British Overseas Territories Act 2002

Change of names

1 British overseas territories

(1) As the territories mentioned in Schedule 6 to the British Nationality Act 1981 (c. 61) are now known as “British overseas territories”—

(a) in section 50(1) of that Act (definitions), at the appropriate place insert—

““British overseas territory” means a territory mentioned in Schedule 6;”,

(b) for “dependent territory” (or “dependent territories”), wherever occurring in that Act, substitute “British overseas territory” (or “British overseas territories”), and

(c) in the heading to that Schedule, for “British Dependent Territories” substitute “British Overseas Territories”.

(2) In any other enactment passed or made before the commencement of this section (including an enactment comprised in subordinate legislation), any reference to a dependent territory within the meaning of the British Nationality Act 1981 shall be read as a reference to a British overseas territory.

(3) In the Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30), at the appropriate place in Schedule 1 (list of definitions) insert—

““British overseas territory” has the same meaning as in the British Nationality Act 1981;”.

2 British overseas territories citizenship

(1) Pursuant to section 1, British Dependent Territories citizenship is renamed “British overseas territories citizenship”; and a person having that citizenship is a “British overseas territories citizen”.

(2) Accordingly, in the British Nationality Act 1981 (c. 61)—

(a) for “British Dependent Territories citizenship”, wherever occurring, substitute “British overseas territories citizenship”, and

(b) for “British Dependent Territories citizen” (or “British Dependent Territories citizens”), wherever occurring, substitute “British overseas territories citizen” (or “British overseas territories citizens”).

(3) In any other enactment passed or made before the commencement of this section (including an enactment comprised in subordinate legislation), any reference to British Dependent Territories citizenship, or a British Dependent Territories citizen, shall be read as a reference to British overseas territories citizenship, or a British overseas territories citizen.