Renunciation of Citizenship
Voluntary termination of a country's citizenship, sometimes required when acquiring the citizenship of another state.
Renunciation of citizenship is a voluntary procedure for ending a person's legal bond with a state. People turn to it for various reasons, including when the law of the new country or of the former country of citizenship does not allow holding several citizenships at once.
The renunciation procedure is governed by law and usually involves submitting an application that is then reviewed by the competent authorities. In a number of states renunciation is not possible until the person holds another citizenship, so that they do not end up stateless.
Renunciation is connected with the topics of dual and second citizenship: countries that do not recognise multiple citizenship may require giving up the previous one upon naturalisation. The consequences of such a step — for inheritance, residence or travel, for example — depend on the law of both countries.
| What it is | Voluntary termination of citizenship upon application |
| Who it concerns | Those whose country rejects multiple citizenship |
| Key condition | Having or being guaranteed another citizenship |
| Not to be confused with | Deprivation of citizenship by the authorities |
| Role in investment migration | A possible naturalization requirement in some countries |
How it works in practice
- The need to renounce is established at the start: a lawyer checks the laws of the current citizenship country and of the new status country.
- The application is filed with the competent authority of the citizenship country; proof of having or being guaranteed another citizenship is usually required.
- Outstanding obligations are checked — tax, military, judicial; their presence can block the exit.
- A document confirming termination of citizenship is issued and, where needed, presented in the country of naturalization.
- Most investment migration countries do not require renunciation — the issue more often arises on the side of the country of origin.
Common pitfalls
- ! Renouncing before actually receiving the new citizenship risks statelessness; most countries demand proof for a reason.
- ! Outstanding obligations to the country — from taxes to military registration — can halt the procedure at the final stage.
- ! Renunciation can be hard to reverse: reinstatement of citizenship is not available everywhere and is not guaranteed.
- ! The consequences go beyond the passport: inheritance, real estate, pensions and entry to the former country become governed differently.
“Never give up the old citizenship before the new passport is physically in your hands — otherwise you can end up with neither. And keep the release certificate forever; you will be asked for it again.”
Sergey Bolotin — Head of LegalFAQ
Do you always have to give up your previous citizenship when acquiring a new one?
No. It depends on whether both countries recognise multiple citizenship. Some states allow several citizenships, others require renunciation.
Can a person become stateless after renouncing citizenship?
Many countries try to prevent this and allow renunciation only if another citizenship is held, but the rules vary by jurisdiction.
Can citizenship be restored after renunciation?
Some countries have reinstatement procedures, but they are neither automatic nor guaranteed. The possibility is checked before renouncing, not after.
What happens to the children's citizenship when a parent renounces?
As a rule, children's citizenship is a separate matter and does not end automatically. In a number of countries renouncing on behalf of minors requires special conditions and consents.
Which obligations must be settled before renouncing?
Tax debts, military duties and unfulfilled court judgments are usually checked. The exact list is set by the law of the citizenship country.
What if the country of origin does not allow exit from citizenship at all?
In some states exit is heavily restricted or practically impossible. In such cases lawyers assess the legal consequences in both countries and choose a permissible strategy — there is no universal solution.