“Citizen” or being a citizen is one of the most importa concepts in the modern era and immigration, which is directly related to the ideity, rights and duties of people. This term does not only mean residence in a particular coury, but also includes a sense of belonging, participation in social affairs, and the use of legal and civil protections. In this article eitled “What is a citizen”, we examine the concept of being a citizen from legal, cultural and social aspects and show how this title affects people’s lives and connects them with society.
Benefits of being a citizen
Among the benefits of being a citizen of a coury are:
Increase income and job opportunities
In the United States, studies of naturalized immigras show that the income is 50-70% higher than that of permane resides. Similarly, in citizens who chose to immigrate to Switzerland, they had an average of 3,000 francs and after ten years an average of 8,000 francs more annual income than their non-citizen couerparts.
Increasing economic investme
In the US, naturalization leads to an increase in wages of 10.1–13.5% over 12–17 years, adding $45–21 billion to the economy if half of those eligible become citizens.
Reducing discrimination and job stability
Citizenship creates a stable ideity that reduces the risk of changing residency status and increases the motivation of employers to invest in immigras.
Increasing productivity and political participation
Citizens have access to social, educational, tax and electoral rights opportunities, which promote civic participation and a sense of social belonging.
What is a citizen and why is it importa? (Nationality and Citizenship)
Citizenship is a legal status that ideifies a person as a full member of the coury. It includes political rights (such as voting, running for office), social rights (access to public services) and diplomatic protections. Its importance is evide in several aspects:
Only citizens have the right to vote and run in elections.
- Legal protection and security:
In times of crisis, the governme guaraees its citizens diplomatic protection and iernational law.
- Economic and social conditions:
Access to sensitive jobs, governme loans, scholarships, health services, and even the power of a powerful passport (VisaFree or Visa on Arrival).
- Ideity and sense of belonging:
Citizenship adds to a person’s legal and psychological commitme to society. In developed couries, citizenship is also a sign of long-term loyalty.
Types of citizens in the world
Citizenship in iernational systems is defined in several official types:
Jus Sanguinis
This type of citizenship is graed based on the race, desce or nationality of the pares. This law is often applied in couries such as Germany, Japan and Austria. To use this type of citizenship, it is sometimes necessary for a person to reside in the coury for at least 5 to 10 years (depending on national laws) or to prove a relative relationship with the citizens of that coury.
Jus Soli
Couries that have territorial citizenship gra this type of residence based on the place of birth. For example, children born in the United States or Canada will immediately become citizens of these couries. Research by the Iernational Monetary Fund (IMF) shows that couries with this law have an average per capita income of about 80% higher than couries with the “bloody” law.
Multiple/Dual Citizenship
This situation occurs when a person is a citizen of two or more couries at the same time. This has many advaages; Including increasing the possibility of traveling without restrictions, better access to labor markets in differe couries and using their social support. However, being a citizen of multiple couries creates additional tax or military service obligations that one must consider.
Citizenship by Investme
Some couries have programs to gra citizenship in exchange for economic investme, such as investing in Dominica. These programs generate income for the host couries while increasing the inflow of foreign capital. For example, Dominica’s citizenship-by-investme program accoued for about 26 perce of the coury’s GDP in 2018.
Union citizenship (such as EU citizenship)
This type of citizenship, in addition to being a citizen in a member coury, creates benefits and double rights in the form of a union. For EU citizens, this includes the right to free moveme within member states, the right to vote in local and European elections, and diplomatic protection outside the EU.
Statelessness
Statelessness occurs when a person does not belong to any coury. The United Nations has announced that about 12 million people in the world are stateless. This often deprives them of basic rights such as education, medical care or legal protection. For example, Shamima Begum, who was deprived of British citizenship, is considered one of these stateless people.
The difference between citizen and permane residence
Being a citizen (subject) with permane residence are two completely separate concepts.
Being a citizen means that a person belongs to the coury, uses all the rights of citizenship (such as the right to vote, serve in the armed forces, diplomatic protection abroad, etc.) and this relationship is established through the citizenship law.
On the other hand, permane residence only provides permission to live and work in the coury, and the reside is deprived of many of the rights of citizens; For example, they cannot vote in elections, run for political office, or use full consular support.
| comparison | Citizen | permane residence |
| right to vote | has | does not have |
| The right to use diplomatic protection | has | limited |
| right to work | No restrictions | with restrictions |
| The right to eer and leave the coury | free | conditionally |
| Social services | complete | limited |
| military service | Often mandatory | Optional or exempt |
| Transferring citizenship to children | has | does not have |
| Possibility of loss | Hard (only in very special situations like treason or terrorism) | Possibility of loss in case of violation of residency rules |
Legal methods of obtaining citizenship
Obtaining citizenship through legal methods is one of the most importa ways that people can establish a direct and emotional connection with a new coury. In addition to providing security, this connection creates many social and economic supports for the citizen.
Therefore, governmes have provided legal and transpare mechanisms for graing citizenship, which allows those ierested to use them. These methods include birth in the territory of the coury, economic investme, marriage with a citizen of the coury, asylum, family reunification and even long-term residence.
Citizen by birth
One of the most common ways to obtain citizenship is to obtain citizenship by birth, such as obtaining residence by birth in Canada. This, which is called Jus Soli in specialized terminology, means that every person who is born in the territory of a coury is considered a citizen of that coury. This law is implemeed in couries such as the United States of America, Canada, Argeina and Brazil.
This method was formed with the premise that it creates a spatial and territorial connection with the individual and makes them easier to iegrate io the host society. This helps to increase cultural diversity and the formation of multinational societies and ensures their economic progress.
Citizen through investme
Some couries have made it possible to obtain citizenship through investme in order to attract foreign capital. This method, often referred to as Citizenship by Investme or CBI, gras citizenship to individuals who invest a large amou of their wealth in the host coury. This investme can be in the form of real estate purchase, stock purchase or direct economic aid.
This economic policy, while increasing the inflow of foreign capital, supports the domestic production, creates jobs and economic progress of the host coury. For example, Dominica’s citizenship-by-investme program accoued for about 26 perce of the coury’s GDP in 2018. This shows the economic importance of this program for developing couries.
Second citizen and its benefits
Being a citizen in two couries (dual citizen) creates many benefits and opportunities for many people. This allows citizens to enjoy the rights of citizenship in both couries, including the ability to work, study, benefit from medical and pension benefits, visa-free travel to more couries, diplomatic protection through their embassies, and even the ability to vote in both couries.
“Being a citizen in two couries is like opening two doors of security, economic and cultural developme for you. This opens up new horizons for citizens and frees them from being limited to the laws of a single coury.”
This seence from one of the reputable iernational migration organizations describes the importance of this type of citizenship well: “Having dual citizenship provides the possibility of choosing the best future for the individual and his family.”
Citizenship in differe couries
Obtaining citizenship in differe couries is associated with various conditions and prerequisites. For example:
In Germany, becoming a citizen often requires a minimum of 8 years of legal residence, along with proficiency in the German language and swearing an oath of allegiance. In Canada, about 3 to 5 years of valid residence and the ability to speak the official languages (English or French) are prerequisites for becoming a citizen.
In the United Arab Emirates, being a citizen for foreigners is rare and limited, it becomes possible only in case of special service or large investmes. In Türkiye, it is possible to obtain citizenship by investing about $400,000 in real estate or creating jobs for citizens.
This diversity in citizenship laws reflects the domestic policies of couries and their ierest in using their human power, expertise, investme and iernational connections.
Citizen and the rights and obligations of citizenship
Being a citizen does not only mean having rights; This comes with obligations that citizens are required to comply with. These obligations include paying taxes, serving in the armed forces (in some couries), respecting the laws of the coury, and coributing to the developme of society.
The rights of citizens include the right to vote, the right to use medical and social support, the right to free education (in most couries) and the right to own property. These two dimensions (rights and obligations) are directly related and guaraee the formation of a healthy civil society and their economic, social and cultural progress.
The best couries to get a citizen
The best couries to get a citizen are:
1. Canada
Canada is one of the best options for obtaining a second citizenship. This immigra-friendly coury has paved the way for obtaining permane residence and then citizenship with programs such as Express Ery and Investme. After three years of residence out of five years, people can apply for citizenship. The transpare system, suitable job opportunities and free social services have made Canada popular among immigras.
2. Portugal
Portugal is one of the European couries where the path to obtaining citizenship is easier than many others. Having a Golden Visa through investme or five-year residence, one can apply for citizenship. No need to live permanely in the coury, low cost of living and the possibility of visa-free travel to the Schengen area make Portugal attractive.
3. Türkiye
Obtaining a Turkish citizen through investme (buying a property worth at least $400,000) takes only a few mohs. Türkiye allows dual citizenship, and with the passport of this coury, you can travel to more than 110 couries without a visa. Simple immigration laws and cultural proximity have made Turkey popular among Iranians.
4. Dominica
Dominica is one of the couries that gras citizenship by paying about $100,000 to the National Developme Fund. This coury does not require residency or physical presence. A Dominica citizen allows you to travel visa-free to more than 140 couries, including the Schengen area and the UK.
5. Sai Kitts and Nevis
The Citizenship by Investme program in St. Kitts is one of the fastest and can be obtained within three to six mohs. This coury offers a valid passport without the need for residence. It is also possible to travel without a visa to more than 150 couries.
Conditions for obtaining citizenship
Obtaining citizenship in differe couries depends on the specific conditions and laws of that coury, but some criteria are common in most couries. The most importa of these conditions are:
- Long-term stay:
Many couries, such as Germany, Canada or Australia, expect the applica to reside in that coury for several years coinuously. Usually this period is between 3 and 5 years.
- Proficiency in the official language of the coury:
Knowing the official language of the destination coury is one of the common requiremes. Applicas must be able to carry out everyday conversations and often have to take a language test.
- Citizenship test:
Some couries, such as the United States of America, conduct a citizenship test that includes information about the coury’s history, constitution, politics, and governme structure.
- Clean criminal record:
Having a legal personality and not having a bad history are other main requiremes for obtaining citizenship.
- Commitme to the destination coury:
In many cases, the applica must swear loyalty to the new coury and sometimes renounce his previous citizenship (of course, many couries accept dual citizenship).
- Financial strength and economic independence:
Some couries check the applica’s financial ability to preve him from depending on governme aid.
The process of applying for and receiving citizenship
The process of applying for second citizenship usually includes several key steps:
Assessme of initial conditions
The applica must first check whether he meets the basic conditions for obtaining citizenship or not. This includes length of stay, language level, financial status, and the like.
Collecting documes
Required documes include passport, residence permit, language certificate, tax and insurance records, marriage certificate (if any), certificate of no bad history and other documes.
Registration of official application
The official application is registered through the immigration office of the releva coury. Some couries have also provided the possibility of online registration.
Review of the case by the governme
The files are reviewed in order and if needed, an in-person ierview or language test and citizenship information will be held.
Get the final answer
If approved, citizenship is graed. In some couries, it is necessary for a person to participate in a national oath ceremony and receive official citizenship documes.
Obtaining a new passport
After receiving the citizenship, one can apply for the passport of the new coury. This passport is issued like other permane citizens of the coury.
The importa poi is that some couries such as Turkey, Dominica or Sai Lucia have made it possible to obtain citizenship through investme (buying property or donating money) in a shorter period of time, without the need for long-term residence.
Citizenship and its impact on taxes and business
Having citizenship of a coury can have importa effects on tax status, economic activity and business opportunities. These effects are especially importa for investors and erepreneurs.
Tax impact
Couries are divided io two main categories in terms of taxation:
- Residence-based couries such as Canada or Germany, where income tax is charged based on residence.
- Citizenship-based couries, such as the US, charge global income tax to all citizens, even if they live abroad.
Based on this, obtaining the citizenship of a coury may make a person have to pay global income tax or, on the other hand, benefit from tax exemptions and inceives.
Business opportunities
Second citizenship can be a gateway to eer iernational markets. Having the citizenship of a European coury, a person can freely have an economic activity or register a company in the eire European Union. In some couries, citizens have access to low-ierest loans, tax breaks, and business privileges.
Economic and banking freedom
Many banks in developed couries offer special banking services only for citizens. Having a second citizenship can provide access to iernational accous, valid credit cards and safer investme options.
Protection of family assets and wealth
In some unstable political or economic conditions, having a second citizenship allows a person to keep his assets in a safer coury and ensure the future of his children.
Conclusion about the importance of citizenship
In today’s world, having a second citizenship is not just a luxury privilege, but a powerful tool for improving the quality of life, access to global services, economic freedom and personal security. Many people with the aim of immigrating, studying, working or investing, are looking for couries where their citizenship creates real opportunities. Finally, second citizenship can be a reliable support for a more stable and flexible future in today’s changing world.
