Mother -Automatic claim if born after 01 January 1983 and mother born, registered or naturalised in the UK. If mother is a British citizen not by birth but by registration or naturalization in the UK only children born after the effective date of her registration will be eligible.

Before the introduction of the British Nationality Act 1981 (effective 01 January 1983) a female born in the UK could not automatically pass on citizenship to her children.

On 7 Feb 1979 the government announced that a new Nationality Act would be introduced on 01 Jan 1983 allowing all children born on or after this date to claim citizenship automatically from a mother born in the UK.

However, the Act would not be retroactive and children born before the effective date would not benefit. In the meantime, a mother could apply for any child who was still a minor (under 18) to be registered as a British citizen at the discretion of the Secretary of State.

Many British women resident overseas were unaware of the announcement in 1979 and missed the opportunity to apply for citizenship on behalf of their minor children. Consequently, an amendment to the British Nationality Act 1981 has now been put into effect allowing all persons who would have been under 18 on the date of the announcement (7 Feb 1979) to register now.

All those born overseas to a British mother between 7 February 1961 and 31 December 1982 are now eligible to register as British citizens retroactively.

Those persons not born between the relevant dates cannot apply for registration. But, a commonwealth citizen with a mother born in the UK may have the right of abode and can apply for a Certificate of Entitlement allowing entry into the UK for work and residence purposes. Information can be found on the Immigration/Visa pages of this web-site.

 

The answer is yes, as long as you can prove the relationship to your mother, i.e. a birth certificate to prove the relationship.

 

I remember reading somewhere that in some cases DNA test can be carried out.

 

I refer you to another forum where you may find the answer.See PM.