citizenship and insurance: does my son qualify?

Sort of a mixed-bag question (and not 100% sure this belongs in the Parenting section, either):

I'm a US citizen, married to a UK citizen who's lived here in the states for 6 years. We have a 3 yr. old son.

We're looking into moving back to England to be near my husband's family in the near future. So I'm looking at filling out the spouse visa for myself. Do I need a visa for our son as well? Is he a dual citizen already, simply by being born to a UK-citizen father?

And when we move to England, will he be covered immediately under the NHS? I don't really understand how the whole thing works, i just want to make sure, because he's so young, that any health care costs are covered.

Was your husband born in the UK? If yes, then all you have to do is apply for a UK Passport for your son since he was a British Citizen by Descent at birth and no visa required.

As your child is under 16 he would qualify for NHS coverage immediately, you would just need to register him with a GP once you arrived in the UK.


Edited to add Passport application link.

Was your husband born in the UK? If yes, then all you have to do is apply for a UK Passport for your son since he was a British Citizen by Descent at birth and no visa required.

As your child is under 16 he would qualify for NHS coverage immediately, you would just need to register him with a GP once you arrived in the UK.


Edited to add Passport application link.

Yes, my husband is a native Geordie

Thank you VERY much for the link!

I have a follow up question regarding my child.

So, my husband is British by birth, which makes my son British by descent.  There is an option of paying to have my son registered with the U.K. consulate http://ukinusa.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/living-in-usa/birth-registration/

My question is this: is it worth registering him?  It is not obligatory, and we can get him a British passport without registering.  We are having a hard time finding solid reasons as to why registration would be worth having, all the information seems very vague.

I realize he does not need to be registered, I guess I'm looking for reasons as to why I would register him.

Does that make more sense?