when we immigrated. He is now 20, has lived here for just over 4 years and is looking to commence his citizenship application. Does he need to have lived here for 5 years or can he apply now already? Thanks in advance.

Public Answer

Thank you for getting in touch with us.

Your enquiry is being reviewed by our team and one of our solicitors will contact you shortly.

In the meantime, you can also call us on 02039 599123 or contact us here.

[This question has been successfully answered by our lawyers in a private e-mail]

Close

Get in touch

Please fill in the form and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

I am extremely grateful for the professional support and guidance provided throughout my travel document application process. My case was stressful and complicated, but my solicitor handled it with great care, patience, and professionalism from beginning to end. I would like to leave that review for my solicitor Rakesh Patel and his team who helped me gone through this journey successfully. He was always approachable, kind, and responsive to my concerns and worries. Whenever I had questions or anxiety about my case, he replied to my emails promptly and explained everything clearly, which gave me reassurance during a very difficult time. He also consistently helped me explore alternative ways to resolve my case whenever difficulties arose, and his dedication and problem-solving approach gave me confidence throughout the process. His representation and detailed legal submissions were invaluable, and I truly believe my application would not have been successful without his expertise and dedication. I highly recommend his services to anyone seeking honest, knowledgeable, and supportive immigration advice. Thank you again for all your help and hard work. - Aye Case Workers: Rakesh Patel
Once again, the Team at OTS have not let me down! Reshmi Chowdhury has been outstanding throughout my Visa renewal, always cheerful, helpful and extremely professional. Bureaucratic red tape is confusing at the best of times and Reshmi has made the whole process seamless from start to finish. Her attention to detail and excellent communication throughout cannot go without praise! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! I would not hesitate to recommend Reshmi and OTS. - W.Park Case Workers: Reshmi Chowdhury
My family is really blessed to have had Faaizah handle our application. She is an excellent solicitor and a Kind person. Thank you so much for your work on this and for keeping us updated throughout the process. Ony Case Workers: Faaizah Rahman
Rakesh Patel at OTS Solicitors handled my ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain) application via the Ancestry route. My case had some complications, but Rakesh was thorough, responsive, and reassuring throughout the entire process. He prepared a strong application, kept me informed at every stage, and the whole matter was resolved quickly — I received my ILR within one working day of my biometrics appointment. I'd highly recommend Rakesh and OTS Solicitors to anyone needing immigration advice. Five stars well deserved. Samuel Case Workers: Rakesh Patel
OTS solicitors helped me facilitate a British Citizenship application, which was successful. Reshmi Chowdhury was helpful, responsive, and professional throughout the entire process. M. Leiden Case Workers: Reshmi Chowdhury

Latest News

Landlord Possession Court Delays in 2026: How Landlords Can Protect Their Position

Landlord Possession Court Delays in 2026: How Landlords Can Protect Their Position

Posted June 24, 2026
Oshin Shahiean , Managing Partner
Nollienne Alparaque , Head of Landlord and Tenant Department and Senior Immigration Caseworker

In Brief Landlords are facing a more demanding possession landscape in 2026. Recent official court statistics show that landlord possession claims, orders, warrants and bailiff repossessions fell compared with the...

Read more

House of Lords ILR Report: What It Means for the 5-Year Route to Settlement and British Citizenship

House of Lords ILR Report: What It Means for the 5-Year Route to Settlement and British Citizenship

Posted June 24, 2026
Paul Gulbenkian , Senior Consultant & Former Tribunal Judge
Teni Shahiean , CEO / Senior Partner

In Brief The House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee has published a major report on settlement, citizenship and integration. For migrants on a route to indefinite leave to...

Read more

Read more news

Search site

How can we help you?
Search
How can we help?

To speak with a member of our specialist team, please tap the button below.
0203 959 9123
Get in touch
First Name

Last Name

Your Email

Telephone Number

Your Message

How did you hear about us?

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.