FACTS & FIGURES

Capital City

Capital City

Brazzaville
Population

Population

6,182,885
Area Km2

Area, Km2

341,500
Language

Language

French
Area Code

Area Code

242
Currency

Currency

Franc (XAF)

VISA FREE

48

GDP PPP $

6,850

Time Zone

UTC +1:00

Dual Citizenship Republic of the Congo

Allowed

In the Republic of Congo, dual citizenship is accepted in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Congo adopted by referendum on October 25, 2015, article 19 states that: "Congolese citizenship is guaranteed by law. Every Congolese has the right to change his nationality or to acquire a second one. »

However, the nationality code contained in Act No. 35-1961 of 20 June 1961 on the Congolese nationality code lists the special conditions for acquiring dual nationality in the Republic of the Congo.

On the one hand, there are two (02) conditions for the acquisition of nationality in Congo by law effect, namely:

  • Marriage, article 18 of the Nationality Code provides: "A foreign woman who marries a Congolese man acquires Congolese nationality after five years of common residence in the Congo since the marriage was registered in the civil registers.
  • Birth and residence, article 20 of the Nationality Code provides that: "Any individual born in the Congo to foreign parents acquires Congolese nationality when he or she reaches the age of majority if, on that date, he or she has been resident in the Congo and if he or she has had his or her habitual residence in the Congo since the age of sixteen."

On the other hand, there are two (02) conditions for acquiring nationality in Congo by decision of the public authority, namely:

  • Naturalization, article 27 of the nationality code provides that: "Congolese naturalization is granted by decree after investigation"
  • Article 36 of the Nationality Code provides that: "reinstatement of Congolese nationality is granted by decree after investigations"

In addition, the following restrictions on the conditions for acquiring Congolese nationality are provided for in Act No. 35-1961 of 20th June 1961 of the Congolese Nationality Code:

  • Residency: the conditions of residence are not sufficient for the acquisition of Congolese nationality for a foreigner.

Article 42 : No one may acquire Congolese nationality when residence in the Congo is a condition of such acquisition, unless he satisfies the obligations and conditions imposed by the legislative and regulatory provisions relating to the stay of foreigners in the Congo.

  • False declaration: during the naturalisation procedure, if after the result of the investigation it is found that the evidence of civil status provided at the time of the naturalisation application is false, the acquisition process is interrupted for the time being. The decree will therefore be withdrawn.

Paragraph 1 of article 66 of the same Code provides that: "When the foreigner has knowingly made a false declaration, presented a document containing a false or erroneous assertion or used fraudulent tactics to obtain naturalization or reinstatement, the decree issued may be revoked.

Filiation is authorized. It produces effects of the attribution of Congolese nationality in the Republic of Congo in strict compliance with Congolese customs and civil legislation in accordance with article 12 of the Nationality Code, which provides that: "filiation does not take effect with regard to the attribution of Congolese nationality unless it is established under the conditions determined by Congolese customs and civil law,  this law or the regulatory provisions provided for its application"

In this respect, the effects of the attribution of nationality occur precisely in the case of a child born to a father or mother of Congolese nationality during his or her minority, as provided for in article 44: "A minor child whose father or mother acquires Congolese nationality shall automatically become Congolese in the same way as his or her parents, provided that his or her filiation is established in accordance with article 12."

However, one year before reaching the age of majority, the child has the option of renouncing this allocation provided that he is represented by a father figure. (Art 14)

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