The UK Parliament has enacted a new law preventing individuals linked to terrorism, extremism, or serious organized crime from quickly regaining British citizenship.
The “Deprivation of Citizenship Orders Act 2025,” which received royal assent on October 27, addresses a legal loophole that emerged after a Supreme Court ruling in February 2025. This ruling had previously allowed individuals who lost their citizenship to regain it if they succeeded in an initial appeal.
Under the new legislation, citizenship will no longer be automatically restored following a successful initial appeal. Instead, it will only be reinstated once all additional appeals are completed. This ensures that if someone is deemed a threat to national security, the UK government can prevent them from returning to the country, even during the appeal process.
The law also includes provisions to prevent individuals from renouncing other nationalities to claim solely British citizenship in an effort to circumvent the system and regain their status.
Security Minister Dan Jarvis emphasized that the UK government will not compromise on national security and made it clear that individuals involved in terrorism or serious crimes will not be granted any leniency.
While the law does not abolish the right to appeal, it ensures that final decisions are deferred until all legal processes have been completed. This measure aligns with the approach taken in human rights and asylum cases, where decisions are delayed until all appeal stages are exhausted.
