It’s estimated over 85 Million people worldwide claim to have Scottish Ancestry, and you may be one of them. If you have an interest in geneaology, you’ve probably made a start and traced back to your great grandparents and a … Read on for a list of countries that grant citizenship by descent, and how to get started. This is known as double descent. official certificates from parishes, certificates from the Finnish National Archives) Certificates of changes of name Changes in British passport and citizenship case law are enabling further claims to British nationality, based on having a grandparent (and, in rare cases, a great-grandparent) born in the UK. It will also be available to anyone with a Scottish grandparent or parent, through a system of citizenship by descent. You can only apply to be a citizen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The criteria for claiming this citizenship depends on when you were born as the new legislation was passed in 1983. There is no eligibility if it was a great-grandparent or earlier who was a citizen of the old country. Birth certificates of your grandparents (must be legalised if not issued in the Nordic countries or in an EU Member State) Certificates from Finnish archives verifying Finnish citizenship (e.g. Jus sanguinis, Latin for “right of blood,” grants direct descendants citizenship to a country based on their parent’s or grandparent’s nationality. Ireland and the United Kingdom (there is currently no such thing as "Scottish" citizenship; people in Scotland are British citizens) both require that the ancestor be no further back than a grandparent. Therefore your grandparent who had two Scottish parents was British by descent, and it stopped there. Claim British citizenship by double descent There are provisions in law allowing a claim to British citizenship based on having a grandparent (and, in rare cases, a great grandparent) born in the UK. After spending a further 12 months in the UK on ILR, you may apply for UK citizenship and if successful you will receive a British passport. Ireland If you were born after 1 January 1983, you can claim citizenship if: These claims are known as ‘double descent claims’. As of present, you cannot apply for Scottish citizenship. Claiming British citizenship by double descent. 1. British citizenship only passes down to the first generation born abroad. Claiming citizenship by double descent means you are claiming citizenship as a result of a UK-born grandparent. Likewise, anyone who has lived in Scotland for at least 10 years at any point in their life and can show a ‘demonstrable connection’ to Scotland could apply for citizenship. The child of a British citizen by descent is only British if they were born in the UK. Your Dad and you are too far down the line to be British. If you think you may be eligible for an Ancestry visa, get in touch with us on immigration@sableinternational.com or give us a call on +44 (0) 20 7759 7530 . People with Scottish descent (a parent or grandparent who qualifies for Scottish citizenship) would be able to apply for Scottish citizenship. So where do you begin your search to trace your ancestors? 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