Pakistan: Whether a former Pakistani citizen can reacquire his/her Pakistani citizenship, including requirements and procedures
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Publication Date | 28 November 2012 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | PAK104247.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Pakistan: Whether a former Pakistani citizen can reacquire his/her Pakistani citizenship, including requirements and procedures, 28 November 2012, PAK104247.E , available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/52a82e324.html [accessed 22 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. |
1. Loss of Pakistani Citizenship
The Pakistan Citizenship Act of 1951 indicates that an individual of Pakistan, who upon acquiring foreign citizenship, makes a declaration renouncing his or her Pakistani citizenship and the declaration is registered by the government authorities, ceases to be a citizen of Pakistan upon such registration (Pakistan 1951, Sec. 14-A).
2. Resumption of Pakistani Citizenship
According to the Pakistan Citizenship Rules of 1952, individuals may declare their intentions to reacquire citizenship of Pakistan (ibid. 1952, Sec. 19B). The Rules indicate that
A declaration under the proviso to clause (a) of sub-section (2) of section 14A of the Act shall be made in quadruplicate in form 'Y'-
If the person making the declaration is residing in a foreign country, to the Pakistan Mission or Consulate in that country; and
in any other case, to the Director of Immigration and Passport, through the Provincial Government concerned.
Such declaration shall be registered by the Director of Immigration and Passports and the person concerned shall become a citizen of Pakistan from the date of such declaration.
There shall be kept by the Director of Immigration and Passport a register in Form 'Y I' containing the names of persons whose declaration of intention to resume Pakistan citizenship are registered under this rule. (ibid.)
However, during a 19 November 2012 telephone interview with the Research Directorate, an official of the Consulate General of Pakistan in Toronto indicated that a former Pakistani citizen who renounced his or her citizenship, "cannot reacquire" Pakistani citizenship (ibid. 19 Nov. 2012). In order to travel to Pakistan, he or she has to apply for a Pakistani visa (ibid.). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Pakistan. 19 November 2012. Consulate General of Pakistan in Toronto. Telephone interview with an official.
_____. 1952. Pakistan Citizenship Rules. [Accessed 21 Nov. 2012]
_____. 1951. Pakistan Citizenship Act. [Accessed 13 Nov. 2012]
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral Sources: Attempts to contact representatives of the following organizations were unsuccessful: Academics at the Lahore University and University of Birmingham; Human Rights Commission of Pakistan; Human Rights journalist; lawyers in Pakistan; Pakistan - consulates of Pakistan in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Montreal, New York, Vancouver, embassies of Pakistan in France, Germany, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Washington DC, High Commission of Pakistan in Ottawa, Honorary Consulate General of Pakistan in Boston, Ministry of Interior.
Officials of the High Commission of Canada in Pakistan were unable to provide information within the time constraints of this Response.
Internet sites, including: Amnesty International; BBC; Council on Foreign Relations; Daily Times; Factiva; Freedom House; Help Line Law; HG.org; Human Rights Watch; International Crisis Group; Interpol; Irin News; The Nation; Nyasa Times; Pakistan - Consulate General of Pakistan in Montreal, Consulate General of Pakistan in New York, Consulate General of Pakistan in Toronto, Consulate General of Pakistan in Vancouver, Embassy of Pakistan in Moscow, Embassy of Pakistan in Washington DC, High Commission of Pakistan in Ottawa, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ministry of Interior, National Assembly of Pakistan, Police; The Times of India; UN - Refworld; US Department of State.
