Monégasque Citizenship

Acquisition by Relationship
The following have Monégasque nationality:
	-	any person born in Monaco or abroad of a Monégasque father;
	-	any person born in Monaco or abroad of a mother born Monégasque who still had this nationality at the time of the birth and of an unknown father;
	-	any person born of a Monégasque mother of whom one of the ancestors in the same line was born Monégasque
	-	any person born of a mother who acquired Monégasque nationality by declaration following simple adoption
	-	any person born in Monaco of unknown parents.
With regards to legitimate offspring, Monégasque nationality is passed on without it being necessary to fulfill any other condition; on the other hand, in the case of natural offspring, this handing-on of nationality only takes place if the child is recognized or legitimized by marriage of its parents.

Acquisition by Marriage
A foreigh woman, major or otherwise, marrying a Monegasque man does not automatically obtain the Monégasque nationality. She can become Monegasque through a right of option that she can excercise after five years of marriage on condition that the spouses live togehter. In the case of the husband's death, she has to provide evidence that her widowhood was not followed by remarriage. A Monégasque woman who marries a foreigner retains her Monégasque nationality unless she expressly states that she wishes, in conformity with the arrangement of the national law of her husband, to acquire the nationality of this latter. This declaration must be made at the time of the celebration of the marriage in answer to the questions posed by the Registrar, otherwise it is invalid; such declaration is to be noted on the marriage certificate. If the marriage is celebrated abroad, the declaration must be made before the marriage is celebrated, before a diplomatic or consular representative of the Principality of Monaco otherwise it is invalid. The husband of a Monégasque national has no right to acquire Monégasque nationality. His only recourse in this matter is to naturalization

Acquisition by Declaration

By reason of birth			During the year following his majority, any person listed below may acquire Monégasque nationality by means of a declaration made before a Registrar provided that he lives in the Principality and proves that he has had his legal domicile or habitual residence there during his minority:
				-	Any person born in Monaco of a parent born Monégasque, even if this latter has lost this nationality;
				-	Any person born in Monaco of a Monégasque parent and of whom one of the ancestors of the same branch was born Monégasque, even if the parent or ancestor has lost this nationality
			This right is also open, without conditions as to the place of birth or habitual residence or legal domicile, to a minor, born before July 11, 1975, before the acquisition of Monégasque nationality by his father.

By reason of adoption			A child which was subject to a legitimate adoption becomes Monégasque if:
				-	his/her adoptive father is Monégasque
				-	his/her adoptive mother was born Monégasque and still holds this nationality at the time of adoption
				-	his/her adoptive mother is Monégasque with a Monégasque-born ancestor

			A foreigner under the age of twenty one who has been subject to an ordinary adoption by
				-	a Monégasque man
				-	a Monégasque-born mother who still holds this nationality at the time of adoption
				-	a Monégasque mother with a Monegasque-born ancestor
Municipal rule			The person obtaining Monégasque nationality does not possess political rights, that is, may neither be an elector nor present himself as a candidate, until the fifth year following the date on which he acquired this nationality.

Acquisition by Naturalization & Restoration

By means of Naturalization			The person who whishes to acquire Monégasque nationality must prove:
				-	that taking Monégasque nationality will cause him/her to lose his/her previous nationality;
				-	that naturalization will definitely relieve him of the obligation to performe military service abroad;
				-	that he/she has resided ten years in the Principality after reaching the age of eighteen; this residence must be unbroken and in effect at the moment the request for naturalization is made and not be mere residence at an earlier period.

			The foreigner whom the Prince considers worthy of this favor may be exempt from the requirement of ten years' residence The request must be addressed, on stamped paper, directly to the Prince. Naturalization is granted by sovereign ordinance. Decisions rejecting or deferring the request are not subject to appeal; the request may always be rejected, even if the person making the request satisfies the conditions laid down, as these latter merely confer the right to make the request for naturalization. Monégasque nationality is granted automatically to children who are minor of a father or a mother survivng her husband (in the event of the death of this latter) who obtains naturalization. These children have, however, the opportunity to renounce their nationality by making a declaration before the Rengistrar in the hear which follows the deate on which they reach their majority.

By means of Restoration			Monegasque nationiality may be recovered by people who have lost it for the following reasons
				-	acquisition of foreign nationality;
				-	renunciation of Monegasque nationality;
				-	performance of military service abroad without authorisation from the Government.
				-	confirmed conviction for having harmed the internal or external security of the state. In this case, restoration may only be requested if the person concerned is able to establish his/her innocence or if he/she has been rehabilitated.
			The wife and adult children may, on request, obtain Monegasque nationality by the same decision, without having to prove any residential condition personally. The infant children of a father or mother born Monegasque who obtains restoration become Monegasque themselves. A Monégasque woman who has lost her nationality by marriage may also request restoration, even if she is still married. Restoration, like naturalisation, is not a right and depends on the free goodwill of the Prince. The request must be addressed, on stamped paper, directly to the Prince.

General Rules			The beneficiary of naturalization or restoration may only exercise political rights, that is to say stand for election, from the fifht year folowing the date of publication of the sovereign ordinance of naturalization or restoration. The beneficiary of either gender, aged at least eighteen, may vote, unless deprived of the right to vote for any of the causes set forth by law. Acts of naturalization or restoration give rise to the collection of chancery dues presently set at €1,700 in case of naturalization and at €170 in case of restoration