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Difference Between Nationality and

Citizenship (with Comparison Chart) - Key
Differences
5-7 minutes

Nationality and
citizenship are one of the most misconstrued terms, in the world. For a layman,
the term nationality works as a substitute for citizenship and vice versa. But in
reality, the difference between nationality and citizenship is quite evident, that
we cannot ignore it. The nationality of a person, reveals his/her place of birth,
i.e. from where he/she belongs. It defines the belongingness of a person to a
particular nation.
On the contrary, citizenship is granted to an individual by the government of
the country, when he/she complies with the legal formalities. It is the status of
being a citizen of a country. So, have a glance at this article if you want to
know more about these terms thoroughly.

Content: Nationality Vs Citizenship

1. Comparison Chart
2. Definition
3. Key Differences
4. Conclusion

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Comparison Chart

Basis for Comparison Nationality Citizenship

Meaning Nationality is the Citizenship is the
individual political status, which
membership that states that the person is
shows a person's recognized as a citizen
relationship with the of the country.
state.
Concept Ethnic or racial. Legal or juristic.
Represents The place or country Individual is registered
where the individual as a citizen by the
has taken birth. government of the
country.
Ways Birth and Inheritance Birth, Inheritance,
(depending on the Marriage,
rules prevalent in the Naturalization, etc.
country)
Can it be changed? No Yes
Can it be reversed? It is innate. It can be reversed.
Can it be possible to have No, a person can be Yes, a person can
nationality/citizenship of national of only one become a citizen of
multiple countries? country. more than one country.

Definition of Nationality

Nationality is the legal status, which represents the country from which an
individual belongs. An individual’s nationality denotes, the country where
he/she is born and are the legal citizen. The status is acquired by birth,
inheritance or naturalization.
On the basis of constitutional provisions, every state sets the criteria which
determine who can be the nationals of the country. It provides the country,
rights over the person. Further, it provides the person, protection of the nation
from other nations.
Based on international conventions, every sovereign state is entitled to
determine its nationals, as per nationality law. One has the right enter or return
to the country; they came from.

Definition of Citizenship

Citizenship is a status acquired by becoming a registered member of the state

by law. Any person can become a member of the state by satisfying the legal

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requirements of the respective country. In simple terms, the virtue of being a

citizen of the country is called citizenship.
By inheritance, marriage, birth, naturalization and registration are the ways to
become a recognized citizen of the country. Every state grants some legal
rights and privileges to its citizens, and they are also bound to follow the rules
and regulations framed by the government of the respective country.
Once the person becomes a citizen of the state, he has the right to vote, work,
reside, pay taxes and take an active part in the country. Every person is a
citizen of the country where he/she is born, but to become a citizen of some
other country, one needs to apply for it.
The differences between nationality and citizenship can be drawn clearly on
the following grounds:
1. The status arising out of the fact that a person is the origin of a particular
nation is called Nationality. Citizenship is the political status that can be
obtained by meeting the legal requirements set by the government of the state.
2. The nationality is an ethnic or racial concept. On the other hand, citizenship is
a legal or juristic concept.
3. The nationality of a person indicates his/her place or country of birth while the
citizenship of a person shows that the individual is registered as a citizen by
the government of the respective country.
4. A person can become a national of a country by birth or by inheritance. As
against this, there are a variety of ways through which an individual can
become the citizen of a country, i.e. by birth, inheritance, marriage,
naturalization or registration.
5. The nationality of a person cannot be changed. However, his citizenship can
be changed.
6. The nationality of a person cannot be taken back, once acquired while the
citizenship of a person can be taken back.
7. A person cannot be a national of more than one country. In contrast, a person
can possess citizenship of more than one country at a time.

Conclusion

Nationality, as the name suggests, is something in connection with the nation,

which a person obtains by birth and is innate. On the other hand, citizenship is
a bit different, which requires a person to fulfill the legal formalities to become
a recognized member of the state. Further, nationality is a subject of
international dealings while citizenship is a matter of country’s internal political
life.
To acquire full citizenship, nationality is an essential condition but not the only
condition to be fulfilled. It allows a person full civil and social rights along with
political rights. The person who are national but they are not granted full rights
of the country are known as a second-class citizen.

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