Originating in colonial times, birthright citizenship is founded on the idea of “Jus Soli,” or the right to land. It implies that people can obtain citizenship at birth regardless of the nationality of their parents. However, some nations provide citizenship in accordance with the “Jus Sanguinis” principle, which translates to “right of blood.”
In this context, we will look at the birthright citizenship map of nations and discuss both restricted and unrestricted birthright citizenship. This will help you visualize what to anticipate.
Citizenship by Birthright: What is it?
When settlers born in the United States were regarded as subjects of the King of England during colonial times, birthright citizenship started to take shape. After the Civil War, the 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868, laying the contemporary legal basis for birthright citizenship in the United States. It sought to stop statelessness and grant citizenship to former slaves and their relatives.
33 nations currently permit unrestricted birthright citizenship, including the US. However, other nations offer limited birthright citizenship, meaning that obtaining citizenship requires fulfilling specific conditions.
Some countries, for example, mandate that at least one parent live there lawfully for a predetermined amount of time. In order to prevent statelessness, others may award citizenship to children if the mother is alone or if her home country does not recognize maternal citizenship.
Citizenships with limited birthrights
Birthright citizenship is limited in certain nations. This implies that citizenship is not a given for everyone born in the nation. In a similar vein, not all people who have ancestors from a different country are eligible to claim citizenship. In this case, limitations are imposed according to generation, parents’ nationality, and immigration status.
The fear of illegal immigration is one of the causes of this. Birth tourism is the practice of people traveling to a country solely to give birth there. Even if they don’t intend to live there, their child can obtain citizenship in this way. Many nations have implemented additional regulations, such as requiring at least one parent to be a citizen or lawful resident, in order to stop this.
Citizenship by Birthright Without Restrictions
Anyone born in the nation, regardless of their parents’ origins, is granted unconditional or unrestricted birthright citizenship in Jus Soli.
Accordingly, based on the Jus Sanguinis principle, you can claim citizenship regardless of where you live if your descendants come from a different country.
Portugal
Portugal offers conditional citizenship by birthright, meaning that not every child born in the country automatically becomes a Portuguese citizen. To acquire EU citizenship through this route, the child must be born in Portugal, and at least one parent must either be Portuguese or legally reside in the country. Proof of the parent’s residency or Portuguese nationality is essential in such cases.
Portugal offers conditional citizenship by birthright, requiring the child to be born in Portugal with at least one parent who is Portuguese or a legal resident. Proof of the parent’s status is essential. In addition, the Portugal Citizenship by Investment program provides a pathway to citizenship for non-EU nationals who make qualifying investments. After five years of residency through this route, applicants may become eligible for Portuguese citizenship.
There are also specific situations where Portuguese citizenship can be granted at a later stage. For instance, if the child is stateless, they may be eligible to apply. Additionally, if one of the parents has lived in Portugal without working in their home country for at least five years, this may serve as grounds for the child’s application. The same applies if either parent holds a valid five-year residence permit. A child who completes primary education in Portugal may also qualify for citizenship. Furthermore, if one of the parents acquires Portuguese citizenship after the child’s birth and fulfills the necessary requirements, the child may also be granted citizenship as a result.
Spain
Spain is one of the countries that recognizes Jus Sanguinis, or the right of blood, as a basis for citizenship by birthright. This principle means that a child can obtain Spanish citizenship if certain conditions are met, regardless of where they are born. If at least one parent is a Spanish citizen, the child is eligible to claim Spanish citizenship, even if the family resides outside of Spain.
Another scenario where Spanish citizenship may be granted is when the child is considered stateless. This can occur if the parents themselves are stateless, or if their country of origin does not recognize the child’s nationality due to being born abroad. In such cases, Spanish law provides a path to citizenship to protect the child’s right to a nationality.
Greece
A child may be eligible for Greek citizenship by birthright under certain conditions. If either the mother or father is a Greek citizen, the child automatically qualifies for citizenship, regardless of the place of birth. Additionally, if one of the parents has legally resided in Greece for at least five years, the child may also have the right to acquire Greek citizenship.
Another pathway exists when the child has completed elementary education in Greece. In this case, if one of the parents has also lived in the country for a minimum of five years, the child becomes eligible to apply for citizenship. These provisions aim to promote integration and recognize strong personal or familial ties to Greece.
This article is sourced from http://getgoldenvisa.com/