Home Office - British Indian Ocean Territory - Chagos Islands

Chagossian Registration Route

We Are Digital is working in partnership with the Home Office to provide much-needed digital skills support for eligible individuals and families to apply for the new Chagossian Registration Route for people of Chagossian descent.

Flag of the Commissioner of the British Indian Ocean Territory

The Chagossian's Story

‘Chagossians’ are people who were born on BIOT (the Chagos Islands) and their descendants. Between 1968 and 1973 the UK government removed people from BIOT and relocated them to Mauritius and Seychelles. Following the passing of the British Overseas Territories Act (2002), many people who were born on BIOT and their children became British citizens and moved to the UK.

Eligibility

The Home Office has identified individuals who could be eligible and that will be able to apply to become a British citizen and a British Overseas Territories citizen (BOTC) through the Chagossian Registration Route if:

They are a direct descendant of someone who was born on the islands that now form the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), and
Are not already a British citizen or a BOTC

The new Assisted Digital service for the Chagossian Registration Route for people of Chagossian descent is now open. If the applicant is an adult (over the age of 18), those wishing to use this service will have five years from 23rd November 2022 to apply. If the applicant is a child (under the age of 18), they will have until their 23rd birthday to apply.

The application process will be free. No fee will be required to make an application or arrange a citizenship ceremony.

We are here to help you

We can help you fill out the necessary forms to apply.

Opening hours:

UK Service Hours - Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm

(excluding UK bank holidays)

Mauritian/Seychelles Service Hours - Mon-Fri, 2pm-10pm

(excluding UK bank holidays)

If you would like support, please call us on either:

Local Seychelles: (+248) 0800 132
Local Mauritian: 8020490067

For those applicants currently based in the UK, please call us free on 0808 169 810

If you would prefer us to contact you or you are based outside Seychelles, Mauritius, or the United Kingdom, please message us via the WhatsApp number below, stating your name, contact number and we will call you.

WhatsApp: +44 07584739395

If you do not have access to WhatsApp, please click on the contact us link below and complete the contact form.