Ius soli or Ius sanguini:
How is a person’s nationality determined?
Although it is a fundamental right, each State is free to establish the requirements to grant nationality. This can be by birth or by naturalization.
The right to a nationality is recognized in numerous international legal agreements, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), which in its article 15 stipulates that “everyone has the right to a nationality. No one will be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality or the right to change his nationality ”.
Nationality by birth can be determined by two criteria: jus soli either ius sanguini.
According to the criteria jus solithe nationality of birth of a person is determined by the place where he himself was born.
Instead, under the criteria ius sanguini the nationality of a subject is established based on the nationality of their parents.
In which countries is each criterion recognized?
In addition to the United States, there are currently 29 other countries that grant automatic citizenship to anyone born within their borders, excluding only the children of foreign diplomats and those of enemy forces occupying the country.
These countries are: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Chad, Chile, Cuba, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Lesotho, Mexico, Pakistan, Panama , Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Uruguay and Venezuela.