Prominent crossbench senator Nick Xenophon has asked the British Home Office to clarify his citizenship status.
Senator Xenophon was born in Adelaide but his father Theo Xenophou was born in Cyprus, which was a British territory until 1960, and came to Australia in 1951 as a British citizen.
His mother was born in Greece.
The South Australian senator, who was first elected in 2007, wrote to the Greek embassy and Cypriot high commission that year to renounce any possible citizenship.
However he started making inquiries about British ties when it was raised with him by journalists last week and Labor members taunted him about it in the corridors of Parliament House.
"I'm writing to the UK Home Office and contacting the UK high commission ... I'm doing all I can to clarify it and sort it out," Senator Xenophon told reporters in Adelaide on Friday.
He intends publicly releasing all documents as soon as possible but would not stand aside from the Senate if the issue was referred to the High Court.
"The great irony is my father left Cyprus in 1951 in order to get away from British occupation of Cyprus," the senator said.
"The suggestion I could be a British citizen is something that would absolutely horrify my father."
Senator Xenophon said the issue was becoming a "train wreck" and it would be valuable to conduct a citizenship audit of all members and senators.
