right of abode
The right to enter the UK and live and work in the UK with no restrictions under UK immigration control. The Immigration Act 1971 gave the right of abode to all citizens of the UK and Colonies who either owed their status to their own (or a parent’s or grandparent’s) birth, registration, or naturalization in the UK or were or became at any time settled in the UK and had at that time been ordinarily resident there for at least five years. Commonwealth citizens had the right of abode if one of their parents was a citizen of the UK and Colonies by reason of birth in the UK. As from 1 January 1983 the Act was amended by the British Nationality Act 1981 to confine the right of abode to British citizens as defined by that Act (see British citizenship) and to Commonwealth citizens enjoying it before the Act came into force. Since 2002 nearly all holders of British Overseas Territories citizenship have also had the right of abode. The Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 contains several provisions empowering the Home Secretary to deprive a person of right of abode if it is considered that such deprivation is “conducive to the public good”.

While the UK was a member of the EU, nationals of other states within the European Economic Area (EEA) were exempt from most restrictions under UK immigration control but did not have the right of abode. Following the UK’s departure from the EU, EEA citizens no longer have an automatic right to reside in the UK; this applies even to those already settled in the UK with permanent resident status. However, the government announced in October 2018 that any EEA citizen who took up residence on or before 31 December 2020 was eligible to apply for either “settlement” or “pre-settlement” status before 30 June 2021. Either status gives the holder the right to work in the UK, to access state benefits and pensions, and to use NHS services free of charge. EEA citizens who wish to take up residence in the UK after 2020 will not be given preferential immigration status. The status of Irish citizens in the UK will not be affected, as it predates EEA legislation.

• mere equity
• merger
• Mesher order
• mesne profits
• messuage
• MHRA
• MIAM
• Michaelmas Day
• micro-entity
• micro-state
• Middle Temple
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• military court
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• military testament
• Miller’s case (No. 1)
• Miller’s case (No. 2)
• minerals
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• minimum wage
• mining lease
• minister
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• Ministry of Justice