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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) A person is a citizen by birth if on the day of the person’s birth, whether or not the person is born in Kenya, either the mother or father of the person is a citizen.
(2) Clause (1) applies equally to a person born before the effective date, whether or not the person was born in Kenya, if either the mother or father of the person is or was a citizen.
(3) Parliament may enact legislation limiting the effect of clauses (1) and (2) on the descendents of Kenyan citizens who are born outside Kenya.
(4) A child found in Kenya who is, or appears to be, less than eight years of age, and whose nationality and parents are not known, is presumed to be a citizen by birth.
(5) A person who is a Kenyan citizen by birth and who has ceased to be a Kenyan citizen because the person acquired citizenship of another country, is entitled on application to regain Kenyan citizenship. (Art. 14) - Swahili(1) Mtu ni raia kwa kuzaliwa ikiwa siku ya kuzaliwa mtu huyo, iwe mtu huyo amezaliwa Kenya au la, mama au baba wa mtu huyo ni raia.
(2) Ibara ya (1) inatumika sawa kwa mtu aliyezaliwa kabla ya tarehe ya utekelezaji, iwe mtu huyo alizaliwa Kenya au la, ikiwa mama au baba wa mtu huyo ni raia au alikuwa raia.
(3) Bunge linaweza kutunga sheria ili kuweka mipaka ya taathira ya ibara ya (1) na ya (2) kwa vizazi vya raia wa Kenya ambao wamezaliwa nje ya Kenya.
(4) Mtoto aliyepatikana nchini Kenya ambaye, au anaonekana kuwa na umri chini ya miaka minane, na ambaye utaifa na wazazi hawajulikani, anachukuliwa kuwa ni raia kwa kuzaliwa.
(5) Mtu ambaye ni raia wa Kenya kwa kuzaliwa na ameacha kuwa raia wa Kenya kwa sababu mtu huyo alipata uraia wa nchi nyingine, ana haki ya kutuma maombi ya kupata uraia wa Kenya. (Kifungu cha 14)
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
- 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. A citizen of the Russian Federation may have citizenship of a foreign state (dual citizenship) in accordance with federal law or an international treaty of the Russian Federation.
2. The possession of foreign citizenship by a citizen of the Russian Federation shall not diminish his (her) rights and freedoms and shall not release him from obligations stipulated for Russian citizenship, unless otherwise specified by federal law or an international treaty of the Russian Federation.
… (Art. 62) - Russian1. Гражданин Российской Федерации может иметь гражданство иностранного государства (двойное гражданство) в соответствии с федеральным законом или международным договором Российской Федерации.
2. Наличие у гражданина Российской Федерации гражданства иностранного государства не умаляет его прав и свобод и не освобождает от обязанностей, вытекающих из российского гражданства, если иное не предусмотрено федеральным законом или международным договором Российской Федерации.
... (Статья 62)
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
- EnglishNothing in the foregoing provisions of this Part shall derogate from the power of Parliament to make any provision with respect to the acquisition and termination of citizenship and all other matters relating to citizenship. (Art. 11)
- Hindiइस भाग के पूर्वगामी उपबंधों की कोई बात नागरिकता के अर्जन और समाप्ति के तथा नागरिकता से संबंधित अन्य सभी विषयों के संबंध में उपबंध करने की संसद की शक्ति का अल्पीकरण नहीं करेगी। (अनुच्छेद 11)
Citizenship and Nationality
- English(1) If while a person is a minor an application is made for his registration as a British citizen, the Secretary of State may, if he thinks fit, cause him to be registered as such a citizen.
(2) A person born outside the United Kingdom and the qualifying territories shall be entitled, on an application for his registration as a British citizen made while he is a minor, to be registered as such a citizen if the requirements specified in subsection (3) or, in the case of a person born stateless, the requirements specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of that subsection, are fulfilled in the case of either that person’s father or his mother (“the parent in question”).
(3) The requirements referred to in subsection (2) are—
(a) that the parent in question was a British citizen by descent at the time of the birth; and
(b)that the father or mother of the parent in question—
(i) was a British citizen otherwise than by descent at the time of the birth of the parent in question; or
(ii) became a British citizen otherwise than by descent at commencement, or would have become such a citizen otherwise than by descent at commencement but for his or her death; and
(c) that, as regards some period of three years ending with a date not later than the date of the birth—
(i) the parent in question was in the United Kingdom or a qualifying territory at the beginning of that period; and
(ii) the number of days on which the parent in question was absent from the United Kingdom and the qualifying territories in that period does not exceed 270.
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(5) A person born outside the United Kingdom and the qualifying territories shall be entitled, on an application for his registration as a British citizen made while he is a minor, to be registered as such a citizen if the following requirements are satisfied, namely—
(a) that at the time of that person’s birth his father or mother was a British citizen by descent; and
(b) subject to subsection (6), that that person and his father and mother were in the United Kingdom or a qualifying territory at the beginning of the period of three years ending with the date of the application and that, in the case of each of them, the number of days on which the person in question was absent from the United Kingdom and the qualifying territories in that period does not exceed 270; and
(c) subject to subsection (6), that the consent of his father and mother to the registration has been signified in the prescribed manner.
(6) In the case of an application under subsection (5) for the registration of a person as a British citizen—
(a) if his father or mother died, or their marriage or civil partnership was terminated, on or before the date of the application, or his father and mother were legally separated on that date, the references to his father and mother in paragraph (b) of that subsection shall be read either as references to his father or as references to his mother; and
(b) if his father or mother died on or before that date, the reference to his father and mother in paragraph (c) of that subsection shall be read as a reference to either of them.
(British Nationality Act 1981, Sec. 3)3
Citizenship and Nationality
- EnglishNo citizen shall be deprived of their nationality, … (Art.25)
- Arabicيحجّر سحب الجنسيّة التونسية من أيّ مواطن ... (الفصل 25)
- FrenchAucun citoyen ne peut être déchu de la nationalité tunisienne, ... (Art. 25)
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)