Will Virat Kohli-Anushka Sharma's 2nd child 'Akaay' be a British citizen? Here's what the rules say?

Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma finally confirmed the arrival of their second child on Tuesday, February 20. Star couple, Anushka and Virat, who became parents for the second time, welcomed their baby boy, Akaay, into their family. Notably, their son Akaay was born on February 15 as Anushka took to Instagram to share the good news.

Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli took to social media to share Akaay's birth news.
 

"With abundant happiness and our hearts all of love, we are pleased to inform everyone that on 15th February, we welcomed our baby boy Akaay & Vamika's little brother into this world! We seek your blessings and good wishes in this beautiful time in our lives. We request you to kindly respect our privacy at this time. Love & Gratitude. Virat & Anushka."

 

 

 

ALSO READ: Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma name their baby boy Akaay, here's what the name means

 

Akaay, Indian or British citizen?

 

Reportedly, Anushka gave birth to Akaay in a hospital in London which has left fans wondering whether Virat's son will be a British citizen or an Indian citizen? But if we look at the rules, this is not the case, and Virat Kohli's son Akaay is not a British citizen.

 

What do the rules say?

 

According to the rules, if a child is born in the UK, they are not automatically considered a British citizen. They can only become a British citizen if one of their parents is a British citizen or has obtained settled status after living there for a long time. Similarly, if a child is born outside the UK to British citizen parents, they can be a British citizen. This depends on how the child's parents acquired British citizenship. It is worth mentioning that even though Virat Kohli and Anushka have bought a house in London, Akaay cannot become a British citizen. However, Akaay's passport will be issued in the UK, but they will still be considered an Indian citizen.

 

Diving deep into the rules

 

Gaining British Citizenship at Birth

 

• If a child is born outside the UK to a British parent, they may be considered a British citizen by descent, which is determined by how the parent acquired British citizenship.
• Children born before 1 July 2006 to an unmarried British or settled father and a mother who is neither British nor settled do not automatically receive British citizenship by birth. However, they are eligible to register for British citizenship.
• Once citizenship by birth is confirmed, the child is eligible to apply for a British passport.

 

 

Acquiring British Citizenship Through Registration

 

If a child does not automatically receive British citizenship by birth, they can apply for registration as a British citizen with the Home Office.

 

A child is eligible for registration as a British citizen under the following conditions:

• If they were born in the UK and one of their parents becomes a British citizen or obtains settled status before the child reaches 18.
• If they were born in the UK before 1 July 2006 to a father who is British or settled and was not married to the mother.
• If they were born in the UK and have resided there until at least the age of 10.
• The Home Office may also register a child as a British citizen at its discretion, and seeking legal advice is recommended to explore this possibility.
• To apply for registration, an application must be submitted to the Home Office. The fee for registering is £1,214, although certain exemptions and waivers may apply. Children aged 10 and above must also fulfill a good character requirement to be eligible for citizenship through registration.

 

In 2021, Kohli became a father for the first time when his daughter Vamika was born, following Anushka's pregnancy announcement in 2020. Subsequently, Kohli took a leave from the Test series against Australia, having participated in the opening match at Adelaide Oval. In his absence, Ajinkya Rahane led India to a 2-1 victory in the series.

 

Kohli out of Test series against England

 

Meanwhile last month, Kohli withdrew from the first two Tests against England citing 'personal reasons,' leading to Rajat Patidar taking his place in the squad. Kohli also missed the final three Tests against the team led by Ben Stokes. Later, it was learnt that Kohli has pulled out of the entire Test series against England.  

Since playing in the T20I series against Afghanistan in January, Kohli has not participated in any cricket matches. He is anticipated to make a comeback in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL), where he represents Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), captained by Faf du Plessis.

 

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