Commentary on provisions of the Act Section 34: British overseas citizenship
British overseas citizens are mainly people who were citizens of the UK and Colonies before the 1981 Act came into force, but who did not become British citizens or British dependent territories citizens (now British overseas territories citizens). The status can only now be acquired by registration; section 27(1) of the 1981 Act allows for a child to be registered as a British overseas citizen at the Home Secretary’s discretion. Published guidance sets out when that discretion would normally be used.
	This section provides that an ineligible person shall not be registered as a British overseas citizen under section 27(1) of the 1981 Act.