Updated
GL-R-02
Glossary · Statuses, passports, travel
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.
01 / In 30 seconds
The short answer
- 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
02 / In plain words
What Renunciation means
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.
Vanuatu citizenship can be renounced through a separate procedure under the Citizenship Act (Cap. 112). There is no need to renounce your first citizenship when obtaining Vanuatu citizenship.
A case from practice
A client is acquiring the citizenship of a country that does not allow dual citizenship and, as a condition, must give up their previous one. We arrange the order so that the renunciation happens only after the new passport is guaranteed — and the client is not left without a valid citizenship for a single day.
When renunciation comes up
- Acquiring citizenship without dual status
- A condition of naturalisation in some countries
- Shedding tax obligations
- Ending military obligations
- Severing ties with a country for personal reasons
- Planning a change of citizenship
03 / What it covers
What matters about renouncing citizenship
What it is
- A voluntary exit
- A legal procedure
- Ending the bond
Why
- For another citizenship
- Shedding obligations
- Personal reasons
Consequences
- Loss of a citizen’s rights
- Usually irreversible
- An exit tax is possible
How to do it properly
- Assess the consequences
- Carry it out correctly
- Do not lose the other status
04 / How it works
How renunciation works
Assessing the need and the consequences
Checking the country’s conditions
Preparing and filing the application
The authorities’ decision
Leaving the citizenship
05 / Key facts
What you need to know
01
Renunciation is voluntarily giving up citizenship
02
It is often needed where dual citizenship is not allowed
03
It may be a condition of naturalisation in the new country
04
The procedure is usually irreversible
05
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
06 / Expert advice
How to prepare in advance
Renunciation is planned so as not to be left without a status: first the new citizenship is obtained or guaranteed, then the renunciation is carried out, if it is genuinely required. Its irreversibility, the tax consequences and the loss of rights are assessed in advance. We check whether renunciation is needed in your case and carry it out correctly, without the risk of being left without citizenship.
What we do for you. 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.
Klara RihterBanking compliance and source of funds specialist
07 / Questions
Frequently asked questions
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.
Most often to acquire the citizenship of a country that does not allow dual citizenship. Sometimes to shed tax or military obligations.
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.
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.
It depends on the country. Many allow dual citizenship, and renunciation is not needed. Only those that do not recognise dual status require it.
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.
Related terms
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