I'd like to know how free people living under British rule were to move from one part of the Empire to another. What sort of regulations, if any, were in place? Would people living in different parts of the Empire have different legal restrictions on their right to move elsewhere? Would for example an Englishman have the right to move to India, while Indians did not have a corresponding right to move to England?
I'm primarily interested in legal restrictions aiming to prevent free movement, not the subjective ability to do so (lack of money etc.). I'm sure these things changed over time, but I'm mostly curious about the era around, say, 1815-1914. Any illumination you would be able to provide me would be most appreciated.
Thank you in advance.
Legal restrictions on emigration into Britain only began in the 1960s as far as I know, due to a perceived huge influx into Britain from the 1950s, which would suggest there was widespread freedom of movement before then (obviously after final freedom of all slaves in 1833). The lack of money probably tied into this, since if colonial subjects could afford to migrate in any sizeable numbers to Britain (or even want to), then such legislation might have been introduced earlier. It was only when the Empire started collapsing that many fled to Britain, usually from fear of conflict resultant or provoked by this (Kenya, India etc) so during its continued existence most people were probably content to not visit a nation half way across the world which they'd never actually visited.