Exploring Dual Citizenship Options: Bahrain's Stance And Opportunities

Bahrain does not permit dual citizenship, and a Bahraini citizen who acquires a foreign citizenship will lose their Bahraini citizenship. However, in 2016, a law was passed allowing citizens to apply to the Ministry of Interior to maintain dual citizenship. This law states that those who acquired dual citizenship by natural means are permitted to keep it, and it has been reported that citizens with UK, US or Canadian citizenship are allowed to maintain it regardless of how it was obtained.

Dual citizenship is not recognised in Bahrain

Dual Citizenship in Bahrain

Nationality Law of 1963

The Bahraini Nationality Law of 16 September 1963 governs citizenship laws in the country. According to this law, dual citizenship is not permitted. A child born in Bahrain after 16 September 1963 to a Bahraini father automatically becomes a Bahraini citizen, provided the child does not have another nationality. Similarly, a child born in Bahrain whose parents are unknown is considered a Bahraini citizen by birth and cannot have or apply for citizenship of another country.

Recent Developments and Exceptions

While dual citizenship is generally not recognised, there have been some changes and exceptions to this rule. In 2014, Law No. 21 amended the 1963 Nationality Act, allowing Bahraini citizens to acquire another nationality with prior approval from the Ministry of the Interior and Cabinet. Following this change, in 2016, Bahrainis could apply to the Ministry of Interior to maintain dual nationality. However, it is not clear who is allowed to keep their dual citizenship, and each scenario is decided on a case-by-case basis.

Additionally, there are some exceptions for foreign women married to Bahraini citizens. A foreign woman who marries a Bahraini man can apply for Bahraini citizenship, but she must renounce any other citizenship. However, in exceptional cases, a woman can apply to keep her original citizenship, although approval is not guaranteed.

Implications of Dual Citizenship

If a Bahraini citizen acquires foreign citizenship, they are required to renounce their Bahraini citizenship. Failure to do so can result in punishments such as fines and removal of Bahraini nationality. Additionally, as mentioned earlier, each case is decided individually, and the Ministry of Interior has the discretion to allow dual nationality in certain scenarios.

In conclusion, while Bahrain does not officially recognise dual citizenship, there have been recent developments and exceptions that provide some flexibility in specific cases. However, the general rule remains that Bahraini citizens who acquire foreign citizenship will lose their Bahraini citizenship.

Foreign women married to Bahraini citizens can keep dual citizenship

Foreign Women Married to Bahraini Citizens and Dual Citizenship

Foreign women who marry Bahraini men can apply for Bahraini citizenship. However, if a Bahraini woman marries a foreign man, she will lose her Bahraini citizenship if she acquires her husband's nationality, although she can apply to retain it. The non-Bahraini husband of a Bahraini woman cannot acquire Bahraini citizenship by marriage.

To apply for Bahraini citizenship, a foreign woman must submit the following documents:

• A completed application form
• A letter to His Majesty the King expressing her wish to become a Bahraini citizen
• A copy of her ID card data
• The original and a copy of her passport or travel document
• The original and a copy of her birth certificate
• The original and a copy of her marriage certificate (if issued in Bahrain); if issued abroad, an "affidavit conjugal" from a Bahraini court must accompany the foreign marriage certificate
• A document containing the ID card data of her husband and any children
• A certificate from the Survey and Land Registration Bureau stating that she owns property in Bahrain
• A health fitness certificate
• A certificate from the Commercial Registration Office stating her trade, if she is a businesswoman
• All education certificates or a letter from the Ministry of Education
• Originals and copies of all passports held, as proof of the continuity of her residency
• An employment certificate stating her job title, salary, and joining date, issued within the last three months
• Two recent photos with a white background, sized 6 cm x 4 cm

The application should be sent to the Directorate of Nationality, Passports, and Residence Affairs. If the application is accepted, the applicant can collect her passport during business hours.

It is important to note that Bahrain does not currently permit dual citizenship. A Bahraini citizen who acquires foreign citizenship will lose their Bahraini citizenship. However, in 2016, Bahrainis could apply to the Ministry of Interior to maintain dual nationality, and each scenario was decided on a case-by-case basis.

Some sources suggest that having dual citizenship in Bahrain is "kinda illegal", although it is not strictly enforced. Additionally, those who had illegally held dual citizenship before November 2016 could apply by February 4, 2017, to maintain both nationalities.

Therefore, while foreign women married to Bahraini citizens can apply for Bahraini citizenship, they should be aware of the restrictions and complexities surrounding dual citizenship in Bahrain.

Since 2016, one can apply to maintain dual citizenship

Dual Citizenship in Bahrain

History of Dual Citizenship in Bahrain

Prior to 2016, Bahrain did not permit dual citizenship. The Bahraini Nationality Law of 16 September 1963 governs citizenship laws in Bahrain and states that a Bahraini citizen who acquires foreign citizenship loses Bahraini citizenship.

Changes in 2016

However, amendments were made in 2016, allowing Bahraini citizens to apply to the Ministry of Interior to maintain dual citizenship with prior approval. This change in law gave citizens the option to declare any additional citizenship to the Ministry of Interior to avoid penalties. Those who were illegally holding dual citizenship before November 2016 had until February 4, 2017, to apply to maintain both nationalities. It was at the discretion of the Interior Ministry to allow dual nationality, with each scenario decided on a case-by-case basis.

Current Penalties for Dual Citizenship

Failing to declare additional citizenship can result in a fine of $27,000 and the removal of Bahraini nationality.

Obtaining Dual Citizenship in Bahrain

While it is possible for foreigners to obtain Bahraini citizenship, it is a challenging process. Bahrain does not offer permanent residency, and the path to citizenship requires a significant time commitment and fulfilment of strict requirements.

Routes to Citizenship

Citizenship by birth, descent, marriage, or naturalisation are the primary routes to obtaining Bahraini citizenship. Citizenship by birth applies to children born in Bahrain to a Bahraini father, while citizenship by descent includes those with a paternal grandfather who is a citizen. Citizenship by marriage is only applicable to women, and men married to Bahraini women are not eligible for citizenship through this route.

Naturalisation Requirements

For naturalisation, candidates must live legally in Bahrain for 25 years, or 15 years for those of Arab origin. Additional requirements include proficiency in Arabic, ownership of property registered in the individual's name, mental competency, sufficient financial means, and good character.

While Bahrain has made strides in recognising dual citizenship since 2016, the process of obtaining citizenship remains rigorous, and penalties for undeclared dual citizenship can be severe.

Obtaining another citizenship results in loss of Bahraini citizenship

Bahrain does not permit dual citizenship. A Bahraini citizen who acquires a foreign citizenship loses their Bahraini citizenship. However, in 2016, a window of opportunity opened for dual citizenship when the Bahraini government allowed citizens to apply to the Ministry of Interior to maintain dual nationality. This was only available to those who had already illegally held dual citizenship before November 2016, and they had to apply by February 4, 2017. After this date, those who continued to hold dual citizenship could be punished with a fine and removal of Bahraini citizenship.

The Bahraini Nationality Law of 16 September 1963 governs citizenship laws in Bahrain and states that the ruler of Bahrain must approve the loss of citizenship, whether voluntary or involuntary. The law also states that involuntary loss of citizenship extends to the person's minor children.

There are some exceptions to the rule that obtaining another citizenship results in the loss of Bahraini citizenship. Foreign women who marry Bahraini men can apply for Bahraini citizenship and may be able to keep their original citizenship, although this is decided on a case-by-case basis. Additionally, some sources suggest that if you have UK, US, or Canadian citizenship, you may be able to keep it alongside Bahraini citizenship.

It is important to note that the enforcement of the ban on dual citizenship may be inconsistent. Some individuals with dual citizenship report that they have not faced any repercussions, while others have been fined or forced to choose between their two nationalities.

The king can grant citizenship to those not qualified

Bahrain does not permit dual citizenship. A Bahraini citizen who acquires a foreign citizenship loses their Bahraini citizenship. However, in 2014, Law No. 21 amended the 1963 Nationality Act, allowing Bahraini citizens to acquire another nationality with prior approval from the Ministry of the Interior and Cabinet. Then, in 2016, Bahrainis could apply to the Ministry of Interior to maintain dual nationality.

The king has the discretion to grant Bahraini citizenship to those otherwise not qualified. His Majesty the Governor can also grant citizenship to an Arab individual who has performed a great service to Bahrain.

The process of obtaining citizenship in Bahrain is a tough task. The country's nationality law governs the citizenship-granting process. The law states that the country does not recognise dual citizenship, with rare exceptions. One such exception is for foreign women married to Bahraini citizens. In this case, a woman can apply to keep her original citizenship, but all such cases are processed individually without a guarantee of approval.

Another exception is for those who were illegally holding a foreign nationality and Bahraini nationality prior to November 2016. These individuals could have applied by February 4, 2017, to maintain both nationalities. It was the discretion of the Interior Ministry to allow dual nationality, and each scenario was decided on a case-by-case basis.

While Bahrain does not permit dual citizenship, it is not heavily enforced. Some individuals with dual citizenship choose to declare their other nationality to the MOI to avoid any issues.

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