How Citizenship is Acquired

The means by which a person has or acquires either original or dual citizenship status include:

Birth within the borders of a nation’s territory. The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution grants citizenship to any child born within American territory, regardless of the citizenship of the parents. Other countries conferring automatic citizenship on those born within their jurisdiction include Argentina, Australia, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Cost Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Greece, Honduras, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Lebanon, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, Portugal, Spain, St. Kitts and Nevus, Thailand, Trinidad, Turkey, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Descent from a foreign citizen parent or grandparent. In some countries blood ancestry is a basis for second citizenship, as in Ireland, Germany, Italy, Spain or Greece.

Marriage. Some countries allow a foreign spouse who marries a citizen to apply for citizenship and a passport, usually after a specified period of residence or, in some cases, even if that spouse is not resident in the country.

Religion. In Israel presently a special law allows all qualified Jews to obtain citizenship, although this may be about to change.

Residence. Some countries in effect “sell” the right to immediate residence, (sometimes accompanied by a guaranteed tax holiday) which, after a specified number of years, can lead to citizenship and passport rights. Australia, Canada, Gibraltar, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and even the United States grant an immediate right to residence in exchange for substantial domestic investments and related job creation. Eligibility for these residence programs may also depend on an applicant’s age, education, life skills, and other criteria. Other countries on a selective basis grant residence to wealthy persons who can later qualify for citizenship and a passport. Such legal residence programs also are available in Andorra, Argentina, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Brazil, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Cyprus, Malta, Monaco, Portugal, Switzerland and the Turks & Caicos Islands and Uruguay.

Formal naturalization. This requires applying and qualifying for citizenship status, a process that varies widely among countries. Usually a period of residence is required (in the U.S., five years) prior to granting citizenship. Original entry is permitted only after demonstrating an ability to support one’s self and family, proof of good character and absence of any criminal record.

Economic Citizenship Programs. Some few national governments, eager for foreign capital, reward economic investments by waiving residence requirements and granting immediate citizenship and a passport. Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts & Nevis, Belize and St Vincent are the only countries currently that grant immediate economic citizenship on this basis.