British Overseas Territories

The British Overseas Territories number 14 in total and are self-governing to varying degrees, with some of their affairs the responsibility of the United Kingdom. None of these areas is part of the United Kingdom, but typically the UK is responsible for their defence and many aspects of foreign policy, and they also share the same head of state, currently Elizabeth II. Historically, most were part of the British Empire but have not become independent or part of another state.

Most of the territories are permanently inhabited, though the British Antarctic Territory has no year-round population and, like other territories in Antarctica, is not politically recognised by most countries. The Akrotiri and Dhekelia Sovereign Base Areas on Cyprus are military outposts administered by the British Armed Forces. Some of the territories are known as Crown Dependencies - Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man - and have a different and stronger constitutional arrangement with the UK. Some of the territories are also partially subject to European Union regulations, though Gibraltar alone is represented in the European Parliament.

Citizens of the Crown Dependencies are British citizens, the same as citizens of the UK. Laws made in the UK that apply to the Dependencies refer to them and the UK collectively as British Islands, and British passports issued in the Dependencies are so labelled. However, only citizens with some link to the UK are also full European Union citizens. Citizens of other territories are typically British Overseas Territories citizens, but various categories of British nationality have been applied over the years. Only the status of British citizen grants right of abode in the UK, but citizens of the different 'British Islands' regions are not automatically entitled to reciprocal rights and privileges - for instance, someone resident in the UK is not entitled to free healthcare on the Channel Islands (Guernsey and Jersey, including Alderney, Sark and Herm), and likewise Channel Islanders cannot receive free UK National Health Service treatment.