Thursday 16 January 2014

Citizenship

Citizenship indicates the link between a person and a state or a connection of states. It is usually identical with the term nationality though the latter term may also talk about ethnic associations. Possession of citizenship is usually related with the right to work and live in a country and to take part in political life. A person who does not have citizenship in any state is said to be stateless.

Nationality is frequently used as a synonym for citizenship in English – especially in international law – even though the term is sometimes understood as indicating a person's membership of a nation. In some countries for instance the United States and the United Kingdom, "nationality" and "citizenship" have different meanings, and it is likely to be a national of the country but not a citizen.

Factors determining citizenship:
  • Parents are citizens
  • Born within a country
  • Marriage to a citizen
  • Naturalization