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16c. 61
British Nationality Act 1981

Part II

(7) If in the special circumstances of any particular case the Secretary of State thinks fit, he may for the purposes of subsection (4) treat the person to whom the application relates as fulfilling the requirements specified in that subsection although, as regards any one or more of the first ten years of that person’s life, the number of days on which he was absent from the dependent territory there mentioned in that year or each of the years in question exceeds 90.

Acquisition by descent. 16.—(1) A person born outside the dependent territories after commencement shall be a British Dependent Territories citizen if at the time of the birth his father or mother—

(a) is such a citizen otherwise than by descent; or
(b) is such a citizen and is serving outside the dependent territories in service to which this paragraph applies, his or her recruitment for that service having taken place in a dependent territory.

(2) Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) applies to—

(a) Crown service under the government of a dependent territory; and
(b) service of any description for the time being designated under subsection (3).

(3) For the purposes of this section the Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument designate any description of service which he considers to be closely associated with the activities outside the dependent territories of the government of any dependent territory.

(4) Any order made under subsection (3) shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Acquisition by registration: minors. 17.—(1) If while a person is a minor an application is made for his registration as a British Dependent Territories citizen the Secretary of State may, if he thinks fit, cause him to be registered as such a citizen.

(2) A person born outside the dependent territories shall be entitled, on an application for his registration as a British Dependent Territories citizen made within the period of twelve months from the date of the birth, to be registered as such a citizen if the requirements specified in subsection (3) or, in the case of a person born stateless, the requirements specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of that subsection, are fulfilled in the case of either that person's father or his mother (“the parent in question”).