Section 51: Meaning of certain expressions relating to nationality in other Acts and instruments.

British Nationality Act 1981 · 1981 c. 61View on legislation.gov.uk

Part V: Miscellaneous and Supplementary

Without prejudice to subsection (3)(c), in any enactment or instrument whatever passed or made before commencement

in relation to any time before commencement—
a person who under the 1948 Act was at that time a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies or who, under any enactment then in force in a country mentioned in section 1(3) of that Act as then in force, was at that time a citizen of that country; and
any other person who had at that time the status of a British subject under that Act or any other enactment then in force;
in relation to any time after commencement, a person who has the status of a Commonwealth citizen under this Act.
  • “British subject” and

  • “Commonwealth citizen” have the same meaning, that is—

In any enactment or instrument whatever passed or made after commencement—

  • “British subject” means a person who has the status of a British subject under this Act;

  • “Commonwealth citizen” means a person who has the status of a Commonwealth citizen under this Act.

In any enactment or instrument whatever passed or made before commencement—

“citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies”—
in relation to any time before commencement, means a person who under the 1948 Act was at that time a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies;
in relation to any time after commencement, means a person who under the British Nationality Acts 1981 and 1983or the British Overseas Territories Act 2002 is a British citizen, a British overseas territories citizen or a British Overseas citizen or who under the Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986 is a British National (Overseas);
any reference to ceasing to be a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies shall, in relation to any time after commencement, be construed as a reference to becoming a person who is neither a British citizen nor a British overseas territories citizennor a British National (Overseas) nor a British Overseas citizen;
any reference to a person who is a British subject (or a British subject without citizenship) by virtue of section 2, 13, or 16 of the 1948 Act or by virtue of, or of section 1 of, the British Nationality Act 1965 shall, in relation to any time after commencement, be construed as a reference to a person who under this Act is a British subject.

In any statutory provision, whether passed or made before or after commencement, and in any other instrument whatever made after commencement

The preceding provisions of this section—

shall not apply in cases where the context otherwise requires; and
shall not apply to this Act or to any instrument made under this Act.

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