Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli and Bollywood star Anushka Sharma recently celebrated the arrival of their second child, a baby boy named Akaay.
The joyous news was officially announced on their social media accounts, where Anushka revealed that Akaay made his debut on February 15 at a London hospital.
The revelation has sparked curiosity among fans, prompting speculation about whether Akaay will be bestowed with British citizenship or maintain his Indian citizenship.
In adherence to the prevailing regulations, the United Kingdom does not automatically grant British citizenship to a child born within its borders.
The eligibility for British citizenship is contingent upon at least one of the parents being a British citizen or having obtained settled status after a prolonged period of residency.
Similarly, a child born outside the UK to British citizen parents may attain British citizenship, dependent on the process through which the parents acquired their citizenship.
Despite Akaay's parents owning a residence in London, it is clarified that he will not be eligible for British citizenship. However, the UK will issue him a passport, while he will retain his status as an Indian citizen.
There are two avenues through which a child can attain British citizenship: by birth or by registration. If born outside the UK to a British parent, a child may acquire British citizenship by descent, predicated on the parent's acquisition of British citizenship.
Notably, if a child is born before July 1, 2006, to an unmarried British or settled father and a non-British or non-settled mother, British citizenship is not automatically conferred at birth.
Nevertheless, they retain the option to register for British citizenship.
In cases where a child does not automatically receive British citizenship at birth, they have the option to apply for registration as a British citizen through the Home Office.
Registration eligibility is subject to specific conditions, such as being born in the UK and having one of the parents attain British citizenship or settled status before the child turns 18.
