
We are world leaders in British citizenship
British nationality law is extraordinarily complex and many people who have claims to British citizenship are unaware of their rights. That’s where our team comes in. We make the process of researching your options and applying for British citizenship as simple as possible.
Get your free nationality report. Instant results!Experienced consultants to handle complex British citizenship and immigration cases
We have experience and expertise in various nationality paths. Select the route closest to your circumstances to find out more.
British citizenship eligibility
Once you have British citizenship, you can live and work without restriction in the UK.
You may be eligible for British citizenship when you:
- Register as a British citizen if you have another type of British nationality
- Receive settled status and can then apply for UK naturalisation
Standard claims
Many claims to British nationality are straightforward, and are made up of one of the following:
- Born in the UK before 1 January 1983
- A parent born in the UK before 1 January 1983
- A parent naturalised in the UK before your birth
- Naturalisation through residency in the UK
Non-standard claims
All other claims to British citizenship have to be determined by reference to old nationality law and the independence day arrangements (and constitution) of the relevant countries of your family (i.e. your parents and grandparents). This requires researching legal documents dating back as far as 1906.
A further difficulty is that such applications do not have a standard application form and so a written explanation of how you qualify (and why) has to be made to the Home Office – and you will be required to quote the necessary nationality law substantiating this.
Meet our citizenship team
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Reg BamfordGroup CEO
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Philip GambleFounder and Senior Partner
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Mishal PatelDirector: Citizenship and Immigration
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Shelley ChristiansCasework Admin Assistant
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Simone JordaanImmigration and Nationality Adviser
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Nicole WilliamsImmigration and Nationality Adviser
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Chelsea HallettImmigration and Nationality Adviser
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Rajeshri SolankiOffice Administrator
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Yolanda MurrayFront Office Manager
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Reena KothariBritish Nationality Caseworker
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Joanne ClayBritish Nationality Caseworker
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Donna JarvisPersonal Assistant to Philip Gamble
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Kaj PatelBritish Nationality Caseworker
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Lisa OosthuizenImmigration and Nationality Adviser
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Christine Jansen van VuurenEU Specialist
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Chanell AdamsCasework Support
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Kerry MilneImmigration and Nationality Caseworker
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Kristy De GoedeImmigration and Nationality Adviser
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Carryn PhillpsImmigration and Citizenship Caseworker
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Gabriella EastlandCasework Support
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Jason TrudgianImmigration and Nationality Caseworker
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Chriselle BooiseCasework Admin Assistant
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Brittney AfricaImmigration and Nationality Caseworker
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Sebrena ElliottCasework Support
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Meghan McArthurImmigration and Nationality Manager
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John DunnDirector: Citizenship and Immigration
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Reg BamfordGroup CEO
Having qualified at Deloitte & Touche in Cape Town, Reg moved over to London and spent three years in investment banking in the city.
He founded a small tax consultancy in 1996 and in six years turned this into a company with offices in three countries and over 200 staff.
Reg lives in Putney, with his wife and two young sons. In his spare time, he competes internationally at croquet – he is a seven-time winner of the World Championships.
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Philip GambleFounder and Senior Partner
Philip trained with the Home Office within their Citizenship Directorate until 1992. He was the founder partner of Montgomery and Co and later Managing Director of 1st Contact Visas.
He has assisted in developing Government policies with the Points Based System and has instigated changes in Policy towards the descendants of Government employees of former British Territories. Philip is also responsible for immigration training in NHS Hospitals.
He is widely regarded as an authority on British nationality law and the effects of decolonisation within the former British Empire. Philip is registered with the OISC as a level 2 adviser in Immigration.
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Mishal PatelDirector: Citizenship and Immigration
Mishal was born in Mombasa, Kenya and relocated to the UK in 2004 after a successful colonial nationality claim through Philip Gamble & Partners.
Mishal joined Sable International in 2009 and is a registered Level 1 adviser in UK immigration with the OISC. Mishal works closely with Philip Gamble and assists in isolating claims to British nationality for those who have connections to former British Territories, those who are resident in the UK and those adopted by British citizens. Mishal has a special interest in East Africa and the sub-continent. He is fluent English, Kiswahili and Gujarati.
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Shelley ChristiansCasework Admin Assistant
Shelley was born and raised in Cape Town. She joined Sable International in 2017 where she started out in the 1st Contact department.
She previously worked in education and has had the opportunity to study Business Management and do a course in Office Administration. Shelley is now studying at a music school and in her spare time attends and performs at gigs. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
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Simone JordaanImmigration and Nationality Adviser
Simone joined us in 2015 as a British Nationality Advisor.
She has a B.Comm in Industrial and Organisational Psychology. Among other things, Simone has worked as an assistant within a psychology practice and as an administrator at a five-star hotel where she had the opportunity to interact with customers from all corners of the globe on a daily basis. Empathetic and professional, Simone is an avid traveller, who has spent a lot of time exploring Europe.
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Nicole WilliamsImmigration and Nationality Adviser
Nicole joined Sable International as an administrator, bringing with her a strong background in customer relations and various service industries.
Nicole is drawn to people, whether through work or in her spare time, when she plays softball for South Africa. Holding a diploma in project management, Nicole is also in the process of completing her degree in public relations.
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Chelsea HallettImmigration and Nationality Adviser
Chelsea joined Philip Gamble & Partners in 2015 as a Nationality Administrator with a background in administration.
Born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, she has travelled extensively throughout the UK and developed an interest in British Nationality. She is organised, optimistic and dedicated. Using her exceptional customer service and administrative skills, Chelsea ensures that all of our clients have the best possible experience.
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Rajeshri SolankiOffice Administrator
Rajeshri came to the UK from Kenya in 1969 and has worked in administration and customer service roles throughout her career.
After spending four years working for UK Visas and Immigration, she joined Philip Gamble & Partners, bringing with her a wealth of knowledge and experience. She uses her customer service and admin skills to support our immigration team.
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Yolanda MurrayFront Office Manager
With over 30 years’ experience in administration and customer care, Yolanda joined Philip Gamble & Partners in January 2013 as Receptionist and Office Administrator.
She is often the first point of contact for our clients and is known for her professional and friendly manner. In addition to her great work ethic and excellent communication skills, her warm and approachable nature makes her an indispensable member of the team.
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Reena KothariBritish Nationality Caseworker
Reena was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya. She is a graduate of the University of Nairobi and started her career with KPMG Kenya.
She joined Philip Gamble & Partners in 2010 and is a level 1 Registered Adviser in UK Immigration with the OISC.
Reena is responsible for all UK immigration applications lodged with British posts overseas and has had notable success in this area. She also handles after-entry cases that lead to settlement in the UK. Reena is fluent in English, Gujarati, Hindi and Kiswahili.
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Joanne ClayBritish Nationality Caseworker
Joanne joined the firm in 2001 and is a level 1 Registered Adviser in Immigration with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner.
She was responsible for forming the team dealing with the issue of Sponsorship Certificates under Tier 2 of the Points Based Scheme for the National Health Service and Private Healthcare.
Joanne has been highly involved with visa audits for UK employers and is an expert in the country’s employment laws controlling the prevention of illegal labour.
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Donna JarvisPersonal Assistant to Philip Gamble
Donna joined the firm in 2006 and plays a valuable role in the co-ordination of appointments and workflow for Philip Gamble.
Donna not only manages Philip’s schedule, but is also a lifeline to anybody who is anxious about their immigration status. Her caring attitude and friendly manner puts both clients and co-workers at ease.
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Kaj PatelBritish Nationality Caseworker
Kaj joined the firm in June 2013.
Born in Sri Lanka and raised in Germany, Kaj moved to the UK in 2004. She completed her studies in London and holds a degree in Biomedical Science. She is fluent in English, Tamil and German. Kaj is a registered advisor for UK Immigration at level 1 with the OISC. She prides herself on prompt and efficient customer service.
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Lisa OosthuizenImmigration and Nationality Adviser
Lisa studied at Stellenbosch University, where she completed a degree in social work.
She is the administrative assistant for our immigration casework team.
When she’s not helping ensure all our clients’ needs are taken care of, she likes to spend time with her friends, family and children. She’s also quite fond of experimental cooking and going on adventures.
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Christine Jansen van VuurenEU Specialist
Christine has a Bachelor of Social Science in Organizational Psychology and Industrial Sociology from the University of Cape Town. She started as a UK Immigration Caseworker, handling the preparation and submission of British passport and entry clearance visa applications, before shifting her focus to EU nationality matters. In her current role she conducts complex EU nationality assessments and prepares various EU citizenship and passport applications.
As an ambitious and strong-willed individual, she prides herself on learning new things to develop herself both personally and professionally.
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Chanell AdamsCasework Support
Chanell grew up in the Free State and has been in Cape Town for the past eleven years. She enjoys travelling and has had the opportunity to travel to Iran, Malaysia and Qatar.
Chanell has a National Diploma in Business Management and is in the process of completing her bachelor’s degree in communication science through the University of South Africa.
Outside of work, Chanell enjoys the company of friends and family, a good read and a night out on the town.
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Kerry MilneImmigration and Nationality Caseworker
Kerry was born in Johannesburg and has lived in Cape Town since she was six months old. She studied at the University of Cape Town, majoring in psychology and organisational psychology. She chose to study these subjects because she always wanted to work with people.
Thereafter, she completed her honours in organisational psychology. She has experience in sales and admin but excels at being organised and helping others stay organised.
Kerry joined Sable International as an Admin Assistant on our immigration team.
She enjoys being out and about with friends and family, cooking, baking and reading.
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Kristy De GoedeImmigration and Nationality Adviser
Kristy has been part of the Sable International family for many years. She started off on the tax refunds team and then moved into the immigration department. She has since become an expert in assisting customers with their UK visa applications and extensions.
Dedicated to providing excellent customer service to all clients, she has become particularly good at assessing what a client’s best relocation options are.
Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She also has a keen passion for travel.
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Carryn PhillpsImmigration and Citizenship Caseworker
Carryn was born and raised in Cape Town where she attended Rustenburg Girls’ High and thereafter graduated from Varsity College with a Bachelor of Arts in corporate communication.
After several years working in a client-focused role in the hospitality and event planning industry, she felt it was time for a change. She joined Sable International in 2020, as Client Liaison on our 1st Contact Relocation team, before moving to the Immigration team in 2022.
Carryn enjoys photography, being outdoors with her dog - especially by the ocean where she resides - and spending time with family.
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Gabriella EastlandCasework Support
Gabriella was born and raised in Cape Town. She attended Wynberg Girls’ Junior and High Schools before studying Beauty Therapy and Somatology. She went on to work as a personal assistant and au pair, and in various retail environments, gaining experience in sales, customer service and admin.
In 2020, she changed career paths and enrolled at Varsity College to study Business Principles and Practices.
She is creative and passionate, but always organised, diligent and determined. She enjoys being outdoors, going for drives, reading a good book, making the most out of life and spending time with family and friends. -
Jason TrudgianImmigration and Nationality Caseworker
Jason was born and raised in Cape Town. Both of his parents were born in the UK and he has lived and worked in the UK.
He was originally at Sable International between 2008 and 2018 and returned to Sable International in 2022, after spending four years at a local immigration company.
Outside of work he spends time with family and is part of a local soccer team, where he plays in a league during the winter season. -
Chriselle BooiseCasework Admin Assistant
Chriselle graduated from Sans Souci Girls High School. Thereafter, she worked at IBN Immigration Solutions for five years before starting at Sable International.
She's lived in Cape Town all her life, is hard working and driven. Outside of work she enjoys visiting new restaurants, spending time with family and friends, binging series, going on long drives and being a dog mom.
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Brittney AfricaImmigration and Nationality Caseworker
Brittney was born and raised in Cape Town. She studied at the University of the Western Cape. Before joining Sable International she worked at Rheinmetall Denel Munition as a business analyst intern and before that spent four years at Old Mutual as a trainee administrator in the client services department.
She is an ambitious, driven, people person who enjoys spending time with family and friends outside of work. She also enjoys watching series and movies as well as exploring the city of Cape Town and its surroundings.
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Sebrena ElliottCasework Support
Sebrena was born and raised in Cape Town. She matriculated from Rhodes High School and thereafter studied sports management through CPUT. She has extensive experience within the administration division for most of her professional career and comes from the Pick ‘n Pay training academy before joining Sable.
She is a very enthusiastic, goal driven individual, love working with people and building great professional relationships.
In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors, summertime is her favourite as she loves camping, going on road trips and going to the beach with her family. She has a huge passion for the sports industry and particularly enjoys watching rugby.
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Meghan McArthurImmigration and Nationality Manager
Meghan started her career with Sable International in 2008, as part of our customer service department.
From there, she also spent time in our UK tax refunds and forex departments, gaining valuable insight into the overall workings of the business. Meghan’s passion for customer service and personal growth eventually led her to our visa department, where she now works as a UK Immigration Caseworker.
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John DunnDirector: Citizenship and Immigration
John joined Sable International in 2008 and has managed multiple divisions during his time with the company.
He has over a decade of experience in immigration, citizenship and residency-by-investment. He combines that with a background in sales, marketing and management to ensure that Sable International is the go to for all things relating to citizenship and immigration around the world.
Outside of work, John is dedicated to his young family. He enjoys fitness activities and loves the outdoors.
Who we are
We are specialists in a variety of fields. We provide services in wealth management, accounting, tax, international money transfers, immigration and citizenship. Our clients are often global citizens with family, offices, suppliers, clients, property or wealth overseas.
We realise that all of our clients are unique in terms of both their current circumstances and their future plans and we pride ourselves on thinking differently to tailor solutions that help. Whatever your goals, we can help you internationalise yourself, your wealth and your business.
Read more about our people and values

We're coming to Boston!
Do you have a UK-born grandparent? Our UK citizenship experts are planning a trip to Boston in 2024. If you'd be interested in a one-on-one consultation, please let us know and we'll be in touch with the details.

British Nationality Assessment
Discover if you qualify for British nationality through your heritage. Our online assessment uses your personal circumstances, and those of your parents and grandparents, to let you know your chances of attaining a British passport.
Get your free nationality report. Instant results!