A 25-year-old college graduate, who was born in Bermuda, will not be allowed to stay on the Island because of British law, The Royal Gazette has learned.

Lisa Asphall, an international student who graduated from Bermuda College, was born here to Jamaican parents and has attempted to claim Bermuda status.

Under the British Nationality Act 1981, Ms Asphall does not have the right to live, work or seek employment. In order to gain Bermuda status, one of her parents would have to be Bermudian in addition to her being born on the Island, said Chief Immigration Officer Martin Brewer.

He said the Nationality Act provides for three distinct citizenship categories: A British citizen, a British Dependent Territories citizen and a British Overseas citizen.

Bermudian status is a British Dependent Territories citizen category with domicile rights in Bermuda, as per Bermuda law said Mr. Brewer.

Since Ms Asphall's parents did not have Bermuda status, she cannot remain on the Island.

Mr. Brewer said the Nationality Act was an evolution from two previous immigration acts when the British controlled an empire.

Citizens were allowed to travel throughout the empire, such as the massive Indian immigration into South Africa, said Mr. Brewer.

But as the empire shrunk, the British government had to re-evaluate who, how and where citizens could work and reside, he said.