Angolan Nationals: Understanding Citizenship And Nationality

An Angolan national is a person who holds Angolan nationality. Angolan nationality is typically obtained by birth in Angola or abroad to parents with Angolan nationality. It can also be granted to persons with an affiliation to the country or to permanent residents who have lived in the country for a given period of time through naturalisation.

The legal means to acquire Angolan nationality differ from the domestic relationship of rights and obligations between a national and the nation, known as citizenship.

Angolan nationality law

Angolan nationality is typically obtained under the principle of jus sanguinis, i.e. by birth in Angola or abroad to parents with Angolan nationality. It can also be granted to persons with an affiliation to the country, or to a permanent resident who has lived in the country for a given period of time through naturalization.

Obtaining Angolan nationality is done through birth or naturalization. Angolan law makes a distinction between attribution and acquisition of nationality. Attribution is automatic and from birth, whereas acquisition is obtained later and is effective into the future.

For births, registration in the Civil Registry Office is required, and proof of the parents' nationality must be provided. In the case of a birth abroad, a declaration made before consular officials may also be required.

Angolan nationality may be acquired through application for persons who have reached the age of majority and have legal capacity. They must provide documentation to confirm identity, economic status, and lack of a serious criminal record, as well as evidence of satisfactory examinations by the Citizenship Commission. Applicants must demonstrate that they are of good character, can integrate with Angolan society, are self-sufficient, and have no criminal record with penalties exceeding three years of sentencing. In addition, applicants must take examinations to confirm their understanding of Angolan civics, adequate ability in Portuguese, and knowledge of the cultural and societal norms of the territory. Ten years of residency is calculated from the date of issuance of a permit for permanent residency. Upon approval, applicants must take an Oath of Allegiance.

Angola has allowed dual nationality since 1991. The Nationality Law of 1984 discouraged dual nationality but recognized that, based on international agreements, such status might exist either voluntarily or involuntarily. Since 1991, the Nationality Law has not banned dual nationality but recognized that other nationalities possessed by Angolans must not have legal applicability while in Angola.

The right to Angolan nationality by birth

Angolan nationality law is regulated by the Constitution of Angola, the Nationality Act, and various international agreements. The legal means to acquire nationality differ from the domestic relationship of rights and obligations between a national and the nation, known as citizenship. Angolan nationality is typically obtained under the principle of jus sanguinis, i.e. by birth in Angola or abroad to parents with Angolan nationality.

Obtaining Angolan Nationality Through Birth

Angolan law makes a distinction between attribution and acquisition of nationality. Attribution is automatic and from birth; acquisition is obtained later and is effective into the future.

Births must be registered in the Civil Registry Office, and proof of the parents' nationality must be provided. This proof may be in the form of the parents' birth registration or an identity card. In the case of a birth abroad, a declaration made before consular officials may also be required.

Angolan nationality is attributed to:

• Persons born anywhere to at least one parent who has Angolan nationality
• Newborn foundlings, under one year of age, with no discernible evidence as to the nationality or identity of their parents
• Persons who later in life discover that at birth they had a parent of Angolan nationality

Acquisition of Angolan Nationality Through Naturalisation

Angolan nationality may be acquired through application for persons who have reached eighteen, the age of majority, and have legal capacity. They must provide documentation to confirm identity, economic status, and lack of a serious criminal record, as well as evidence of satisfactory examinations by the Citizenship Commission. Applicants must demonstrate that they are of good character, can integrate with Angolan society, are self-sufficient and able to sustain themselves, and have no criminal record with penalties exceeding three years of sentencing. In addition, applicants must take examinations to confirm their understanding of Angolan civics, adequate ability in Portuguese, and knowledge of the cultural and societal norms of the territory. Ten years of residency is calculated from the date of issuance of a permit for permanent residency. Upon approval, applicants must take an Oath of Allegiance.

The right to Angolan nationality by naturalisation

Angolan nationality law is regulated by the Constitution of Angola, the Nationality Act, and various international agreements. The legal means to acquire nationality differ from the domestic relationship of rights and obligations between a national and the nation, known as citizenship.

Angolan nationality is typically obtained under the principle of jus sanguinis, i.e. by birth in Angola or abroad to parents with Angolan nationality. It can also be granted to persons with an affiliation to the country or to permanent residents who have lived in the country for a given period of time through naturalisation.

Obtaining Angolan nationality through naturalisation is a process that involves several steps and requirements. Firstly, applicants must be at least eighteen years old and have legal capacity. They must submit their application to the Ministry responsible for immigration, providing documentation to confirm their identity, economic status, and lack of a serious criminal record. Applicants must also undergo examinations conducted by the Citizenship Commission to assess their understanding of Angolan civics, proficiency in the Portuguese language, and knowledge of the cultural and societal norms of the territory.

In addition to these requirements, applicants for naturalisation must demonstrate their ability to integrate into Angolan society, showing that they are of good character, self-sufficient, and able to sustain themselves financially. They must also provide evidence of a clean criminal record, with no penalties exceeding a three-year sentence.

The process of naturalisation also includes a residency requirement, with applicants needing to have lived in Angola as permanent residents for at least ten years. This period is calculated from the date of issuance of a permit for permanent residency. Upon successful completion of all requirements and approval of their application, applicants are required to take an Oath of Allegiance to finalise their acquisition of Angolan nationality through naturalisation.

It is important to note that the laws and requirements for naturalisation in Angola may be subject to changes and updates. Therefore, it is advisable for individuals seeking naturalisation to refer to the latest official information and legal guidance provided by the relevant authorities in Angola.

Angolan citizenship

Birth

Angolan nationality is typically obtained through birth in Angola or abroad to parents with Angolan nationality. Births must be registered at the Civil Registry Office, and proof of parents' nationality must be provided.

Naturalisation

Naturalisation is granted to permanent residents who have lived in the country for a given period of time. Applicants must be over the age of 18, provide documentation to confirm identity, economic status, and lack of a serious criminal record, and demonstrate an understanding of Angolan civics, adequate ability in Portuguese, and knowledge of the cultural and societal norms of the territory.

Dual Nationality

Angola has allowed dual nationality since 1991.

Angolan passports

An Angolan passport is a travel document issued to citizens of Angola to facilitate international travel. Passports are issued by the Migration and Foreigners Services (Serviços de Migração e Estrangeiros) office in Luanda. As of 1 January 2017, Angolan citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 45 countries and territories, ranking the Angolan passport 90th in terms of travel freedom.

The passport must have an 'expiry date' of at least 6 months after the date of arrival in Angola and have a minimum of 2 blank pages. There are no COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirements for entry into Angola. However, there is a risk of yellow fever transmission, so a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for some onward travel, including to South Africa.

For British citizens, no visa is required for visits to Angola of up to 30 days. However, a visa must be obtained in advance for travel purposes such as work, study, or business. Overstaying a visa can result in a fine of 15,000 Angolan kwanzas per day, and failure to pay the fine may result in detention and a lengthy deportation process.

The process of obtaining an Angolan passport is as follows:

• Submit a passport application form, either printed or typed in black ink, signed by the applicant, and accompanied by a recent colour passport-sized photo.
• Provide the original passport and a photocopy of the main pages and those with migratory information. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months and have two available pages.
• Include a processing fee, which varies depending on the type of visa and the applicant's country of origin. For example, the fee for a tourist visa for American citizens is $70, while a work visa for American citizens costs $250.
• Allow for the specified processing time, which is generally around 5-8 business days, and ensure that all requirements are met to avoid delays or rejection of the application.

Frequently asked questions