Explain how a naturalized citizen could forfeit his acquired citizenship.

Answer Details

How a Naturalised Citizen May Forfeit Acquired Citizenship

A naturalised citizen is one who was not a citizen by birth but acquired citizenship after fulfilling the laid-down legal conditions. Because such citizenship is acquired rather than natural, it can be lost or forfeited in the following ways:

1. Voluntary renunciation: the citizen may, of his own free will, formally renounce or give up his acquired citizenship, usually in order to take up the citizenship of another country.
2. Imprisonment within the qualifying period: if the citizen is sentenced to imprisonment for about three years within seven years of his naturalisation, his citizenship may be withdrawn.
3. Fraud or false declaration: where the certificate of naturalisation was obtained through fraud, misrepresentation or a false declaration, or where the citizen breaches the terms of the citizenship agreement, it can be revoked.
4. Espionage or subversive activities: a citizen who engages in espionage, subversion or other acts that undermine the sovereignty and security of the state may lose his citizenship.
5. Treasonable felony: a citizen found guilty of treason or a treasonable felony against the country may forfeit his citizenship.
6. Disloyalty to the new country: where the citizen shows disloyalty, or trades with or aids an enemy country, especially in time of war, his citizenship may be withdrawn.
7. Retention of former citizenship: in a country that does not permit dual citizenship, a person who fails to renounce the citizenship of his original country may lose the acquired one.