Sri Lankan nationality law

Last updated

Citizenship Act
Coat of arms of Ceylon (1952-1972).svg
Parliament of Ceylon
Citation No. 18 of 1948
Territorial extent Sri Lanka
Enacted by 1st Parliament of Ceylon
Commenced15 November 1948
Status: Amended

Sri Lankan nationality law details the conditions in which a person is a national of Sri Lanka. The primary law governing nationality regulations is the Ceylon Citizenship Act, which came into force on 15 November 1948.

Contents

Any person born in Sri Lanka to a Sri Lankan parent is automatically a citizen by descent. Individuals born outside the country to a Sri Lankan parent are subject to an additional registration requirement at a Sri Lankan diplomatic mission. Foreign nationals who have Sri Lankan ancestry or are married to a Sri Lankan spouse may acquire citizenship by registration. Any other foreigner who holds a residence visa valid for at least five years and have been admitted into the Resident Guest Scheme by the government may also acquire citizenship by registration.

Sri Lanka was previously a colony of the British Empire and local residents were British subjects. Although Sri Lanka gained independence in 1948 and Sri Lankans no longer hold British nationality, they continue to have favoured status when residing in the United Kingdom; as Commonwealth citizens, Sri Lankans are eligible to vote in UK elections and serve in public office there.

Acquisition and loss of citizenship

All persons born in Sri Lanka receive citizenship by descent if at least one parent is a citizen. Children born overseas to a Sri Lankan parent may acquire citizenship by descent if they are registered at a Sri Lankan diplomatic mission. Foreign nationals with Sri Lankan ancestry or are married to a Sri Lankan spouse may become citizens by registration. All other foreigners who hold a residence visa valid for at least five years and have been accepted by the government into the Resident Guest Scheme may also acquire citizenship by registration. [1]

Sri Lankan citizenship can be voluntarily relinquished by making a declaration of renunciation. Sri Lankan citizens who become citizens of another country automatically have their citizenship revoked unless they first obtain government permission allowing them to retain Sri Lankan citizenship. Otherwise, former Sri Lankans may subsequently apply for citizenship resumption. Dual citizens are prohibited from standing for office in Parliament and are ineligible to become President. [2]

Related Research Articles

<i>Jus soli</i> Birthright of anyone born in the territory of a state to nationality or citizenship

Jus soli, commonly referred to as birthright citizenship, is the right to acquire nationality or citizenship by being born within the territory of a state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian nationality law</span> History and regulations of Indian citizenship

Indian nationality law details the conditions by which a person holds Indian nationality. The two primary pieces of legislation governing these requirements are the Constitution of India and the Citizenship Act, 1955.

Nationality law is the law of a sovereign state, and of each of its jurisdictions, that defines the legal manner in which a national identity is acquired and how it may be lost. In international law, the legal means to acquire nationality and formal membership in a nation are separated from the relationship between a national and the nation, known as citizenship. Some nations domestically use the terms interchangeably, though by the 20th century, nationality had commonly come to mean the status of belonging to a particular nation with no regard to the type of governance which established a relationship between the nation and its people. In law, nationality describes the relationship of a national to the state under international law and citizenship describes the relationship of a citizen within the state under domestic statutes. Different regulatory agencies monitor legal compliance for nationality and citizenship. A person in a country of which he or she is not a national is generally regarded by that country as a foreigner or alien. A person who has no recognised nationality to any jurisdiction is regarded as stateless.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irish nationality law</span> History and regulations of Irish citizenship

The primary law governing nationality of the Republic of Ireland is the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956, which came into force on 17 July 1956. Ireland is a member state of the European Union (EU) and all Irish nationals are EU citizens. They enjoy free movement rights in EU and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries and may vote in elections to the European Parliament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malaysian nationality law</span> History and regulations of Malaysian citizenship


Malaysian nationality law details the conditions by which a person is a national of Malaysia. The primary law governing nationality requirements is the Constitution of Malaysia, which came into force on 27 August 1957.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maltese nationality law</span> History and regulations of Maltese citizenship

Maltese nationality law details the conditions by which a person is a national of Malta. The primary law governing nationality regulations is the Maltese Citizenship Act, which came into force on 21 September 1964. Malta is a member state of the European Union (EU) and all Maltese nationals are EU citizens. They have automatic and permanent permission to live and work in any EU or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) country and may vote in elections to the European Parliament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Czech nationality law</span>

The citizenship law of the Czech Republic is based on the principles of jus sanguinis or "right by blood". In other words, descent from a Czech parent is the primary method of acquiring Czech citizenship. Birth on Czech territory without a Czech parent is in itself insufficient for the conferral of Czech citizenship. Every Czech citizen is also a citizen of the European Union. The law came into effect on 1 January 1993, the date of the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, and has been amended in 1993, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2002, 2003, and 2005. Since 1 January 2014, multiple citizenship under Czech law is allowed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slovenian nationality law</span>

Slovenian nationality law is based primarily on the principles of jus sanguinis, in that descent from a Slovenian parent is the primary basis for acquisition of Slovenian citizenship. However, although children born to foreign parents in Slovenia do not acquire Slovenian citizenship on the basis of birthplace, place of birth is relevant for determining whether the child of Slovenian parents acquires citizenship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Japanese nationality law</span> History and regulations of Japanese citizenship

Japanese Nationality Law details the conditions by which a person holds nationality of Japan. The primary law governing nationality regulations is the 1950 Nationality Act.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turkish nationality law</span> Law of nationality in Turkey

Turkish nationality law is based primarily on the principle of jus sanguinis. Children who are born to a Turkish mother or a Turkish father are Turkish citizens from birth. The intention to renounce Turkish citizenship is submitted in Turkey by a petition to the highest administrative official in the concerned person's place of residence, and when overseas to the Turkish consulate. Documents processed by these authorities are forwarded to the Ministry of Interior (Turkey) for appropriate action.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Singaporean nationality law</span> History and regulations of Singaporean citizenship

Singaporean nationality law details the conditions by which a person holds Singapore nationality. The primary law governing nationality requirements is the Constitution of Singapore, which came into force on 9 August 1965.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taiwanese nationality law</span> History and regulations of Taiwanese nationality

Taiwanese nationality law details the conditions in which a person is a national of the Republic of China (Taiwan). The Nationality Act is based on the principle of jus sanguinis, children born to at least one Taiwanese parent are automatically nationals at birth. Foreign nationals with permanent residency in Taiwan may naturalize after continuously living in the country for at least five(5) years. Certain foreign immediate family members of Taiwanese nationals may naturalize after continuously living in the country for at least three(3) years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Estonian nationality law</span> History and regulations of Estonian citizenship

Estonian citizenship law details the conditions by which a person is a citizen of Estonia. The primary law currently governing these requirements is the Citizenship Act, which came into force on 1 April 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russian citizenship law</span> History and regulations of Russian citizenship

Russian citizenship law details the conditions by which a person holds citizenship of Russia. The primary law governing citizenship requirements is the federal law "On Citizenship of the Russian Federation", which came into force on 1 July 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Croatian nationality law</span> History and regulations of Croatian citizenship

The Croatian nationality law dates back from June 26, 1991, with amendments on May 8, 1992, October 28, 2011, and January 1, 2020, and an interpretation of the Constitutional Court in 1993. It is based upon the Constitution of Croatia. It is mainly based on jus sanguinis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British nationality law</span> History and regulations of British citizenship

The primary law governing nationality in the United Kingdom is the British Nationality Act 1981, which came into force on 1 January 1983. Regulations apply to the British Islands, which include the UK itself and the Crown dependencies, and the 14 British Overseas Territories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pakistani nationality law</span> History and regulations of Pakistani citizenship

Pakistani nationality law details the conditions by which a person holds Pakistani nationality. The primary law governing nationality regulations is the Pakistan Citizenship Act, 1951, which came into force on 13 April 1951. With few exceptions, almost all individuals born in the country are automatically citizens at birth. Foreign nationals may naturalise as Pakistani citizens after residing in the country for at least five years and showing proficiency in at least one vernacular language of Pakistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Overseas Citizenship of India</span> Category of Indian nationality law

Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) is a form of permanent residency available to people of Indian origin and their spouses which allows them to live and work in India indefinitely. Despite its name, OCI is not recognized as citizenship by the Republic of India and by the majority of nations worldwide and it does not grant the right to vote in Indian elections or hold public office. The Indian government can revoke OCI status in a wide variety of circumstances. In addition, the OCI card is only valid with a valid foreign passport. As of 2020, there are 6 million holders of OCI cards among the Indian Overseas diaspora.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albanian nationality law</span> History and regulations of Albanian citizenship

Albanian nationality law is based on a mixture of the principles of Jus sanguinis and Jus soli. In other words, both place of birth and Albanian parentage are relevant for determining whether a person is an Albanian citizen. It is regulated by the "Law on Albanian Citizenship". In some circumstances citizenship is granted to children born in Albania to non-Albanian parents. This is not the case where parents are temporary or short-term visitors. As suggested by the United Nations and Council of Europe, all efforts are made in order to avoid statelessness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emirati nationality law</span> History and regulations of Emirati citizenship

Emirati nationality law governs citizenship eligibility in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The law is primarily jus sanguinis. Foreigners may be naturalized and granted citizenship. Gulf Cooperation Council citizens are allowed to live in the UAE without restriction and have the right of freedom of movement. However, for a period of time, the UAE and Gulf countries banned Qatari citizens from living in the UAE and Gulf countries, with the exception of Qatari spouses.

References

Citations

Sources

Publications

  • Ganeshathasan, Luwie; Welikala, Asanga (May 2017). Report on Citizenship Law: Sri Lanka (Report). European University Institute. hdl: 1814/46448 .