A new law in the United Kingdom prevents British citizenship from being automatically reinstated to individuals linked to terrorism, extremism, and serious organised crime.
The Deprivation of Citizenship Orders Act 2025, which received Royal Assent on 27 October, ensures that citizenship is not restored after a successful appeal until all additional appeals have been exhausted.
The legislation closes a gap identified following a Supreme Court judgment in February 2025, which allowed people deprived of citizenship to regain that status upon an initial appeal.
Henceforth, the government will not be required to release individuals from immigration detention or allow them back into the UK if they pose a threat to public security and safety whilst appeals are ongoing.
The new law, passed by Parliament on October 21, will also prevent a person from renouncing any other nationalities they hold in order to render themselves solely British.
Security Minister Dan Jarvis said the government takes national security seriously, as the new law affirms that no chances will be taken when it comes to protecting the country and its people.
The new law, however, makes no change to a person’s existing right to appeal and does not expand the reasons for which a person may be deprived of their citizenship.
It follows a similar approach to human rights and asylum appeals cases, where asylum is not granted to a person appealing a rejection until all further appeals have been determined.
