According to British nationality law, all UK citizens are either citizens by descent or British citizens otherwise than by descent. Citizens otherwise than by descent include those who are British citizens by birth, registration, naturalisation or adoption.

British citizenship by descent is when someone who was born overseas is able to apply for British citizenship based on either their parents or grandparents status as British citizens.

British citizens by descent are not subject to immigration restrictions and have most of the same rights as any other British citizens including the right to a UK passport and the right to vote in elections. However, citizens by descent are not able to pass on their British citizenship to their children who were born outside the UK whilst citizen otherwise by than by descent are able to do this.