the current principal british nationality law in force, since 1 january 1983, is the british nationality act 1981, which established the system of multiple categories of british nationality. to date, six tiers were created: "british citizens", "british overseas territories citizens", "british overseas citizens", "british nationals (overseas)", "british subjects", and "british protected persons". only british citizens and certain commonwealth citizens have the automatic right of abode in the uk, with the latter holding residual rights they had prior to 1983.