Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support people with a family history that is (a) unclear and (b) unknown to verify their UK citizenship.

UK Visas and Citizenship have two application types which allow those with unclear/unknown family histories to obtain definite evidence of their status.

These are:

A ‘Status letter’ application, made on Form NS – for those who believe they may have a claim to British nationality but who do not have the normal evidence required to prove this. The Form and Guidance are on the GOV.UK website here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-for-confirmation-of-british-nationality-status-form-ns

An application for a ‘No Time Limit’ card, made on Form NTL – which can be used by those who entered the UK before 1 January 1973 and have no evidence of settled status. The Form and Guidance are here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-to-transfer-indefinite-leave-to-remain-in-uk-form-ntl