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The Global Gender Equality Constitutional Database is a repository of gender equality related provisions in 194 constitutions from around the world. The Database was updated in partnership with the International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) and with support from the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and the Government of Japan. Experience its wealth and depth of information by starting your search now.
Citizenship and Nationality
- EnglishEvery person who immediately before the coming into operation of this Constitution is a citizen of Lesotho under the Lesotho Citizenship Order 1971 shall, on the coming into operation of this Constitution and subject to any provision made in or under this Chapter,2 continue to be a citizen of Lesotho. (Sec. 37)
Citizenship and Nationality
- English1. Any person who, on 12 March 1968, was or had been married to another person –
a. who became a citizen of Mauritius by virtue of section 202; or
b. who, having died before 12 March 1968 would, but for his death, have become a citizen of Mauritius by virtue of section 20,
shall be entitled, upon making application and, if he is a British protected person or an alien, upon taking the oath of allegiance, to be registered as a citizen of Mauritius:
Provided that, in the case of any person who, on 12 March 1968 was not a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies, the right to be registered as a citizen of Mauritius under this section shall be subject to such exceptions or qualifications as may be prescribed in the interest of national security or public policy.
2. Any application for registration under this section shall be made in such manner as may be prescribed as respects that application. (Sec. 21)
Citizenship and Nationality
- English(1) The following persons shall be citizens of Namibia by birth:
(a) those born in Namibia before the date of Independence whose fathers or mothers would have been Namibian citizens at the time of the birth of such persons, if this Constitution had been in force at that time; and
(b) those born in Namibia before the date of Independence, who are not Namibian citizens under Sub-Article (a) hereof, and whose fathers or mothers were ordinarily resident in Namibia at the time of the birth of such persons: provided that their fathers or mothers were not then persons:
(aa) who were enjoying diplomatic immunity in Namibia under any law relating to diplomatic privileges; or
(bb) who were career representatives of another country; or
(cc) who were members of any police, military or security unit seconded for service within Namibia by the Government of another country: provided further that this Sub-Article shall not apply to persons claiming citizenship of Namibia by birth if such persons were ordinarily resident in Namibia at the date of Independence and had been so resident for a continuous period of not less than five (5) years prior to such date, or if the fathers or mothers of such persons claiming citizenship were ordinarily resident in Namibia at the date of the birth of such persons and had been so resident for a continuous period of not less than five (5) years prior to such date;
(c) those born in Namibia after the date of Independence whose fathers or mothers are Namibian citizens at the time of the birth of such persons;
(d) those born in Namibia after the date of Independence who do not qualify for citizenship under Sub-Article (c) hereof, and whose fathers or mothers are ordinarily resident in Namibia at the time of the birth of such persons: provided that their fathers or mothers are not then persons:
(aa) enjoying diplomatic immunity in Namibia under any law relating to diplomatic privileges; or
(bb) who are career representatives of another country; or
(cc) who are members of any police, military or security unit seconded for service within Namibia by the Government of another country; or
(dd) who are illegal immigrants:
provided further that Sub-Articles (aa), (bb), (cc) and (dd) hereof will not apply to children who would otherwise be stateless.
(2) The following persons shall be citizens of Namibia by descent:
(a) those who are not Namibian citizens under Sub-Article (1) hereof and whose fathers or mothers at the time of the birth of such persons are citizens of Namibia or whose fathers or mothers would have qualified for Namibian citizenship by birth under Sub-Article (1) hereof, if this Constitution had been in force at that time; and
(b) who comply with such requirements as to registration of citizenship as may be required by Act of Parliament: provided that nothing in this Constitution shall preclude Parliament from enacting legislation which requires the birth of such persons born after the date of Independence to be registered within a specific time either in Namibia or at an embassy, consulate or office of a trade representative of the Government of Namibia.
(3) The following persons shall be citizens of Namibia by marriage:
(a) those who are not Namibian citizens under Sub-Article (1) or (2) hereof and who:
(aa) in good faith marry a Namibian citizen or, prior to the coming into force of this Constitution, in good faith married a person who would have qualified for Namibian citizenship if this Constitution had been in force; and
(bb) subsequent to such marriage have ordinarily resided in Namibia as the spouse of such person for a period of not less than ten (10) years; and
(cc) apply to become citizens of Namibia;
(b) for the purposes of this Sub-Article (and without derogating from any effect that it may have for any other purposes) a marriage by customary law shall be deemed to be a marriage: provided that nothing in this Constitution shall preclude Parliament from enacting legislation which defines the requirements which need to be satisfied for a marriage by customary law to be recognised as such for the purposes of this Sub-Article.
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(5) Citizenship by naturalisation may be applied for by persons who are not Namibian citizens
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(7) Namibian citizenship shall be lost by persons who renounce their Namibian citizenship by voluntarily signing a formal declaration to that effect.
(8) Nothing in this Constitution shall preclude Parliament from enacting legislation providing for the loss of Namibian citizenship by persons who, after the date of Independence:
(a) have acquired the citizenship of any other country by any voluntary act; or
(b) have served or volunteered to serve in the armed or security forces of any other country without the written permission of the Namibian Government; or
(c) have taken up permanent residence in any other country and have absented themselves thereafter from Namibia for a period in excess of two (2) years without the written permission of the Namibian Government:
provided that no person who is a citizen of Namibia by birth or descent may be deprived of Namibian citizenship by such legislation.
(9) Parliament shall be entitled to make further laws not inconsistent with this Constitution regulating the acquisition or loss of Namibian citizenship. (Art. 4)
Citizenship and Nationality
- EnglishA person born outside Seychelles on or after the Independence Day but before the 5th June, 1979 whose mother was a Seychellois at the time of the person’s birth is eligible to become a citizen of Seychelles by naturalization or registration. (Art. 10(A))
Citizenship and Nationality
- English
No citizen may be deprived of his/her Tunisian nationality, nor be banished, extradited, or prevented from returning to his/her country. (Art. 31)
- Arabic
يحجّر سحب الجنسيّة التّونسيّة من أيّ مواطن أو تغريبه أو تسليمه أو منعه من العودة إلى الوطن. (الفصل 31)
- French
Aucun citoyen ne peut être déchu de la nationalité tunisienne, ni être banni, extradé, ni empêché de revenir à son pays. (Art. 31)
Citizenship and Nationality
- English
Algerian nationality is defined by the law.
The conditions of acquisition, of retention, of loss and of revocation of Algerian nationality are determined by the law. (Art. 36) - Arabic
الجنسية الجزائرية معرفة بالقانون.
يحدد القانون شروط اكتساب الجنسية الجزائرية، والاحتفاظ بها، أو فقدانها، أو التجريد منها. (المــادة 36) - French
La nationalité algérienne est définie par la loi.
Les conditions d'acquisition, de conservation, de perte et de déchéance de la nationalité algérienne sont déterminées par la loi. (Art. 36)
Citizenship and Nationality
- English(1) Persons are Zimbabwean citizens by birth, descent or registration.
… (Sec. 35)
Citizenship and Nationality
- EnglishAll those considered as such by the law or by virtue of an international convention are Comorian citizens.
Outside of the cases where the law provides otherwise, no Comorian of birth may be deprived of their nationality. (Art. 5) - Arabicالمواطنون القمريون هم جميع الذين يعتبرهم القانون كذلك أو بموجب اتفاقية دولية.
خارج الحالات التي ينص فيها القانون على خلاف ذلك، لا يجوز حرمان أي قمري من جنسيته. (المادة 5) - FrenchSont citoyens comoriens tous ceux qui sont considérés comme tels par la loi ou en vertu d'une convention internationale.
Hors des cas où la loi en dispose autrement, aucun Comorien de naissance ne peut être privé de sa nationalité. (Art. 5)
Citizenship and Nationality
- English(1) A woman who is not a citizen of Eswatini at the date of her marriage to a person who is a citizen (otherwise than by registration) shall become a citizen by lodging a declaration in the prescribed manner with the Minister responsible for citizenship or with any Diplomatic Mission or Consular Office of Eswatini or at any other prescribed office, either before or at any time during the marriage, accepting Eswatini citizenship.(2) A woman who lodges a declaration in terms of subsection (1) shall be a citizen from the date of her marriage, where the declaration is lodged before the marriage, or where the declaration is lodged after marriage, from date of lodgement.(3) This section applies to marriage whether before or after the commencement of this Constitution. (Sec. 44)
Citizenship and Nationality
- English(1) The Minister may apply to the High Court for an order depriving a person who has been registered or naturalised as a citizen of The Gambia of his or her citizenship on the grounds that he or she—
(a) has acquired by registration, naturalisation or any voluntary and formal act (other than marriage) the citizenship of any other country;
(b) has acquired the citizenship of Gambia by means of fraud, false representation or the concealment of any material fact;
(c) has, at any time since acquiring citizenship of The Gambia, voluntarily claimed and exercised in a country other than The Gambia any rights available to him or her under the laws of that country, being rights accorded exclusively to its citizens;
(d) has within seven years after being registered or naturalised been convicted in any country of an offence involving fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude.
and, in the cases referred to in paragraphs (c) and (d), it is not conducive to the public good that he or she should continue to be a citizen of The Gambia.
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(4) Nothing in this or any other provision of this Constitution or any other law shall be construed as depriving, or authorising any person or authority to deprive, any citizen of The Gambia by birth or descent of his or her citizenship of The Gambia whether on account of such citizen's holding the citizenship or nationality of some other country or for any other cause. (Sec. 13)