All Indians residing in India were considered British subjects and therefore eligible for British passports even until 1955, although India (and Pakistan) gained independence on Aug 15, 1947.
The British Nationality Act of 1948 provided for two categories of persons to remain "British subjects" only (not Citizen of the United Kingdom and colonies - known as CUKCs). These were persons connected with the Republic of Ireland, and persons connected with one of the self-governing dominions which had not yet enacted its own citizenship law. From 1951 onwards the only persons remaining in the latter category were those connected with India or Pakistan. India enacted it's citizenship act on 30th December 1955 from which date Indians were no longer allowed to be British subjects. Till the mid 1960s the British passport was a unified one and allowed all holders the right of abode in the UK. After that certain reservations crept in. Subjects of colonies still British-ruled and former British subjects were issued with a 'C" passport that allowed all other privileges except right of abode in the UK. The "A" passport was a "full" one. This was the result of consternation due to several issues among which was that Hongkong residents who were entitled to British passports would emigrate en masse to the mother country since Britain announced it's intentions to hand over the colony to China in due course. Posts from others are welcomed to correct the above, if necessary, or to cast more light on a topic which once aroused much interest around the world but is now little known. Roland. Toronto +1 (416) 453.3371 On Tue, Aug 19, 2008 at 4:40 PM, ignatius fernandes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I wonder what passport did the Indians have > during the British Raj when the wanted to > travel to Britain to study or whatever.
