UK Visas and Immigration guidance for staff on what to consider when processing right of abode applications in the UK.
It includes information on:
the law on the right of abode
who qualifies and proving the right of abode
the procedure for obtaining and granting a certificate of entitlement
how to process a right of abode application
refusals and appeals
The flow chart document is used to assess whether a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies had the right of abode on 31 December 1982.
Updates to this page
Published 27 July 2017 Last updated 27 January 2025 +show all updates
Updated the right of abode guidance. Changes have been made to update guidance following a review, and in particular to incorporate information from the Entry Clearance Officer guidance.
Accessible versions of the documents added.
Updated the 'Deprivation of right of abode' section, in line with changes to the 'Deprivation of British citizenship' guidance.
'Right of abode': section Persons with right of abode on and after 1 January 1983updated to reference the Gambia and the Republic of Maldives re-joining theCommonwealth.Added accessible version of 'Right of abode'.
Following fact checking of the ICIBI inspection report into ROA cases, a redacted section on page 14 has been re-instated to ensure transparency. Removal of the section on applications received before 6 April 2015.
Updated guidance and right of abode flow chart added.
