Renunciation
Renunciation of citizenship
Renunciation of citizenship — the voluntary procedure of giving up the citizenship of a country, usually to acquire another citizenship or to remove obligations.
- What it is
- Renunciation — voluntarily giving up a country’s citizenship
- Why
- To acquire another citizenship or shed obligations
- When it is needed
- If a country does not allow dual citizenship
- Important
- The procedure is serious and often irreversible
- How to use it
- Weigh the consequences and do it correctly
In plain words
Renunciation is the voluntary legal procedure of giving up a country’s citizenship. A person of their own free will ends their legal bond with the state: they cease to be its citizen, with all the rights and obligations that entails. It is a conscious step, not an automatic consequence of moving or acquiring another passport.
Why people renounce citizenship: most often to acquire the citizenship of a country that does not allow dual citizenship (some states require giving up the previous citizenship as a condition of naturalisation). Other reasons are shedding tax or military obligations, or severing the connection with a country for personal reasons. In a number of jurisdictions it is a mandatory stage in obtaining a new passport.
It is important to understand the seriousness of the step: renunciation is usually irreversible or very hard to undo, and its consequences are losing the unconditional right to live in the country and travel on its passport, and sometimes tax nuances (an “exit tax”, for example). That is why the decision is taken carefully, having assessed all the consequences. We help work out whether renunciation is needed in your case and carry it out correctly.
When renunciation comes up
What matters about renouncing citizenship
- A voluntary exit
- A legal procedure
- Ending the bond
- For another citizenship
- Shedding obligations
- Personal reasons
- Loss of a citizen’s rights
- Usually irreversible
- An exit tax is possible
- Assess the consequences
- Carry it out correctly
- Do not lose the other status
How renunciation works
- 01Assessing the need and the consequences
- 02Checking the country’s conditions
- 03Preparing and filing the application
- 04The authorities’ decision
- 05Leaving the citizenship
What you need to know
- Renunciation is voluntarily giving up citizenship
- It is often needed where dual citizenship is not allowed
- It may be a condition of naturalisation in the new country
- The procedure is usually irreversible
- It is important to assess the tax and legal consequences
Common mistakes
- Renouncing without checking whether the new country requires it
- Not appreciating that the step is irreversible
- Forgetting the tax consequences (exit tax)
- Being left without a valid citizenship (the risk of statelessness)
- Carrying out the procedure incorrectly
What this means for a BRIDGES client
We help work out whether renunciation is needed in your case and carry it out safely: only after the new status is guaranteed, with its irreversibility and tax consequences assessed. That way you are not left without citizenship and do not face unexpected obligations.
Frequently asked questions
01 /What is renunciation of citizenship?
Renunciation is the voluntary legal procedure of giving up a country’s citizenship: a person of their own free will ends their legal bond with the state.
02 /When is it needed?
Most often to acquire the citizenship of a country that does not allow dual citizenship. Sometimes to shed tax or military obligations.
03 /Can you change your mind?
As a rule, no: renunciation is usually irreversible or very hard to undo. That is why the decision is taken carefully, having assessed all the consequences.
04 /What are the consequences of renunciation?
Losing the unconditional right to live in the country and travel on its passport, and sometimes tax nuances such as an “exit tax”. All of this is assessed in advance.
05 /Must you renounce when obtaining a new passport?
It depends on the country. Many allow dual citizenship, and renunciation is not needed. Only those that do not recognise dual status require it.
06 /How do you avoid being left without citizenship?
Carry out the renunciation only after the new citizenship is guaranteed. We arrange the order so that you are not left without a status for a single day.
See also
Read next
This material has undergone editorial review by BRIDGES.
Planning a change of citizenship?
We will assess whether you need to give up your previous citizenship and carry it out safely — without the risk of being left without a status.