Nationality Principles

Sociology | Mercantile Law | International Law | International Relations

DISTINGUISHING THE INTER-REATED CONCEPTS OF NATIONALITY, DOMICILA & CITIZENSHIP

Nationality
Nationality is membership of a man with an independent community.

Domicile
Domicile denotes the residence of a person thus; nationality can be acquired via domicile in the legally prescribed way.

Citizenship
Citizenship is something different that denotes the relationship person and the state law. Citizens possess full political rights unlike nationals. All citizens may possess the nationality of a particular state but not all the nationals are citizens of that state.

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES FOR DETERMINING NATIONALITY
There are two basic principles that have been serving as basis for a long time:

A. JUS SANGUINIS
In accordance with this principle, citizenship of a person is determined in accordance with the citizenship of his/her parents.

B. JUS SOLI
Under this rule, it is the place of birth which plays role in determining the citizenship. A child born on a particular soil is considered as that soil’s child.