In British nationality law, the status of British Overseas Citizen (BOC) is one of several categories of British national. A British Overseas citizen does not have an automatic right to live in the United Kingdom.

British Overseas citizen are British nationals but not British citizens in the UK, and hence do not have the right of abode in the UK. Holders of BOC passports can only visit UK for no more than six months (or three months when arriving from the Republic of Ireland). For longer stays or other purposes of visit, holders of BOC passports need to apply for the appropriate visas at the UK diplomatic missions overseas.

As BOC is not considered as British citizens under the European Community rules, therefore BOC is not considered a European Community citizen for the purpose of free movement. The passport has a distinct differences compared to the normal British passport as it lacks the working EUROPEAN COMMUNITY on the front cover and there is no EC languages translations.

The United Kingdom is the only country in the European Union which draws a distinction between full Citizenship and that derived from it’s former overseas territories and there is a degree of pressure to make the UK treat all it’s citizens equally. A British Overseas Citizen does not allow one to reside in the UK and the holders are therefore subject to normal Immigration Control in the same way as any other Commonwealth Citizen.

The British Nationality Act 1981 came into force on 1 January 1983, and divided Citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKCs) into three categories:

British citizens - CUKCs with the right of abode in the United Kingdom and Islands (i.e., the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man) by virtue of a close connection therewith; e.g. by birth or descent from a person born in the UK and Islands, became British citizens.

British Dependent Territories citizens - CUKCs with a close connection with one of the United Kingdom's Dependent Territories became British Dependent Territories citizens (BDTCs), subsequently renamed British Overseas Territories citizens (BOTCs). It was possible for a person to acquire British citizenship and BDTC at the same time. For example, a person born in Bermuda before 1983 with a parent born in the United Kingdom would have acquired both nationalities.

British Overseas citizens - All other CUKCs became British Overseas citizens.

The main advantages of holding a British Overseas Passport over another Commonwealth Passport are:

1. A visa to the UK for visits (and other categories) is not required.
2. Those who have (or have had) indefinite leave for the UK in the past cannot lose the status by staying away from the UK for more than 2 years.
3. In the event that the Country of Origin becomes unstable and the holder is not permitted to remain there any longer, the UK will have to accept that person for settlement.
4. Visa’s for other European Countries are not usually required unless a stay of more than three months is required.
5. Those BOC’s who have not held any other Nationality since 4/7/2002 are able to apply for full British Citizenship without meeting any further criteria.
6. BOC’s are exempt from the new requirements for Naturalisation and will only have to spend five years in the UK rather than the new period of 8 years.
7. BOC’s are permitted to seek Consular Protection from the British Government in times of need.
8. Stateless children of British Overseas Citizens are permitted to register British following three years residence in the UK(if born overseas) or become British Nationals straightaway if born in the UK.