Vanuatu 1980 Constitution (reviewed 2013)

CHAPTER 3. CITIZENSHIP

9. AUTOMATIC CITIZENS

On the Day of Independence the following persons shall automatically become citizens of Vanuatu-

1. a person who has or had four grandparents who belong to a tribe or community indigenous to Vanuatu; and
2. a person of ni-Vanuatu ancestry who has no citizenship, nationality or the status of an optant.

10. ENTITLEMENT TO CITIZENSHIP

Every person who on the Day of Independence is a person of ni-Vanuatu ancestry and has the nationality or citizenship of a foreign state or the status of an optant shall become a citizen of Vanuatu if he makes an application, or an application is made on his behalf by his parent or lawful guardian.

11. PERSONS BORN AFTER DAY OF INDEPENDENCE

Anyone born after the Day of Independence, whether in Vanuatu or abroad, shall become a citizen of Vanuatu if at least one of his parents is a citizen of Vanuatu.

12. NATURALISATION

A national of a foreign state or a stateless person may apply to be naturalised as a citizen of Vanuatu if he has lived continuously in Vanuatu for at least 10 years immediately before the date of the application.

Parliament may prescribe further conditions of the eligibility to apply for naturalisation and shall provide for the machinery to review and decide on applications for naturalisation.

13. RECOGNITION OF DUAL CITIZENSHIP

1. The Republic of Vanuatu recognises dual citizenship.
2. A person who is a citizen of Vanuatu or of a state other than Vanuatu may be granted dual citizenship.
3. For the purposes of protecting the national sovereignty of Vanuatu, a holder of dual citizenship must not:
   1. hold or serve in any public office; and
   2. be involved in Vanuatu politics; and
   3. fund activities that would cause political instability in Vanuatu; and
   4. affiliate with or form any political parties in Vanuatu;
   5. stand as a candidate and vote at any of the following elections:
      1. general election for Members to Parliament; and
      2. provincial election for members to a Provincial Government Council; and
      3. municipal election for members to a Municipal Council.
4. To avoid doubt, subarticle (3) does not apply to an indigenous citizen or a person who has gained Vanuatu citizenship by naturalisation, who hold dual citizenship.
5. Parliament may prescribe:
   1. the requirements to be met by categories of persons applying for dual citizenship; or
   2. the privileges to be accorded to any category of persons who are holders of dual citizenship.

14. FURTHER PROVISION FOR CITIZENSHIP

Parliament may make provision for the acquisition of citizenship of Vanuatu by persons not covered in the preceding Articles of this Chapter and may make provision for the deprivation and renunciation of citizenship of Vanuatu.