Senegal - Apply for Dual Citizenship

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Procedure

1.Senegalese citizenship may be obtained by birth as detailed below:-

• Any person born in Senegal to a person born in the country may apply for citizenship by birth; and a child born to a person staying in Senegal, involved in the Senegalese society and has adopted the Senegalese culture and thus treated as Senegalese by society and authority in the area of residence;
• Also a child found in Senegal whose parents are unknown acquires Senegalese citizenship by birth however if his / her parents are identified and are foreign nationals and it is found out that the parents nationality is entitled to the child, the child looses Senegal citizenship;

2.Further a person can acquire citizenship and is acquired in the following ways:-

• Citizenship by marriage: In this case, citizenship is acquires by marrying a Senegalese. A foreign woman who marries a Senegalese husband acquires citizenship on the day that marriage is celebrated and legally registered by the necessary authority;
• Citizenship through filiations: In this case, a legitimate child of a Senegalese mother, born to a foreign father and an illegitimate child of a Senegalese and a foreign nation may obtain citizenship by filiations. This is down as below:-
  • The child is required to make a declaration after reaching the recognized age of twenty five (25) years;
  • Applicants in the country make declarations before the President of the Departmental Court in the jurisdiction upon request where as applicants abroad make declarations before Senegalese consular agents in the country of residence;
  • After making a declaration, the President of the Departmental Court or of the consular agents depending on where declaration is made writes a request for registration of declaration to the Ministry of Justice;
  • Upon registration of declaration, the person acquires citizenship;
• Citizenship by decision of government / naturalization: In this case a foreigner applies Senegalese citizenship and if he / she fulfills all requirements, citizenship is granted by a decree. In this case:-
  • The person submits application together with necessary documents to the citizenship issuing authority;
  • When application is received, documents are assessed to find out if they meet all the requirements they are forwarded to court for a final decision;
  • The court sets a date for the court hearing in which decision is made by order of decree;

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Required Documents

• Personal identification documents
• Passport photos
• Birth certificate
• Marriage certificates (applicants for citizenship by marriage)
• Proof of residence in Sudan (like utility bills, residence certificate)
• Proof of parenthood / guardianship (applications for minors / unsound mind applicants)
• Health certificates (applicants for naturalization)
• Police clearance certificate (applicants for naturalization)
• Proof of residence in Senegal (applicants for naturalization)

Office Locations & Contacts

Ministry of Justice

Dakar

Building Administratif

BP 4030

Eligibility

Eligibility varies basing on the type of citizenship being applied for as below:-

1.Citizenship by Birth: A child born in Senegal to Senegal citizens or to unknown parents or to parents whose citizenship is not known;

2.Citizenship by Descent: A child born to a Senegalese father and a child born to a Senegalese mother whose father is not known without considering where he / she is born;

3.Citizenship by Marriage: a foreign woman who marries a Senegalese

4.Citizenship by Naturalization: a permanent resident who has resided in the country for at least ten (10) years;

Fees

Explain the fees structure which is required for obtaining the certificate/document.

Validity

As long as citizenship is not renounced voluntarily or revoked involuntarily

Documents to Use

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Sample Documents

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Processing Time

Up to one (1) year.

Related Videos

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Instructions

1.Applicants must be ready to respect all restrictions attached to the citizenship required;

2.Applicants must be ready to abide by rules and regulations of the country;

3.Children born in Senegal to foreign nationals who automatically acquire their parents foreign nationality cannot acquire Senegalese citizenship;

4.Children born in the country to foreign diplomatic representatives can acquire citizenship by birth;

5.An person who does not agree to citizenship acquired, the person should submit his objection within the given period of time;

6.Applicants should know that Government can also oppose acquisition of citizenship;

7.An applicants for citizenship by marriage must ensure that the marriage certificate is registered by the marriage registry;

8.An applicant for citizenship by marriage whose marriage was celebrated abroad must ensure that certificate is registered by the embassy / consulate office in the foreign country where marriage was celebrated;

9.A foreign woman who marries a Senegal but wishes to retain her original citizenship can decline Senegalese citizenship prior to the marriage celebrations;

10.An applicant who application for naturalization is rejected cannot appeal;

11.Applicants for naturalization must be residing in Senegal at the time of applying;

12.An applicant for naturalization must have lived in country for a continuous period of at least ten (10) years;

13.A foreign man who marries a Senegalese woman can apply for citizenship by naturalization;

14.The residence period required for naturalization may be reduced to five (5) years for a man married to a Senegalese woman;

15.The residence period may also be reduced in cases of applicant who have rendered important services or whose naturalization is useful to the country;

16.Applicants for naturalization must be ready to permanently reside in Senegal;

17.Applicants for naturalization must be of good character and good health;

18.Applications for naturalization are processed at a prescribed fee;

19.Application that do not receive response within a year must be considered rejected

Required Information

1.Name and address of applicant

2.Age of applicant

3.Original citizenship

4.Type of nationality being applied for

5.Address of applicant in Senegal (applicants for naturalization)

6.Country of origin

Need for the Document

Citizenship is the process of being a citizen of a given country. Senegal citizenship refers to being a national of Senegal. Senegal recognizes for processes of acquiring its citizenship namely:- birth, descent, marriage and naturalization; Senegal does not recognize dual nationality therefore is a national acquires foreign citizenship, he / she must renounce Senegal citizenship and if a foreigner wishes to acquire Senegal citizenship, he / she must be ready to renounce his / her original nationality. Issues relating to the Senegal citizenship are handled by the Ministry of Justice.

Information which might help

1.If a Senegalese acquires foreign citizenship, his / her Senegalese citizenship is not revoked but his foreign citizenship shall not be recognized until the person renounces Senegalese citizenship;

2.Also a legitimate child of a Senegalese father, a legitimate child of a Senegalese mother whose father is not known or if the fathers nationality is not known can also acquire Senegalese citizenship

3.Applicants must note that after naturalization, a person cannot be assigned an elective or ministerial office / duty or any other public service for which its only Senegalese are appointed until ten (10) years have passed;

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

1. A person who acquires citizenship enjoys the right to stay in the country and move freely;
2. Naturalization encourages investment from foreigners;

External Links

http://www.multiplecitizenship.com/wscl/ws_SENEGAL.html

http://www.refworld.org/docid/469cd69a8.html

http://www.bpb.de/gesellschaft/migration/laenderprofile/58595/citizenship-irregular-migration

http://www.senegal.alloexpat.com/senegal_legislation_duty_free_business_etiquette.php

Others

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