Citizenship vs. Nationality

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Citizenship vs.

Nationality
Introduction
• Nationality and citizenship are one of the most misconstrued terms, in the world.
• For a layman, the term nationality works as a substitute for citizenship and vice
versa.
• But in reality, the difference between nationality and citizenship is quite evident,
that we cannot ignore it.
• The nationality of a person, reveals his/her place of birth, i.e. from where he/she
belongs. It defines the belongingness of a person to a particular nation.
• On the contrary, citizenship is granted to an individual by the government of the
country, when he/she complies with the legal formalities.
• It is the status of being a citizen of a country.
Definition of Nationality
• Nationality is the legal status, which represents the country from which an
individual belongs.
• An individual’s nationality denotes, the country where he/she is born and are the
legal citizen.
• The status is acquired by birth, inheritance or naturalization.
• On the basis of constitutional provisions, every state sets the criteria which
determine who can be the nationals of the country.
• It provides the country, rights over the person.
• Further, it provides the person, protection of the nation from other nations.
• Based on international conventions, every sovereign state is entitled to determine
its nationals, as per nationality law.
• One has the right enter or return to the country; they came from.
Definition of Citizenship
• Citizenship is a status acquired by becoming a registered member of the state by
law.
• Any person can become a member of the state by satisfying the legal requirements
of the respective country.
• In simple terms, the virtue of being a citizen of the country is called citizenship.
• By inheritance, marriage, birth, naturalization and registration are the ways to
become a recognized citizen of the country.
• Every state grants some legal rights and privileges to its citizens, and they are also
bound to follow the rules and regulations framed by the government of the
respective country.
• Once the person becomes a citizen of the state, he has the right to vote, work,
reside, pay taxes and take an active part in the country.
• Every person is a citizen of the country where he/she is born, but to become a
citizen of some other country, one needs to apply for it.

Conclusion
• Nationality, as the name suggests, is something in connection with the nation,
which a person obtains by birth and is innate.
• On the other hand, citizenship is a bit different, which requires a person to fulfill
the legal formalities to become a recognized member of the state.
• Further, nationality is a subject of international dealings while citizenship is a
matter of country’s internal political life.
• To acquire full citizenship, nationality is an essential condition but not the only
condition to be fulfilled.
• It allows a person full civil and social rights along with political rights.
• The person who are national but they are not granted full rights of the country are
known as a second-class citizen.

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