Acquisition of citizenship by birth: in which countries can a child acquire citizenship by birthright
New-born children can receive citizenship at the place of birth. Learn more about the peculiarities of obtaining citizenship based on the birth of a child
Newborn children can inherit citizenship from their parents on the basis of "blood ties" or receive it by the place of birth - "jus soli". In the second case, the state immediately grants citizenship to all newborns, regardless of the citizenship of the parents. However, sometimes it is necessary to fulfill a number of additional requirements beforehand.
To one degree or another, the principle of granting citizenship on the basis of place of birth is implemented in more than 60 countries of the world. We will tell in more detail about the peculiarities of acquiring citizenship based on the place of birth in this article.
European countries
The birth of a child in European countries is not a guarantee of obtaining citizenship. Most often, states combine two principles in their policies: the child must be born in the state, and the parents must have a residence permit in the state or stay in the country legally for a certain period of time.
In Great Britain, a child receives citizenship immediately after birth, if at least one of its parents had a residence permit in the country at the time of the child's birth. However, individuals who were born in Great Britain and lived in this country for the first 10 years of their lives, whose parents were not and are neither permanent residents nor citizens of this country, can apply for registration as a British citizen.
Greek citizenship will be granted to children whose parents have legally resided in the country for at least 5 years prior to birth. Also, if the parents' residence requirement has been fulfilled, but the child was born in another country, he can get citizenship if he studies for 6 years in a Greek school.
In Ireland, both parents of a child must legally live in the country for at least four years before the child is born.
The rules for obtaining citizenship in France for children are quite complex, but parents do not have to have residency. A child born in the country can acquire citizenship after reaching the age of 13. At the same time, she has to live most of her life in the country.
North America
In the United States, all children who were born in the country receive citizenship without any additional requirements. Based on the certificate from the maternity hospital, the child receives a birth certificate, and later a passport. When the child turns 21, he will be able to obtain citizenship for his parents - on the basis of family reunification.
Canada also grants citizenship to all children born within the country. To get a passport, you only need a birth certificate and an application.
Central, South America and the Caribbean
All children born in the country receive Mexican citizenship. On the basis of the birth of a child, parents can also obtain Mexican citizenship. To do this, it is necessary to live in the country for at least 2 years and to pass an exam in the Spanish language and the history of the state.
Practically all countries of South America grant the citizenship of their state to a child immediately at birth. The only exception is Colombia, where at least one of the parents must have a residence permit at the time of the child's birth. But Peru grants citizenship to a child upon reaching the 18th birthday.
Children born on the territory of the Caribbean countries automatically become citizens of the country. Citizenship of these countries has a number of advantages: visa-free travel to the countries of the Schengen zone and Great Britain, the possibility of obtaining a tourist visa in the USA for 10 years, benefits for admission to universities in Great Britain.
Asian countries
In Asia, Pakistani citizenship can be acquired automatically at birth. In Thailand, parents must live for at least 5 years before the birth of a child.
In Israel, a number of requirements must also be met. If the child was born in the country and did not receive another citizenship, he can apply for Israeli citizenship between the ages of 18 and 21. Passports will be issued only to those who have lived in Israel for at least five years before applying for citizenship.
Africa
Children born in Lesotho and Tanzania receive citizenship automatically at birth. A child can obtain Tunisian citizenship if his grandfather was born in this country.
Australia and Oceania
In Australia, citizenship can be obtained by a child who was born and lived in the country for the first 10 years.
In Tuvalu and Fiji, citizenship is granted to all newborn children.
We will remind you that earlier we talked about 10 countries where you can get a residence permit or citizenship when buying real estate.
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