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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
- 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.
…
(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
- English(1) Parliament may make provision for the acquisition of citizenship of Ghana by persons who are not eligible to become citizens of Ghana under the provisions of this Constitution.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in article 7 of this Constitution, a person shall not be registered as a citizen of Ghana unless at the time of his application for registration he is able to speak and understand an indigenous language of Ghana.
(3) The High Court may, on an application made for the purpose by the Attorney-General, deprive a person who is a citizen of Ghana, otherwise than by birth, of that citizenship on the ground—
(a) that the activities of that person are inimical to the security of the State or prejudicial to public morality or the public interest; or
(b) that the citizenship was acquired by fraud, misrepresentation or any other improper or irregular practice.
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(5) Parliament may make provision by Act of Parliament for—
(a) the renunciation by any person of his citizenship of Ghana;
(b) the circumstances in which a person may acquire citizenship of Ghana or cease to be a citizen of Ghana. (Art. 9)
Citizenship and Nationality
- EnglishAny person born of a Haitian father or Haitian mother who are themselves native-born Haitians and have never renounced their nationality possesses Haitian nationality at the time of birth. (Art. 11)
- FrenchPossède la Nationalité Haïtienne d'origine, tout individu né d'un père haïtien ou d'une mère haïtienne qui eux-mêmes sont nés Haïtiens et n'avaient jamais renoncé à leur nationalité au moment de la naissance. (Art. 11)
Citizenship and Nationality
- English1. Everyone shall have the right to determine and declare his (her) nationality. Nobody shall be forced to determine and declare his (her) nationality.
… (Art. 26) - Russian1. Каждый вправе определять и указывать свою национальную принадлежность. Никто не может быть принужден к определению и указанию своей национальной принадлежности.
… (Статья 26)
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
Mexican nationality is acquired by birth or by naturalization.
A. Mexicans by birth are:
I. Those that are born in the territory of the Republic, whatever the nationality of their parents may be.
II. Those that are born abroad, children of Mexican parents, of [a] Mexican mother or of [a] Mexican father;
III. Those that born abroad, children of Mexican parents by naturalization, of [a] Mexican father by naturalization, or of [a] Mexican mother by naturalization, and
IV. Those that are born on board Mexican vessels or airplanes [aeronaves], either of war or merchant.
B. Mexicans by naturalization are:
I. The foreigners who obtain from the Secretariat of Relations the letter [carta] of naturalization.
II. A foreign woman or man who contracts matrimony with a Mexican man or woman, who holds or establishes their domicile within the national territory and fulfills the other requirements that the law specifies to this effect. (Art. 30) - Spanish
La nacionalidad mexicana se adquiere por nacimiento o por naturalización.
A) Son mexicanos por nacimiento:
I. Los que nazcan en territorio de la República, sea cual fuere la nacionalidad de sus padres.
II. Los que nazcan en el extranjero, hijos de padres mexicanos, de madre mexicana o de padre mexicano;
III. Los que nazcan en el extranjero, hijos de padres mexicanos por naturalización, de padre mexicano por naturalización, o de madre mexicana por naturalización, y
IV. Los que nazcan a bordo de embarcaciones o aeronaves mexicanas, sean de guerra o mercantes.
B) Son mexicanos por naturalización:
I. Los extranjeros que obtengan de la Secretaría de Relaciones carta de naturalización.
II. La mujer o el varón extranjeros que contraigan matrimonio con varón o con mujer mexicanos, que tengan o establezcan su domicilio dentro del territorio nacional y cumplan con los demás requisitos que al efecto señale la ley. (Art. 30)
Citizenship and Nationality
- EnglishEvery person who is or is deemed to be a citizen of India under any of the foregoing provisions of this Part shall, subject to the provisions of any law that may be made by Parliament, continue to be such citizen. (Art. 10)
- Hindiप्रत्येक व्यक्ति, जो इस भाग के पूर्वगामी उपबंधों में से किसी के अधीन भारत का नागरिक है या समझा जाता है, ऐसी विधि के उपबंधों के अधीन रहते हुए, जो संसद द्वारा बनाई जाए, भारत का नागरिक बना रहेगा। (अनुच्छेद 10)
Citizenship and Nationality
- English
(1) A person born outside the United Kingdom and the qualifying territories after commencement shall be a British citizen if at the time of the birth his father or mother—
(a) is a British citizen otherwise than by descent; or
(b) is a British citizen and is serving outside the United Kingdom and the qualifying territories in service to which this paragraph applies, his or her recruitment for that service having taken place in the United Kingdom or a qualifying territory; or
(c) is a British citizen and is serving outside the United Kingdom and the qualifying territories in service under an EU institution, his or her recruitment for that service having taken place in a country which at the time of the recruitment was a member of the European Union.
… (British Nationality Act 1981, Sec. 2)
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
- EnglishNo natural Paraguayan will be deprived of their nationality, but they may voluntarily renounce to it. (Art. 147)
- SpanishNingún paraguayo natural será privado de su nacionalidad, pero podrá renunciar voluntariamente a ella. (Art. 147)