Citizenship and Travel Visa

States on Citizenship

Each state is free to determine the conditions under which it will recognize persons as its citizens, and the conditions under which that status will be withdrawn. Recognition by a state as a citizen generally carries recognition of civil, political and social rights that are not always afforded to non-citizens.

Citizenship law differs by country. Some countries emphasize birth within territory, others emphasize parentage, descent, naturalization, marriage or investment. The rules that determine citizenship also influence passports, visa-free travel and consular protection.

Citizenship Rights

In general, the basic rights normally regarded as arising from citizenship include the right to a passport, the right to leave and return to the country of citizenship, the right to live in that country and the right to work there.

Multiple Citizenships and Statelessness

Some countries permit their citizens to have multiple citizenships, while others insist on exclusive allegiance. A person who does not have citizenship of any state is said to be stateless. A person who lives on state borders where territorial status is uncertain may face complex identity and documentation issues.

Determining Factors of Citizenship

A person can be recognized or granted citizenship on a number of bases. Citizenship based on circumstances of birth is often automatic, but an application, registration or proof of eligibility may be required in many cases.

• Citizenship by birth or descent — jus sanguinis. If one or both of a person’s parents are citizens of a given state, the person may have the right to be a citizen of that state as well. Formerly, this might only have applied through the paternal line, but sex equality became more common from the late twentieth century. Citizenship based on ancestry or ethnicity is related to the concept of a nation state and is common in many civil law countries. Some countries limit citizenship by descent to a certain number of generations born abroad, some require each new generation to be registered with a foreign mission by a deadline, and others do not limit generations born abroad.
• Citizenship by place of birth — jus soli. Some people are automatically citizens of the state in which they are born. This form of citizenship originated in England, where those born within the realm were subjects of the monarch. It remains common in many common law countries. Most countries in the Americas grant unconditional jus soli citizenship, while it has been limited or abolished in many other countries. In many legal systems, both jus soli and jus sanguinis may operate together.
• Citizenship by marriage — jus matrimonii. Many countries fast-track naturalization based on marriage to a citizen. Countries that receive immigration often regulate this route to detect sham marriages where there is no real intention to live together. Some countries require the foreign spouse to be a permanent resident before citizenship can be requested. Others allow spouses of expatriate citizens to obtain citizenship after a certain period of marriage, sometimes with language, residence or integration requirements.
• Naturalization. States normally grant citizenship to people who entered legally, received permission to stay or were granted asylum, and lived there for a specified period. Naturalization may require a language test, knowledge of the host country’s way of life, good conduct, moral character, allegiance to the new state and, in some countries, renunciation of prior citizenship. Some countries allow dual citizenship and do not require naturalized citizens to formally renounce another nationality.
• Citizenship by investment or economic citizenship. Some countries allow wealthy applicants to invest in property or businesses, buy government bonds or make direct contributions in exchange for citizenship and a passport. These programs are legal where authorized but often controversial, limited by quotas and subject to due diligence. Costs can vary widely by country and program.
• Excluded categories. In the past, citizenship exclusions existed on grounds such as skin color, ethnicity, sex and free status. Many of these exclusions no longer apply in most jurisdictions. However, modern restrictions can still exist, including rules based on religion, adoption date, document status, birth circumstances, nationality security restrictions or specific legal categories. Applicants should always check current law.

Citizenship and Travel Visa Planning

Your citizenship usually determines which passport you can use, whether you need a visa, whether you can apply for an eVisa, how long you may stay, and whether you qualify for visa-free, visa-on-arrival or special travel authorization routes.