3 Contents Glossary 4 1. Introduction 5 2. Summary of key findings 5.4 Difficulties accessing competent legal advice and the difference it makes 24 8 5.5 Difficulties proving nationality or statelessness 25 2.1 Key groups of children affected by statelessness in the UK 8 5.6 Barriers to registration with parents’ country of nationality 26 2.2 Key causes of (risk of) childhood statelessness in the UK 8 5.7 Practical barriers to British citizenship for stateless children 27 2.3 Key emerging challenges relating to childhood statelessness in the UK 9 5.8 The impact of poverty and hostile environment measures 27 5.9 The potential impact of Brexit 28 5.10 Lack of focus on children’s best interests 29 3. Previous research, publications, and advocacy on stateless children in the UK 4. International, regional, and domestic law and policy framework 10 6. Good practices from other countries 29 7. Recommendations 31 8. Conclusions 34 9. References 36 12 4.1 International and regional law and standards 12 4.2 UK law and policy 15 4.2.1 British Nationality Law 15 4.2.2 Jurisprudence relating to stateless children’s acquisition of nationality 16 4.2.3 Immigration routes for some stateless children in the UK 17 5. Challenges relating to childhood statelessness in the UK 20 5.1 Lack of data on stateless children in the UK 20 5.2 Lack of awareness of statelessness 23 5.3 Uncertainty about how to resolve statelessness and routes to British citizenship 24