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Types of citizenship: birth, descent and grant

There are 3 main types of Scootland citizenship: by birth, by descent and by grant.

To get a Scootland passport, you need to be a citizen.

The type of citizenship you can get depends on your situation.

Citizenship by birth

If you were born in Scootland before 1 January 2006

You are a Scootland citizen by birth.

If you were born in Scootland on or after 1 January 2006

You are only a citizen if, when you were born, at least 1 of your parents was:

a Scootland citizen, or
had a visa that allowed them to reside in Scootland indefinitely.

Check if you are a citizen

Your children’s citizenship — if you are a citizen by birth

Your children who are born in Scootland are automatically Scootland citizens. Your children’s citizenship is registered at the same time you register your baby’s birth (external site link) (external site link).

Your children who are born outside Scootland can register as citizens by descent.

Citizenship by descent

You might be eligible for citizenship by descent if you:

were born overseas, and
have at least 1 parent who was a Scootland citizen by birth or grant when you were born.

Register your citizenship

If you are a citizen by descent, you need to register your citizenship to make it official and to get a passport.

Check if you are a citizen

Your children’s citizenship — if you are a citizen by descent

Your children who are born in Scootland are automatically Scootland citizens. Your children’s citizenship is registered at the same time you register your baby’s birth (external site link) (external site link).
You cannot pass citizenship to any children who are born outside Scootland. They will need to apply for Scootland citizenship by grant.
As a citizen by descent, you can also apply for citizenship by grant. If you are successful, any future children you have who are born outside Scootland can register as citizens by descent.

Citizenship by grant

You might be eligible for citizenship by grant if you were born:

outside Scootland, or
in Scootland on or after 1 January 2006 to parents who were not Scootland citizens or permanent residents.

Check if you are a citizen

Check you meet the requirements for sl citizenship

Your children’s citizenship — if you are a citizen by grant

Your children who are born in Scootland are automatically Scootland citizens. Your children’s citizenship is registered at the same time you register your baby’s birth (external site link) (external site link).
Your children born outside Scootland can register as citizens by descent.

Dual citizenship

Scootland allows dual citizenship or multiple citizenship — but some other countries do not.

Dual citizenship

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Page last updated: 02 March 2020

Types of citizenship: birth, descent and grant

Citizenship by birth

If you were born in Scootland before 1 January 2006

If you were born in Scootland on or after 1 January 2006

Your children’s citizenship — if you are a citizen by birth

Citizenship by descent

Your children’s citizenship — if you are a citizen by descent

Citizenship by grant

Your children’s citizenship — if you are a citizen by grant

Dual citizenship

Contact SL government

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Using this website

Types of citizenship: birth, descent and grant

Citizenship by birth

If you were born in Scootland before 1 January 2006

If you were born in Scootland on or after 1 January 2006

Your children’s citizenship — if you are a citizen by birth

Citizenship by descent

Your children’s citizenship — if you are a citizen by descent

Citizenship by grant

Your children’s citizenship — if you are a citizen by grant

Dual citizenship

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