Paraguayan nationality law is based on the principle of
Jus soli
''Jus soli'' ( , , ; meaning "right of soil"), commonly referred to as birthright citizenship, is the right of anyone born in the territory of a state to nationality or citizenship.
''Jus soli'' was part of the English common law, in cont ...
. The nationality law is based on the Chapter 3 of the
Paraguayan Constitution of 1992. The legal means to acquire
nationality
Nationality is a legal identification of a person in international law, establishing the person as a subject, a ''national'', of a sovereign state. It affords the state jurisdiction over the person and affords the person the protection of t ...
, formal membership in a nation, differ from the relationship of rights and obligations between a national and the nation, known as
citizenship
Citizenship is a "relationship between an individual and a state to which the individual owes allegiance and in turn is entitled to its protection".
Each state determines the conditions under which it will recognize persons as its citizens, and ...
.
Birth in Paraguay
Any person born in
Paraguay
Paraguay (; ), officially the Republic of Paraguay ( es, República del Paraguay, links=no; gn, Tavakuairetã Paraguái, links=si), is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to t ...
acquires Paraguayan nationality at birth. The only exception applies to children of persons in the service of a foreign government (like foreign diplomats).
Naturalisation
Foreigners may apply for Paraguayan nationality if they meet the following criteria:
*being older than 18 years old.
*permanent resident in Paraguay for at least 3 years.
*having a good behavior following the law.
Dual Nationality
Dual nationality is permitted under the constitution of Paraguay on a reciprocity basis, meaning that unless Paraguay has a bilateral agreement with another nation, that other nationality is not permitted. As of 2022, the only countries that have a reciprocity agreement in regards to dual nationality with Paraguay are Spain and Italy.
Loss of nationality
In Paraguay, there is a distinction for loss of nationality between nationals born in Paraguay and those who have been naturalised. In the latter category, naturalising in another country or being expatriated from the country for more than three years without permission, results in loss of nationality, as provided in Article 150 of the National Constitution of Paraguay,
[https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Paraguay_2011.pdf ] and proceedings thereunder must be instituted by an individual or an agency, for instance, the Migration department. Paraguay does not accept dual nationality of naturalised persons.
References
Citations
Bibliography
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External links
Direccion General de Migraciones
{{Nationality laws
Nationality law
Law of Paraguay
Immigration to Paraguay