Editing Naturalization (section)

{{Short description|Process by which a non-national in a country acquires after birth the nationality of that country}}
{{For|the biology usage|Naturalisation (biology)|Invasive species}}
[[File:Naturalization Residence Requirements by Country (Years of Residence).svg|thumb|400px|Residence requirements in years for naturalization by country:
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-break}}
{{legend|#0033CC|2 years}}
{{legend|#0059FF|2.5 years}}
{{legend|#3399FF|3 years}}
{{legend|#66B2FF|4 years}}
{{legend|#99CCFF|5 years}}
{{legend|#FFF87A|7 years}}
{{Col-break}}
{{legend|#FFEB66|8 years}}
{{legend|#FFD000|9 years}}
{{legend|#FFAA00|10 years}}
{{legend|#F08000|12 years}}
{{legend|#F06000|14 years}}
{{legend|#FF4400|15 years}}
{{Col-break}}
{{legend|#CC0000|20 years}}
{{legend|#990000|25 years}}
{{legend|#660000|30 years}}
{{legend|#330000|35 years}}
{{legend|#000000|No naturalization allowed}}
{{legend|#9B9B9B|Not stated by law or varies}}
{{legend|#c0c0c0ff|No data}}
{{Col-end}}]]
[[File:Dual Citizenship.svg|thumb|400px|
{{legend|#73D216|Multiple nationality allowed without restriction}}
{{legend|#CC0000|Multiple nationality restricted to specific cases}}]]
{{legal status of persons}}

'''Naturalization''' (or '''naturalisation''') is the legal act or process by which a [[Alien (law)|non-national]] of a country acquires the [[nationality]] of that country after birth.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2019-06-19 |title=International Migration Law No. 34 - Glossary on Migration |url=https://publications.iom.int/books/international-migration-law-ndeg34-glossary-migration |journal=[[International Organization for Migration]] |language=en |issn=1813-2278}}</ref> The definition of naturalization by the [[International Organization for Migration|International Organization for Migration of the United Nations]] excludes citizenship that is automatically acquired (e.g. at birth) or is acquired by declaration. Naturalization usually involves an [[petition|application]] or a [[motion (legal)|motion]] and approval by legal authorities. The rules of naturalization vary from country to country but typically include a promise to obey and uphold that country's laws and taking and subscribing to an [[oath of allegiance]], and may specify other requirements such as a minimum legal [[permanent residency|residency]] and adequate knowledge of the national dominant language or culture. To counter [[multiple citizenship]], some countries require that applicants for naturalization renounce any other citizenship that they currently hold, but whether this renunciation actually causes [[loss of citizenship|loss of original citizenship]], as seen by the host country and by the original country, will depend on the laws of the countries involved. Arguments for increasing naturalization include reducing backlogs in naturalization applications and reshaping the [[Election#Electorate|electorate]] of the country.<ref name="r054">{{cite web | last=Jordan | first=Miriam | title=Immigrants Are Becoming U.S. Citizens at Fastest Clips in Years | website=The New York Times | date=12 August 2024 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/12/us/immigration-us-citizenship-rates.html | access-date=13 August 2024}}</ref>