Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste 2002
Citizenship and Nationality
  • English
    1. There shall be original citizenship and acquired citizenship in the Democratic Republic of East Timor.
    2. The following citizens shall be considered original citizens of East Timor, as long as they are born in the national territory:
    a) Children of father or mother born in East Timor;
    b) Children of incognito parents, stateless parents or parents of unknown nationality;
    c) Children of a foreign father or mother who, being over seventeen years old, declare their will to become East Timorese nationals.
    3. Irrespective of being born in a foreign country, children of a Timorese father or mother shall be considered original citizens of East Timor.
    a) Children of an East Timorese father or mother living overseas;
    b) Children of an East Timorese father or mother serving the State outside the country;
    4. Acquisition, loss and reacquisition of citizenship, as well as its registration and proof, shall be regulated by law. (Sec. 3)
  • Tetum
    1. Iha Repúblika Demokrátika Timór-Leste nia laran iha sidadania nanis no sidadania husun.
    2. Sidadaun nanis Timór-Leste nian maka ema ne’ebé moris nanis iha rai nasionál laran:
    a) oan sira-ne’ebé aman ka inan moris iha Timór-Leste;
    b) oan sira-ne’ebé inan-aman laiha, nasionalidade eh rai moris-fatin lahatene;
    c) oan sira-ne’ebé aman ka inan ema raiseluk, ne’ebé idade liu ona tinan sanulu resin hitu, no sira rasik hili sai timoroan;
    3. Sidadaun nanis Timór-Leste nian mós sira-ne’ebé, biar moris iha rai-liur, sira-nia aman ka inan, timoroan.
    4. Lei-oan mak sei regula kona-ba akizisaun, lakon no hetan filafali sidadania, nune’e mós sidadaun sira-nia rejistu no prova. (Art. 3)
  • Portuguese
    1. Na República Democrática de Timor-Leste existe cidadania originária e cidadania adquirida.
    2. São cidadãos originários de Timor-Leste, desde que tenham nascido em território nacional:
    a) Os filhos de pai ou mãe nascidos em Timor-Leste;
    b) Os filhos de pais incógnitos, apátridas ou de nacionalidade desconhecida;
    c) Os filhos de pai ou mãe estrangeiros que, sendo maiores de dezassete anos, declarem, por si, querer ser timorenses.
    3. São cidadãos originários de Timor-Leste, ainda que nascidos em território estrangeiro, os filhos de pai ou mãe timorenses.
    4. A aquisição, perda e reaquisição de cidadania, bem como o seu registo e prova, são regulados por lei. (Art. 3)
Citizenship and Nationality
  • English

    2. It is exclusively incumbent upon the National Parliament to make laws on:

    d) Citizenship;
    … (Sec. 95)
  • Tetum

    2. Parlamentu Nasionál de’it mak halo lejizlasaun kona-ba:

    d) Sidadaun;
    … (Art. 95)
  • Portuguese

    2. Compete exclusivamente ao Parlamento Nacional legislar sobre:

    d) Cidadania;
    … (Art. 95)
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Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste 2002 (English). According to Sec. 13(1): "Tetum and Portuguese shall be the official languages in the Democratic Republic of East Timor.” There are discrepancies in the English, Portuguese and Tetum texts.

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