Citizenship rights for Chagossians: update 15 July 2025
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Main points After entry into force of the UK-Mauritius Agreement on
the Chagos Islands, including Diego Garcia: there will be no change
to the British nationality status that any Chagossian currently
holds there will be no changes to current Chagossian rights to
acquire British Citizenship there will be changes to the rights of
Chagossians to claim British Overseas Territories Citizenship
status through a connection to the British Indian Ocean Territory
(BIOT)....Request free trial
Main points After entry into force of the UK-Mauritius Agreement on the Chagos Islands, including Diego Garcia:
Diego Garcia treaty On 22 May 2025, the UK and Mauritian Governments signed a landmark agreement to secure the future of the strategically critical UK-US military base on Diego Garcia. After entry into force of the Treaty, Mauritius will be sovereign over the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia. As a result of the Treaty, the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) will no longer be a British Overseas Territory. UK law Before the treaty can come into force, changes to UK law are required. The UK government will make these changes through the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill, which was introduced to Parliament on 15 July 2025. The Bill includes a provision to update the British Nationality Act 1981 to reflect that the BIOT will no longer be a British Overseas Territory. British citizenship The changes made to the British Nationality Act will maintain Chagossian rights to claim British citizenship under the route set up in 2022. There will be no changes to the citizenship that anyone currently holds, nor to the rights of Chagossians to claim British citizenship under current routes. British Overseas Territories Citizenship (BOTC) On entry into force of the Treaty, BIOT will cease to be an Overseas Territory (OT). Once it ceases to be an OT, the right to claim British Overseas Territories Citizenship based on a connection to BIOT will lapse. This means that, after the treaty enters into force, Chagossians will not be able to apply for British Overseas Territories Citizenship under the route set up in 2022. Those who currently hold British Overseas Territories Citizenship through their connection to BIOT will not be able to pass it down to descendants born after the treaty enters into force. If any Chagossian who has claimed British Overseas Territories Citizenship has a child born before entry into force, that child will only be able to claim British Overseas Territories Citizenship if they make an application under the 2022 route, before entry into force. If any member of the Chagossian community does not already have British Overseas Territories Citizenship and would like to claim it based on their connection to BIOT, they will be able to do that through the 2022 route until entry into force of the Treaty. Apply for British citizenship as a person of Chagossian descent. Being unable to claim British Overseas Territories Citizenship will not affect Chagossians' continuing right to claim British Citizenship under the 2022 route for Chagossians, until expiry of that route. Frequently asked questions and answersQ. How will these changes impact Chagossians' current citizenship status?
Q. Will there be changes to the deadline Chagossians currently have to apply for British citizenship?
Q. How do I know if I already hold British Overseas Territory Citizen (BOTC) status or need to apply?
Q. Can my children become BOTC?
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