Citizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, or national community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities. "Active citizenship" is the philosophy that citizens should work towards the betterment of their community through economic participation, public service, volunteer work and other such efforts to improve life for all citizens
A person becomes a citizen of Mauritius either by birth or by descent
By Birth:
- A person is a citizen of Mauritius, if he is born in Mauritius before 1st September 1995, of either Mauritian or foreign parents.
- A person is a citizen of Mauritius if he is born in Mauritius after September 1995 and if either of his parents is a citizen of Mauritius.
By Descent
A person born outside Mauritius is a citizen of Mauritius if either of his parents is a citizen of Mauritius by birth (Sections 20(3) and 23 of the Constitution)
Citizenship on Adoption
Section 3 of the Mauritius Citizenship Act provides that a minor who is not a citizen of Mauritius shall become a Citizen of Mauritius if:
- He has been adopted by a citizen of Mauritius, or in the case of a joint adoption, the male adopter is a citizen of Mauritius; and
- The adoption has been legally effected in Mauritius
The Minister may on application made to him by way of a letter issue a Certificate of Mauritian Nationality, which shall be conclusive evidence that the minor child is a citizen of Mauritius as from the date of adoption.
The following documents shall be submitted in original and two photocopies along with the letter of application:
- Birth certificate of the adopted child
- Letter of acceptance from biological parents
- Birth certificate of adopter or adopters in case of a joint adoption
- Adoption Order
- Certificate of foreign Nationality of adopter or adopters, if applicable.
Registration of Commonwealth Citizens
Under section 5 of the Mauritius Citizenship Act a Commonwealth citizen may be registered as a citizen of Mauritius, if he has resided in Mauritius for a continuous period of 5 years or such shorter period (not being less than 12 months) as the Minister may in the special circumstances of any particular case accept, immediately preceding the date of his application.
Application for registration under section 5 of the Mauritius Citizenship Act shall be submitted to the Secretary for Home Affairs in the form set out at Appendix I. The application shall be subscribed in Mauritius, in the presence of a Judge or the Master and Registrar of the Supreme Court or a District Magistrate.
The following documents shall be submitted in original and two photocopies, along with the application and the renunciation forms.
- Birth and marriage certificates of applicant
- First five pages of applicant's passport
- Residence permits of applicant.
Registration of Foreign Spouses of Mauritian Citizens
Under section 7 of the Mauritius Citizenship Act, the foreign spouse of a Mauritian citizen may be registered as a citizen of Mauritius, if he/she has resided with his/her spouse under the same conjugal roof in Mauritius for an aggregate period of four years immediately preceding the date of his application.
Under section 7 of the Mauritius Citizenship Act, the foreign spouse of a Mauritian citizen may be registered as a citizen of Mauritius, if he/she has resided with his/her spouse under the same conjugal roof in Mauritius for an aggregate period of four years immediately preceding the date of his application.
Application for registration under section 7 of the Mauritius Citizenship Act, shall be submitted to the Secretary for Home Affairs in the form set out at Appendix IV. The application shall be subscribed in the presence of a Judge or the Master and Registrar of the Supreme Court or a District Magistrate.
The following documents shall be submitted in original and two photocopies, along with the application form:
- Birth certificate of applicant
- Birth certificate of applicant's spouse
- Marriage certificate of applicant
- First five pages of applicant's passport
- Certificate of foreign nationality of applicant's spouse (if applicable).
- Residence permits of applicant in Mauritius.
Last Updated on: 19-04-2010
