Equatorial Guinea: Information on the process by which a person may recover citizenship after voluntarily acquiring another, on whether officials have discretion to refuse the recovery if the applicant's father is a citizen and the applicant has resided in Equatorial Guinea for more than 10 years, and on the process by which the male spouse of a citizen of Equatorial Guinea may acquire citizenship
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 January 1997 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | GNQ25732.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Equatorial Guinea: Information on the process by which a person may recover citizenship after voluntarily acquiring another, on whether officials have discretion to refuse the recovery if the applicant's father is a citizen and the applicant has resided in Equatorial Guinea for more than 10 years, and on the process by which the male spouse of a citizen of Equatorial Guinea may acquire citizenship, 1 January 1997, GNQ25732.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ace444.html [accessed 21 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The information that follows was provided by an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Malabo during a 23 January 1997 telephone interview.
A foreigner who marries a national of Equatorial Guinea can obtain the country's nationality by presenting to the Minsitry of Foreign Affairs his or her identity document(s) and a document certifying his or her marriage to the Equatorial Guinea national. The exact process the documentation would follow in a particular case could not be described by the source over the telephone, but it was stated that at the end of the process a document certifying the individual's new nationality would be issued. The source stated that the process of acquisition of nationality through marriage could be complicated or take some time if carried out in Malabo, and added that it would be easier and faster if carried out through an embassy or consular office abroad. The source indicated that Equatorial Guinea has embassies or consular offices in Mount Vernon (New York, United States of America), Madrid and Paris. The DIRB was unable, within the time constraints of this Response, to obtain from those offices information on the requested subject.
The source stated that the recovery of Equatorial Guinea nationality could be faster than the naturalization process. An individual first approaches the Ministry of the Interior and presents a document that shows he was born in Equatorial Guinea or has been a citizen. The person would then be issued a passport or some other identity document that would acknowledge his Equatorial Guinea nationality. The source added that the process was not immediate and that it might be faster if carried out through an embassy or consular office abroad. Finally, the source stated that if the person seeking recovery of Equatorial Guinea nationality had initially lost it because he or she had been deprived of it or left the country due to political reasons, the recovery of the lost nationality could be difficult; the source could not elaborate on the difficulties or process to be followed in such a case.
Please find attached a copy of the sections on nationality and citizenship of the Constitution of Equatorial Guinea. These sections contain references to the recovery and acquisition of nationality.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
Reference
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malabo. 23 January 1997. Telephone interview with public affairs official.
Attachment
Rodriguez, Ariel et al. April 1990. "Equatorial Guinea," Constitutions of the Countries of the World. Edited by Albert P. Blaustein and Gisbert H. Flanz. Dobbs Ferry, NY: Oceana Publications, pp, 13-14.
